human
Come, Jacob, a drop will do you good, said old Tom, filling me one of the pannikins.
gpt
A'ter all, it's much better being snug here in this little cabin than shivering with fear and cold under old Abershaw's gallows; and Tom, you scamp, if ever you go gunning again I'll disinherit you.
human
What have you got to leave, father, except your wooden legs? replied Tom.
gpt
Your's would be but a _wooden-leg_-acy.
human
How do you know but what I can `_post the coal_?'
gpt
So you will, if I boil a pot o' 'tatoes with your legacy--but it will only be char-coal.
human
Well, I believe you are about right, Tom; still, somehow or other, the old woman always picks out a piece or two of gold when I'm rather puzzled how to raise the wind. I never keeps no 'count with her. If I follow my legs before she, I hope the old soul will have saved something; for you know when a man goes to kingdom come, his pension goes with him. However, let me only hold on another five years, and then you'll not see her want; will you, Tom?
gpt
No, father; I'll sell myself to the king, and stand to be shot at, at a shilling a day, and give the old woman half.
human
Well, Tom, 'tis but natural for a man to wish to serve his country; so here's to you, my lad, and may you never do worse! Jacob, do you think of going on board of a man-of-war?
gpt
I'd like to serve my apprenticeship first, and then I don't care how soon.
human
Well, my boy, you'll meet more fair play on board of a king's ship than you have from those on shore.
gpt
I should hope so,
human
I hope to see you a man before I die, yet, Jacob. I shall very soon be laid up in ordinary--my toes pain me a good deal lately!
gpt
Your toes!
human
Yes, boys; you may think it odd, but sometimes I feel them just as plain as if they were now on, instead of being long ago in some shark's maw. At nights I has the cramp in them till it almost makes me halloo out with pain. It's a hard thing, when one has lost the sarvice of his legs, that all the feelings should remain. The doctor says as how it's narvous. Come, Jacob, shove in your pannikin. You seem to take it more kindly than you did.
gpt
Yes, replied I,
human
I begin to like grog now.