human
What you doing so for?
gpt
It's jest this, said William Price.
human
Here's a little bag of them molasses-balls, I'll give 'em to ye; but don't you never, as long as you live, buy anything you 'ain't either got the money to pay for in your fist, ready, or know jest where it's comin' from. It's stealin', and it's the wust kind of stealin', 'cause it ain't out an' out. I had a boy once about your size.
gpt
Where's he now?
human
He's dead; died years ago of scarlet-fever, and I'd a good deal rather have it so, much as I thought of him--as much as your father thinks of you--than to have him grow up and steal and cheat folks.
gpt
Didn't he ever take anything that didn't belong to him?
human
Never. I guess he didn't. John wasn't that kind of a boy. I'd have trusted him with anythin'.
gpt
Then he must have gone to heaven, I suppose, said Eddy. He looked soberly into the old clerk's eyes.
human
Thank you for the molasses-balls, he said.
gpt
I meant to pay for 'em, but I don't know just when I'd have the money, so I guess it's better for you to give them to me. Mr. Anderson won't mind, will he?
human
No, he won't, for I shall put fives cents into the cash-drawer for them,
gpt
I wouldn't want to have you take anything that Mr. Anderson wouldn't like,
human
I shouldn't,
gpt
The first five-cent piece I get I'll pay you, he said. He had popped a molasses-ball into his mouth, and his utterance was somewhat impeded.
human
I thank you very much, indeed, he said,
gpt
Have you just lost a boy?
human
Twenty years ago,
gpt
Land!