Twelve Men by Theodore Dreiser
page 51 of 399 (12%)
page 51 of 399 (12%)
![]() | ![]() |
|
would carry it somewhere, anywhere, in his arms to his friends, the
Park, New York, to see me. At breakfast, dinner, supper the heir presumptive was in a high-chair beside him. "Ah, now, here's a rubber spoon. Beat with that. It's less destructive and less painful physically." "How about a nice prust" (crust) "dipped in bravery" (gravy) "--heh? Do you suppose that would cut any of your teeth?" "Zuleika, this son of yours seems to think a spoonful of beer or two might not hurt him. What do you say?" Occasionally, especially of a Saturday evening, he wanted to go bowling and yet he wanted his heir. The problem was solved by fitting the latter into a tight little sweater and cap and carrying him along on his shoulder, into the bar for a beer, thence to the bowling alley, where young hopeful was fastened into a chair on the side lines while Peter and myself or some of his friends bowled. At ten or ten-thirty or eleven, as the case might be, he was ready to leave, but before that hour les ongfong might be sound asleep, hanging against Peter's scarf, his interest in his toes or thumbs having given out. "Peter, look at that," I observed once. "Don't you think we'd better take him home?" "Home nothing! Let him sleep. He can sleep here as well as anywhere, and besides I like to look at him." And in the room would be a great crowd, cigars, beers, laughter, and Peter's various friends as used to the child's presence and as charmed by it as he was. He was just the man who |
|