A DANGLING MAN
433
"He isn't on his feet much," said Etta. Her mother gave her a
sharp look. "I do lead a sedentary life," I said. "Th•at was all I
meant, mother," said Etta. "He doesn't worry about any of those things
too much, was what I meant," Iva continued, speaking quickly. "He
doesn't particularly care what he eats, either, just so it's food. It was
no problem pleasing him when I used to cook." "It's a blessing to be
that way. Amos is so hard to suit. You wouldn't think they were
brought up by the sarr.e mother." "He wasn't so easy to raise in all
respects," Amos said with a smile across the table.
"When are you going into the Army, Joseph," asked Etta. "Now,
Etta." said Amos reprovingly.
"Uncle
Joseph, I'm sorry. When are
you going?" "I don't know. Whenever God wills." This amused
them. "He's certainly taking His time about it," said Dolly. "There's
no hurry," Iva interposed. "The longer the better." "Oh., of course,"
Dolly said, "I know how you feel." "But Joseph doesn't feel that way
about it, do you Joseph?" Amos looked pleasantly at me. "I'm sure he'd
like to find out how to hurry Him up. It isn't only the waiting, but
he'll miss out on his chances for advancement. He ought to get in there
and become an Officers' Candidate."
"I don't think I want to try to make an officer of m:yself." "Well,
I don't see why not," said Amos. "Why not?" "As I see it the
whole war's a misfortune. I don't want to raise myself through it."
"But there have to
be
officers. Do you want to·sit back and let some
cluck do what you can do a thousand times better?" "I'm used to
that," I said, shrugging. "That's the case in many departments of
life already. The Army's no exception." "Iva, do you intend to let
him go
in
with that attitude? A fine Army we'd have." "It's my
conviction," I said. "Iva couldn't change it and I'm inclined to think
she wouldn't want to. Many men carry their ambitions over from
civilian life and don't mind climbing upon the backs of the dead, so to
speak. It's no disgrace to be a private, you know. Socrates was a
plain foot-soldier, a hoplite." "Socrates, eh ?" said Amos. Well
that's a good and a sufficient reason."
A little later
in
the evening Amos, calling me aside, led me up to
his bedroom' and there, producing a hundred dollar bill, thrust it like
a handkerchief into my breast pocket, saying, "This is our Christmas
present to you."
"Thank you," I said pulling it out and laying it on the dresser,
"but I can't take it." "Why can't you take it? Nonsense, you can't
refuse it. I tell you it's a present." He picked it up impatiently. "Be
a little more hard headed, will you? You're always up in the air. Do
you know what I paid
in
income taxes alone, last year? No? Well,
this isn't a drop in that bucket. I'm not depriving myself of anything
to 6.1ve. it to you." "But what will I do with it,
Amo~;?
I don't need
it."
"You are the most obstinate jackass I've ever seen. You can't,
