"But you must handle him easy, mother," warns Wilfred.
"That person!" snorts mother. "I shall have nothing to do with him whatever. I mean to get you out of this, Wilfred. I am going straight to the general."
"Now, mother!" protests Wilfred. "Don't make a scene."
When she was properly stirred up, though, that was mother's long suit. And she starts right in. Course, I tried to head her off, but it's no use. As there wasn't a general handy, she had to be satisfied with a major. Seemed like a mighty busy major, too; but when he heard his orderly tryin' to shunt the ladies, he gives the signal to let 'em in. You can bet I didn't follow. Didn't have to, for Mrs. Bliss wasn't doin' any whisperin' about then.
And she sure made it plain to the major how little she thought of the U. S. Army, and specially that part of it located at Allentown, Pa. Havin' got that off her chest, and been listened to patient, she demands that Wilfred be excused from all his disgustin' duties, and be allowed to go home with her at once and for good.
The major shakes his head. "Impossible!" says he.
"Then," says Mrs. Stanton Bliss, tossin' her head, "I shall appeal to the Secretary of War; to the President, if necessary."
The major smiles weary. "You'd best talk to his sergeant," says he. "If he recommends your son's discharge it may go through."
"That person!" exclaims Mrs. Bliss. "Never! I—I might talk to his captain. "
"Useless, madam," says the major. "See his sergeant; he's the one."