第1部分(第3/6 頁)

d　he　show　any　envy　of　the　more　fortunate　or　able。　What　he　looked　for　in　others　was　a　“good　heart”；　and　if　he　found　one；　the　owner　was　good　enough　for　him。

Now　that　I　am　older；　I　believe　that　is　a　proper　standard　by　which　to　judge　people；　even　though　I　still　don’t　know　precisely　what　a　“good　heart”　is。　But　I　know　the　times　I　don’t　have　one　myself。

Unable　to　engage　in　many　activities；　my　father　still　tried　to　participate　in　some　way。　When　a　local　sandlot　baseball　team　found　itself　without　a　manager；　he　kept　it　going。　He　was　a　knowledgeable　baseball　fan　and　often　took　me　to　Ebbets　Field　to　see　the　Brooklyn　Dodgers　play。　He　liked　to　go　to　dances　and　parties；　where　he　could　have　a　good　time　just　sitting　and　watching。

On　one　memorable　occasion　a　fight　broke　out　at　a　beach　party；　with　everyone　punching　and　shoving。　He　wasn’t　content　to　sit　and　watch；　but　he　couldn’t　stand　unaided　on　the　soft　sand。　In　frustration3　he　began　to　shout；　“I’ll　fight　anyone　who　will　sit　down　with　me！”　Nobody　did。　But　the　next　day　people　kidded　him　by　saying　it　was　the　first　time　any　fighter　was　urged　to　take　a　dive　even　before　the　bout　began。

I　now　know　he　participated　in　some　things　vicariously　through　me；　his　only　son。　When　I　played　ball　（poorly）；　he　“played”　too。　When　I　joined　the　Navy；　he　“joined”　too。　And　when　I　came　home　on　leave；　he　saw　to　it　that　I　visited　his　office。　Introducing　me；　he　was　really　saying；　“This　is　my　son；　but　it　is　also　me；　and　I　could　have　done　this；　to