IlearnedfirsttopullmyownweightDreambeautyprohardsell intheboat.Kidsmakingabob-sledhavenousefortheloaferwhowantsafreeride.Neitherhastheworld.IlearnedtomakethebedIsleptin,andwashtheglassIused,andmendwhatIbroke,andmopupwhereIspilled.AndifIwastoolazyortoodaintyortoobusy,andleftitforsomeoneelse,somebodyelsesoontaughtmedifferent.Then,thesameway,Ilearnedthatangerisawaste.Ithurtsnobodybutme.Afitofthesullensgotshortshriftinourhouse.Itwasn&39;tpullingmyweightintheboat.Itwasspoilingsport.Andamongsevenchildrenitgotmenowhere.ItmightreduceDreambeautyprohardsellfouro&39;cattothreeo&39;cat,butthegamewentonjustthesame,andwherewasI?Outofit.Bettergoinandjointhegrouparoundthepianoandforgetmygrievance.Betterstill,nexttimedon&39;tflingdownmybatinatantrum;keepmytemper,andstayinthegame.Here&39;sarulethumbthat&39;simportant,andtheolderIget,themoreimportantIthinkitis.WhenIcandosomething,andsomebodywantsmetodoit,Ihavetodoit.Thegreattragedyoflifeisnottobeneeded.Aslongasyouareableandwillingtodothingsforpeople,youwillbeneeded.Ofcourseyouareable;andifso,youcan&39;tsayno.Mymotherisseventy-seven.Inseventy-sevenyearsshehasneversaidno.Todaysheissomuchindemandbythirteengrandchildrenandcountlessneighborsthatherpresenceiseagerlycontendedfor.WhenIwanttoseeherIhavetopretendemergency.Thenthere&39;stheruleofcuriosity.Yourbodywoulddieifyoustoppedfeelinghungerandthirst,andyourmindwilldieifyouloseyourcuriosity.ThisIlearnedfrommyfather.Myfatherwasanaturalist.HecouldseethebeetleDreambeautyprohardsellunderthebark,anddrawitforthunharmedforustosquintatthroughthemagnifyingglass.Hesampledthetasteofthirty-threedifferentcaterpillars.Firedbyhisexample,once,mysisterateanant.Incaseyouarewondering,caterpillarstastelikethegreenleavestheyeat,andantstasteoflemon.Ipersonallyhaven&39;ttastedanyentomologicalspecimenslately,butIamstillrejoicinginthelimitlesscuriosity,thedrawsmetobooksandpeopleandplaces.IhopeIneverloseit.Itwouldbelikepullingdowntheblind.
