human
There's a sweet little cherub that sits up aloft, To take care of the life of poor Jack.
gpt
God grant it! God grant it!
human
He seems, continued she,
gpt
Women are--women! that's sartin,
human
Mary, when yonder boundless sea Shall part us, and perchance for ever, Think not my heart can stray from thee, Or cease to mourn thine absence--never! And when in distant climes I roam, Forlorn, unfriended, broken-hearted--
gpt
Don't say so, Tom--don't say so,
human
Oft shall I sigh for thee and home, And all those joys from which I parted.
gpt
Aye, so he does, poor fellow, I'll be bound to say. What would I give to see his dear, smiling face!
human
And I'd give no little, missus, myself. But still, it's the duty for every man to serve his country; and so ought Tom, as his father did before him. I shall be glad to see him back: but I'm not sorry that he's gone. Our ships must be manned, old woman; and if they take men by force, it's only because they won't volunteer--that's all. When they're once on board they don't mind it. You women require pressing just as much as the men, and it's all much of a muchness.
gpt
How's that Tom?
human
Why, when we make love, and ask you to marry, don't you always pout, and say, `No!' You like being kissed, but we must take it by force. So it is with manning a ship. The men all say, `No;' but when they are once there, they like the service very much--only, you see, like you, they want pressing. Don't Tom write and say that he's quite happy, and don't care where he is so long as he's with Jacob?
gpt
Yes; that's true; but they say Jacob is to be discharged and come home, now that he's come to a fortune; and what will Tom say then?