human
All right, all right with Phoebe?
gpt
Right as ninepence, faither--gran'faither, I should say. A butivul li'l man she've got--out o' the common fine, Parsons says, as ought to knaw--fat as a slug wi' 'mazin' dark curls on his wee head, though my mother says 'tis awnly a sort o' catch-crop, an' not the lasting hair as'll come arter.
human
A bwoy! Glory be! said Mr. Blee.
gpt
If theer's awnly a bit o' the gracious gudeness of his gran'faither in un, 'twill prove a prosperous infant.
human
Thank God for a happy end to all my prayers, said Mr. Lyddon.
gpt
Billy, get Will something to eat an' drink. I guess he's hungry an' starved.
human
Caan't eat, Miller; but I'll have a drop of the best, if it's all the same to you. Us must drink their healths, both of 'em. As for me 'tis a gert thing to be the faither of a cheel as'll graw into a man some day, an' may even be a historical character, awnly give un time.
gpt
So 'tis a gert thing. Sit down; doan't tramp about. I lay you've been on your feet enough these late hours.
human
Us be faced wi' the upbringing an' edication of un. I mean him to be brought up to a power o' knowledge, for theer's nothin' like it. Doan't you think I be gwaine to shirk doin' the right thing by un', Miller, 'cause it aint so. If 'twas my last fi'-pun' note was called up for larnin' him, he'd have it.
gpt
Theer's no gert hurry yet, declared Billy.
human
Awnly you'm right to look in the future and weigh the debt every man owes to the cheel he gets. He'll never cost you less thought or halfpence than he do to-day, an', wi'out croakin' at such a gay time, I will say he'll graw into a greater care an' trouble, every breath he draws.
gpt
Not him! Not the way I'm gwaine to bring un up. Stern an' strict an' no nonsense, I promise 'e
human
That's right. Tame un from the breast. I'd like for my paart to think as the very sapling be grawin' now as'll give his li'l behind its fust lesson in the ways o' duty, declared Mr. Blee.
gpt
Theer 's certain things you must be flint-hard about, an' fust comes lying. Doan't let un lie; flog it out of un; an' mind, 'tis better for your arm to ache than for his soul to burn.
human
You leave me to do right by un. You caan't teach me, Billy, not bein' a parent; though I allow what you say is true enough.
gpt
An' set un to work early; get un into ways o' work so soon as he's able to wear corduroys. An' doan't never let un be cruel to beastes; an' doan't let un--
human
Theer, theer! cried Mr. Lyddon.
gpt
Have done with 'e! You speak as fules both, settin' out rules o' life for an hour-old babe. You talk to his mother about taming of un an' grawing saplings for his better bringing-up. She'll tell 'e a thing or two. Just mind the slowness o' growth in the human young. 'T will be years before theer's enough of un to beat.
human
They do come very gradual to fulness o' body an' reason, admitted Billy;
gpt
They 'm poor li'l twoads at fust, no doubt,
human
Ess, indeed they be. 'T is a coorious circumstance, but generally allowed, that humans are the awnly creatures o' God wi' understandin', an' yet they comes into the world more helpless an' brainless, an' bides longer helpless an' brainless than any other beast knawn.
gpt
Shouldn't call 'em 'beastes' 'zactly, seem' they've got the Holy Ghost from the church font ever after, objected Billy.
human
When all's said, you caan't look tu far ahead or be tu forehanded wi' bwoys, resumed Will.
gpt
Gallopin' down-long I said to myself, 'Theer's things he may do an' things he may not do. He shall choose his awn road in reason, but he must be guided by me in the choice.' I won't let un go for a sailor--never. I'll cut un off wi' a shillin' if he thinks of it.
human
Time enough when he can walk an' talk, I reckon,
gpt
Ess, that's very well, continued Will,
human
By God! I knaw it! retorted Mr. Lyddon, with an expression wherein appeared mingled feelings not a few;
gpt
Ess, fay! You'm right theer. I should take Time by the forelock if I was you, an' see if you can find a maiden as'll suit un while you go back-along through the village.
human
Awnly, as 'tis better for the man to number more years than the wummon, added Billy,
gpt
Now, you'm fulin me! An' I caan't stay no more whether or no, 'cause I was promised to see Phoebe an' my son in the arternoon. Us be gwaine to call un Vincent William Blanchard, arter you an' me, Miller; an' if it had been a gal, us meant to call un arter mother; an' I do thank God 'bout the wee bwoy in all solemn soberness, 'cause 'tis the fust real gude thing as have falled to us since the gwaine of poor Chris. 'Twill be a joy to my mother an' a gude gran'son to you, I hope.
human
Go home, go home, said Mr. Lyddon.
gpt
Get along with 'e this minute, an' tell your wife I'm greatly pleased, an' shall come to see her mighty soon. Let us knaw every day how she fares--an'--an'--I'm glad as you called the laddie arter me. 'Twas a seemly thought.