The Americans Part 60

GEORGE EGERTON.

(_To the Butler and the Maids who have appeared at the doors_)

Get away from there!

HARRY EGERTON.

Father----

(_Egerton Tosses His Overcoat Into the Side Room_)

MRS. EGERTON.

Harry, is it true You kept the men from going back to work?

HARRY EGERTON.

I wanted to have a talk with father first.

EGERTON.

Um!

GEORGE EGERTON.

(_To his mother_)

There!

MRS. EGERTON.

But hear him, Donald.

HARRY EGERTON.

All my life I've wanted to say something to you, father; Especially since I went to work. You once, When I came home from college, you remember, And hadn't made my mind up what to do, What my life work should be----

EGERTON.

A pretty son!

HARRY EGERTON.

We talked together and you said that now Three things lay open to me, that I could choose And that you'd back me up. First, there was Art.

And though you didn't say so, I could see You'd have been glad if I had chosen that.

I had a talent for it, so you said, And I could study with the best of them.

You'd set aside a hundred thousand dollars; And I could finish up by travelling, Seeing the beautiful buildings of the world; That I could take my time, then settle down And glorify my land: that's what you said.

Then there was Public Life. You'd start me in By giving me the Courier. That, you said, Would give me at once a standing among men And training in political affairs.

And that if I made good you'd see to it I had a seat in Congress, and in the end That probably I'd be Governor of the State.

And then you paused. You didn't like the third.

Business, you said, was an unpleasant life.

'Twas all right as you'd used it, as a means, But as an end--And then you used words, father, That changed my life although you didn't know it-- 'Business, my son, is war; needful at times, But as a life,--you shook your head and sighed.

With that we ended it, for some one came And I went out. Six years ago last June, The seventh of June; I can't forget the day.

The sun was s.h.i.+ning but a strange new light Lay over everything. All of a sudden It dawned upon my mind that I'd been reared Inside a garden full of flowers and trees, And only now had chanced upon the gate And stepped out. There was smoke upon the skies And a rumbling of strange wagons in the street.

I was afraid. For every man I met Seemed just about to ask, 'What side are you on?'

And I was twenty-one and didn't know.

EGERTON.

You seem to have found out since you've been away.

HARRY EGERTON.

I'd always thought 'twas garden everywhere.

I walked on up the river and sat down Upon the logs up there, and night came on.

And in the waters flowing at my feet The lighted land went by, cities and towns And the vast murmur and the daily life Of those that toil, the hunger and the care.

And in my heart I knew that it was true, That what you said was true. And I came back Filled with such peace as I had never known.

'I'll enter business, father.' And I did.

I started at the bottom in the mill Helping the engineer, and from the saws Carried the lumber with the other men.

Then in the yard. You always praised my work.

I'm in the office now at twenty-seven, And Secretary of the Company.

I think I know the business pretty well.

You've said so. But somehow----

(_He pauses_)

MRS. EGERTON.

What is it, Harry?

HARRY EGERTON.

In Public Life, if I had chosen that, And after six years' work that you approved, If one day I had come----

EGERTON.

You want the mill.

HARRY EGERTON.

'Father, I can't go on; my way is blocked And all my hopes are falling to the ground.'

There's nothing, not one thing you wouldn't have done.

Or if I had a building half way up, My masterpiece, a mighty capitol That finished would be known throughout the land, And I had met with interference, men Who had no vision--you know what I mean-- And I had come to you, 'Father, I'm thwarted,'

O I can see with one sweep of your hand How you would clear the skies.

EGERTON.

You want the mill.