human
And all the well-contented land, made sweet With flowers she opened at His feet, Shall answer; shout and make the welkin ring And tell it to the stars, shout, shout, and sing; Her cup being full to the brim, Her poverty made rich with Him, Her yearning satisfied to its utmost sum,-- Lift up thy voice, O earth, prepare thy song, It shall not yet be long, Lift up, O earth, for He shall come again, Thy Lord; and He shall reign, and He SHALL reign,-- Thy kingdom come.
gpt
Martin, I wonder who makes all the songs.
human
You do, sir?
gpt
Yes, I wonder how they come.
human
Well, boy, I wonder what you'll wonder next!
gpt
But somebody must make them?
human
Sure enough.
gpt
Does your wife know?
human
She never said she did.
gpt
You told me that she knew so many things.
human
I said she was a London woman, sir, And a fine scholar, but I never said She knew about the songs.
gpt
I wish she did.
human
And I wish no such thing; she knows enough, She knows too much already. Look you now, This vessel's off the stocks, a tidy craft.
gpt
A schooner, Martin?
human
No, boy, no; a brig, Only she's schooner rigged,--a lovely craft.
gpt
Is she for me? O, thank you, Martin, dear. What shall I call her?
human
Well, sir, what you please.
gpt
Then write on her 'The Eagle.'
human
Bless the child! Eagle! why, you know naught of eagles, you. When we lay off the coast, up Canada way, And chanced to be ashore when twilight fell, That was the place for eagles; bald they were, With eyes as yellow as gold.
gpt
O, Martin, dear, Tell me about them.
human
Tell! there's nought to tell, Only they snored o' nights and frighted us.
gpt
Snored?
human
Ay, I tell you, snored; they slept upright In the great oaks by scores; as true as time, If I'd had aught upon my mind just then, I wouldn't have walked that wood for unknown gold; It was most awful. When the moon was full, I've seen them fish at night, in the middle watch, When she got low. I've seen them plunge like stones, And come up fighting with a fish as long, Ay, longer than my arm; and they would sail,-- When they had struck its life out,--they would sail Over the deck, and show their fell, fierce eyes, And croon for pleasure, hug the prey, and speed Grand as a frigate on a wind.
gpt
My ship, She must be called 'The Eagle' after these. And, Martin, ask your wife about the songs When you go in at dinner-time.
human
Not I.