human
He's able-bodied enough at mealtimes, I notice, she retorted.
gpt
I've heard that tune ever since I knowed him; he can't fool me!
human
Not about the all-goneness, have you? Billy Louise was preparing to wipe the dishes for Marthy.
gpt
I know he always had 'cricks' in different parts of his anatomy, but I never heard about his feeling all-gone, before. That sounds mysterious, don't you think?
human
No; and he never had nothin' the matter with his anatomy, neither; his anatomy's just as sound as mine. Jase was born lazy, is all ails him.
gpt
But, Marthy, haven't you noticed he doesn't look as well as he used to? He has a sort of gray look, don't you think? And his eyes are so puffy underneath, lately.
human
No, I ain't noticed nothing wrong with him that ain't always been wrong. Marthy spoke grudgingly, as if she resented even the possibility of Jase's having a real ailment.
gpt
He's feelin' his years, mebby. But he ain't no call to; Jase ain't but three years older 'n I be, and I ain't but fifty-nine last birthday. And I've worked and slaved here in this Cove fer twenty-seven years, now; what it is I've made it. Jase ain't ever done a hand's turn that he wasn't obliged to do. I've chopped wood, and I've built corrals and dug ditches, and Jase has puttered around and whined that he wasn't able-bodied enough to do no heavy lifting. That there orchard out there I planted and packed water in buckets to it till I got the ditch through. Them corrals down next the river I built. I dug the post-holes, and Jase set the posts in and held 'em steady while I tamped the dirt! In winter I've hauled hay and fed the cattle; and Jase, he packed a bucket uh slop, mebby, to the pigs! If he ain't as able-bodied as I be, it's because he ain't done nothing to git strong on. He can't come around me now with that all-gone feeling uh his; I know Jase Meilke like a book.
human
Why, do you know, every time I rode old Badger anywhere, after that day you told me about Minervy, I used to pretend that Minervy rode behind me. I used to talk to her by the hour and take her places. And up our canyon is a cave that I used to play was Minervy's cave. I had another one, and I used to go over and visit Minervy. And I had another pretend playmate--a boy--and we used to have adventures. It's a queer place; I just found that cave by accident. I don't believe there's another person in the country who knows it's there at all. Well, that's Minervy's cave to me yet. And, Marthy-- Billy Louise giggled a little and eyed the old woman with a sidelong look that would have set a young man's blood a-jump--
gpt
I hope you won't be mad; I was just a kid, and I didn't know any better. But just to show you how much I thought: I had a little pig, and I named it Minervy, after you told me about her. And mommie told me that was no name for it; it was--it wasn't a girl pig, mommie said. So I called it Man-ervy, as the next best thing. She gave Marthy another wasted glance from the corners of her eyes.
human
Oh, Marthy! she cried remorsefully, setting down the gravy bowl that she might pat Marthy on her fat, age-rounded shoulder.
gpt
What a little beast I am! I shouldn't have told that; but honest, I thought it was an honor. I--I just worshiped that pig!