human
My, my, Sonny, but you've got a fine string there!
gpt
Pretty good for one day,
human
An' just ter think I ain't had nothin' ter eat in 'most two days.
gpt
Don't you live nowhere?
human
I used ter have a home afore the war, but my folks thought I wuz dead an' moved away. I'm tryin' ter find 'em. Hit's a hard job with a Britisher's bullet still a-pinchin' me in the leg.
gpt
Did you fight with General Washington?
human
Lordy, no, I ain't that old, ef I do look like a scarecrow. No, I fit under Old Hickory at New Orleans. I tell ye, Sonny, them Britishers burnt out Washington fur us but we give 'em a taste o' fire at New Orleans they ain't goin' ter fergit.
gpt
Did we lick 'em good?
human
Boy, ye ain't never heard tell er sich a scrimmage--we thrashed 'em till they warn't no fight in 'em, an' they scrambled back aboard them ships an' skeddaddled home. Britishers can't fight nohow. We've licked 'em twice an' we kin lick 'em agin. But the old soldier that does the fightin'--everybody fergits him!
gpt
You can have my fish if ye want 'em; they'll make you a nice supper.
human
You're a fine boy! I won't fergit you, Sonny!
gpt
Did I do right, Ma?
human
Yes--I'm proud of you. I know what that gift cost a boy's heart. It was big because it was all you had and the pride of your soul was in it.