human
For--he has the Reaper say--the Lord has need of the pretty flowers to make his garden in Heaven more bright and fair.
gpt
I never thought er thet, said the girl seriously,
human
And I? Am I a tree, too,
gpt
Yo're the oak. Hit don't bend, neither.
human
And yourself?
gpt
Why, she laughed,
human
I'm jest a rose like my name. A rose jest growrn' inter er bush.
gpt
To be sure you are. Except that roses have thorns.
human
I hev thorns, too,
gpt
I should plumb love ter take keer of babies an' make 'em well an' strong like yo' do,
human
Perhaps you may, someday. You'll have babies of your own.
gpt
Yes, was her simple reply,
human
I shall have babies ter love an' keer for, but I meant thet I wanted ter help all little children.
gpt
A children's nurse, perhaps, like those who work with me,
human
Oh, granddaddy. Haint thet a wonderful thing fer ter do? I shorely wants ter be a trained nurse like thet when I grows up.
gpt
Perhaps you will, some day, who knows?
human
An' what would this hyar old pine do without the rosebush blossomin' close beside him? What would the leetle wild mountain flowers hyarabouts do without thar Smiles ter take keer o' them?
gpt
But ef I could larn ter take _better_ keer o' them ...
human
Wall, yo're only a leetle rosebud yerself now, an' hit's more'n time yo' closed up fer the night. Run erlong ter bed, hon.
gpt
Good night, Smiles, called Donald. She hesitated a moment, then ran back to him with childish impetuosity, flung her slender arms about his neck and kissed him, too, whispering,
human
I loves ye, Dr. Mac, fer thet yo' loves little children.