human
Oh! for a soft and gentle wind, I heard a fair one cry But give to me the roaring breeze, And white waves beating high, And white waves beating high, my boys, The good ship tight and free, The world of waters is our own, And merry men are we.
gpt
A nice morning this for cooling a hot head, that's sartain. Tommy, you rascal, you're like a court lady, with her velvet _gownd_, covered all over with diamonds,
human
You and Jacob were the only sensible ones of the party last night, for you both were sober.
gpt
So was I, father. I was as sober as a judge,
human
May be, Tom, as a judge a'ter dinner; but a judge on the bench be one thing, and a judge over a bottle be another, and not bad judges in that way either. At all events, if you warn't _sewed up_, it wasn't your fault.
gpt
And I suppose, replied Tom,
human
No, I don't say that; but still, when I look at the dog, who's but a beast by nature, and thinks of myself, who wasn't meant to be a beast, why, I blushes, that's all.
gpt
Jacob, look at father--now, does he blush?
human
I can't say that I perceive it,
gpt
Well, then, if I don't it's the fault of my having no legs. I'm sure when they were knocked off I lost half the blood in my body, and that's the reason, I suppose. At all events, I meant to blush, so we'll take the will for the deed.
human
But do you mean to keep sober in future, father?
gpt
Never do you mind that--mind your own business, Mr Tom. At all events, I sha'n't get tipsy till next time, and that's all I can say with safety, 'cause, d'ye see, I knows my failing. Jacob, did you ever see that old gentleman sail too close to the wind before?
human
I never did--I do not think that he was ever tipsy before last night.
gpt
Then I pities him--his headache, and his repentance. Moreover, there be his nose and the swallow-tail of his coat to make him unhappy. We shall be down abreast of the Hospital in half-an-hour. Suppose you go and give him a shake, Jacob. Not you, Tom; I won't trust you--you'll be doing him a mischief; you haven't got no fellow-feeling, not even for dumb brutes.
human
I'll thank you not to take away my character that way, father, replied Tom.
gpt
Didn't I put you to bed last night when you were speechless?
human
Suppose you did--what then?
gpt
Why, then, I had a feeling for a dumb brute. I only say that, father, for the joke of it, you know,
human
Merry thoughts are link'd with laughter, Why should we bury them? Sighs and tears may come hereafter, No need to hurry them. They who through a spying-glass, View the minutes as they pass, Make the sun a gloomy mass, But the fault's their own, Tom.