human
Jack, said Mrs Matterby, on the Christmas morning which ushered in her boy's ninth birthday,
gpt
You always do, mammy, on my birthdays,
human
I want you to go with a message to a poor woman,
gpt
Is that all?
human
Yes, that's all--or nearly all, replied his mother, with a twinkle in her eye, however, which kept her son from open rebellion.
gpt
I want you to carry this basket of good things, with my best love and Christmas good-wishes, to old Nell Grove.
human
Oho! exclaimed Jack, brightening up at once,
gpt
I'm your man; here, give me the basket. But, mother, he added with a sudden look of perplexity,
human
True, Jack; old Nell is not poor in one sense: she is rich in faith. She has got `contentment with godliness,' and many rich people have not got that. Nevertheless she has none too much of the necessaries of this life, and none at all of the luxuries, so that she is what people usually call poor.
gpt
That's a puzzler, mammy--poor and rich both!
human
I daresay it is a puzzler, replied Mrs Matterby, with a laugh,
gpt
She's as merry as a cricket to-day,
human
Yes, as 'erry as a kiket,
gpt
She's always 'erry, said Jack, giving the little girl a gentle pull of the nose by way of expressing good will.
human
A merry Christmas both! How are you? See here, what mother has sent to old Nell.
gpt
Oh! I _say_!