But isn't it a mistake not to allow us to make our own mistakes,
to learn for ourselves, to live our own lives? Must we be
always working for 'the balance,' in one thing or another?
I want to be myself--to get outside of this everlasting,
profitable 'plan'--to let myself go, and lose myself for a while
at least--to do the things that I want to do, just because
I want to do them."

"My boy," said his mother, anxiously, "you are not going to do
anything
wrong or foolish? You know the falsehood of that old proverb
about
wild oats."

He threw back his head and laughed. "Yes, mother," he answered,
"I know it well enough. But in California, you know, the wild
oats are
one of the most valuable crops. They grow all over the hillsides
and
keep the cattle and the horses alive. But that wasn't what I
meant--to sow
wild oats. Say to pick wild flowers, if you like, or even to
chase
wild geese--to do something that seems good to me just for its
own sake,
not for the sake of wages of one kind or another. I feel like a
hired man,
in the service of this magnificent mansion--say in training for
father's place as majordomo. I'd like to get out some way,
to feel free--perhaps to do something for others."