To relax himself Adam Cartwright had nestled himself in his chair with a thick book. He was alone at home so what stopped him from putting his feet on the little salon table? Nothing. Already at the first page the eldest Cartwright boy had lost himself in the story.
Adam didn’t even notice that his father Ben Cartwright came in and found his son that way. First the rancher looked very amazed at Adam and knew then enough.
“Adam Poindexter Cartwright!”, he said strict.
Adam looked up and asked dry, “You called?”
“No, that was Hop Sing. Of course I called you. Why are your feet lying on the table?”, asked Ben.
Adam looked at the little salon table and answered, “Because they don’t lie on the ground.”
“Haven’t I taught you any manners?”, asked Ben.
“Yes you did, but I have forgotten them”, was the answer.
“Let me remind you then. At least one. Feet on table is unpolite”, said the rancher.
“That was it what I couldn’t remember anymore”, reacted Adam.
“Little Joe may not do it so you neither. Even though you are my eldest son”, said Ben.
He went to sit on the little table. Adam looked at him smiling.
“Err pa, if we may not sit with our feet on the little table then you may not sit on the little table. You are our father and after all you must set the good example to us”, Adam said sarcastic.
Ben sighted and knew that Adam was right. Then he tried another tack.
“Imagine, that there is a little one of your make walking around here. And he or she saw you sitting like that while you have taught the child that he or she may not sit with the feet on the table. And he or she addresses you to that. How would you react then,?”, asked Ben.
Adam swallowed. He hadn’t expect this question. But he had the answer ready very quickly.
“Well, I would raise my offspring so that they would never find me in this position”, answered Adam.
Then he looked smiling at his father who still was sitting on the little table.
“If your grandchildren see you sitting like that they think that they may do it too. So then you may not do it either”, he said.
Again Ben was discomfited and by his eldest son yet. He didn’t really like it.
“Alright, you win. For this time then. But if I see you sitting this way one more time something will sway your way”, said Ben.
“Was that all?”, Adam asked dry.
“That was indeed all. Why?”, Ben wanted to know.
“Then I can read on in peace”, was the answer.
Adam got his book and continued to read with his feet still on the table. Ben got up and went to keep himself busy with the administration.