human
Dear friend, said the schoolmaster,
gpt
You stay!
human
I? I stay? Ah! sir, I stay, yes! Because like Claude, leaving my home and seeking by wandering to find the true place of my utility, a voice spake that I come at Grande Pointe. Behole me! as far from my childhood home as Claude from his. Friend,--ah! friend, what shall I,--shall Claude,--shall any man do with education! Keep it? Like a miser his gol'? What shall the ship do when she is load'? Dear friend, --they halted where another road started away through the underbrush at an abrupt angle on their right,--
gpt
Well, den, --the deep-voiced woodman stood with one boot on a low stump, fiercely trimming a branch that he had struck from the parent stem with one blow of his big, keen clasp-knife,--
human
Ah, sir! replied Bonaventure,
gpt
He laid his hand upon St. Pierre's shoulder.
human
And who sent Claude hence if not his unselfish father?
gpt
I was big fool,
human
Nay, wise! Discovering the great rule of civilize-ation. Every man not for self, but for every other!
gpt
Naw, I dunno nut'n' 'bout dat. I look out for me and my boy, me.--And beside, --he abruptly threw away the staff he had trimmed, shut his knife with a snap, and thrust it into his pocket,--
human
I dawn't see ed'cation make no diff'ence. You say ed'cation--priest say religion--me, I dawn't see neider one make no diff'ence. I see every man look out for hisself and his li'l' crowd. Not you, but
gpt
Ah, sir! cried Bonaventure,
human
--he lifted himself upon tiptoe and ran his fingers through his thin hair--
gpt
Yass, said the woodman,
human
Yes, truly; and it is.
gpt
But what use knowledge be power if goin' give ev't'in' away?
human
Because--because God will not let it sta-a-ay given away! 'Give--it shall be give' to you.' Every thing given out into God's worl' come back to us roun' God's worl'! Resem'ling the stirring of water in a bucket.
gpt
Yass,--wat' in bucket,--yass. Den no man dawn't keep nut'n'. Dawn't own nut'n' he got.
human
Ah! sir, there is a better owning than to _own_. 'Tis giving, dear friend; 'tis giving. To get? To have? That is not to own. The giver, not the getter; the giver! he is the true owner. Live thou not to get, but to give.
gpt
Bonaventure, I don't got much. I got dat li'l' shanty on Bayou des Acadiens, and li'l' plunder inside--few kittle', and pan',--cast-net, fish-line', two, t'ree gun', and--my wife' grave, yond' in graveyard. But I got Claude,--my boy, my son. You t'ink God want me give my son to whole worl'?
human
He gave His, first. He started it. Who can refuse, He starting it? And thou wilt not refuse. The voice rose--
gpt
I see, I see the victory! Well art thou nominated 'St. Pierre!' for on that rock of giving
human
Naw, sir! Stop! The swamper dashed the moisture from his eyes and summoned a look of stubborn resolve.
gpt
Mo' better you call me St. Pierre because I'm a fisherman what cuss when I git mad. Look! You dawn't want me git Claude back in Gran' Point'. You want me to give, give. Well, all right! I goin' _quit_ Gran' Point' and give myself, me, to Claude. I kin read, I kin write, I t'ink kin do better 'long wid Claude dan livin' all 'lone wid snake' and alligator. I t'ink dass mo' better for everybody; and anyhow, I dawn't care; I dawn't give my son to nobody; I give myself to Claude.