human
Louise, please. Uncle Abram. Lou Grayling,
gpt
Then just you call me Cap'n Abe. I'm sort o' useter that,
human
Of course I will. But why haven't you been free? she asked, reverting to his previous topic.
gpt
Seems to me--down here on the Cape where the sea breezes blow, and everything is open----
human
Jerry was give to me by a lady when he was a young bird. After a while I got thinkin' a heap about him bein' caged, and one sunshiny day--it was a marker for days down here on the Cape, an' we have lots on 'em! One sunshiny day I opened his door and opened the window, and I says: 'Scoot! The hull world's yourn!'
gpt
And didn't he go?
human
Did he go? Right out through that window with a song that'd break your heart to hear, 'twas so sweet. He pitched on the old apple tree yonder--the August sweet'nin'--and I thought he'd bust his throat a-tellin' of how glad he was to be free out there in God's sunshine an' open air.
gpt
He came back, I see,
human
That's just it! cried Cap'n Abe, shaking his head till the tarpaulin fell off and he forgot to pick it up.
gpt
That's just it. He come back of his own self. I didn't try to ketch him. When it grew on toward sundown an' the air got kinder chill, I didn't hear Jerry singin' no more. I'd seen him, off'n on, flittin' 'bout the yard all day. When I come in here to light the hangin'-lamp cal'latin' to make supper, I looked over there at the window. I'd shut it. There was Jerry on the window sill, humped all up like an old woman with the tisic.
human
The poor thing!
gpt
But now tell me, Niece Louise, he added with latent curiosity,
human
Father says--'Daddy-professor,' you know is what I call him. He says if we had not always been traveling when I was not at school, I should have known you long ago. He thinks very highly of my mother's people.
gpt
I wanter know!
human
He says you are the 'salt of the earth'--that is his very expression.
gpt
Yes. We're pretty average salt, I guess, admitted Cap'n Abe.
human
I never seen your father but once or twice. You see, Louise, your mother was a lot younger'n me an' Am'zon.
gpt
Who?
human
Cap'n Am'zon. Oh! _I_ ain't the only uncle you got, he said, watching her narrowly.
gpt
Cap'n Am'zon Silt----
human
Have I another relative? How jolly!
gpt
Ye-as. Ain't it? Jest, Cap'n Abe said.
human
Ahem! your father never spoke of Cap'n Am'zon?
gpt
I don't believe daddy-prof even knew there was such a person.
human
Mebbe not. Mebbe not, Cap'n Abe agreed hastily.
gpt
And not to be wondered at. You see, Am'zon went to sea when he was only jest a boy.
human
Did he?
gpt
Yep. Ran away from home--like most boys done in them days, for their mothers warn't partial to the sea--and shipped aboard the whaler _South Sea Belle_. He tied his socks an' shirt an' a book o' navigation he owned, up in a handkerchief, and slipped out over the shed roof one night, and away he went.
human
I can remember it clear 'nough. He walked all the way to New Bedford. We lived at Rocky Head over against Bayport. Twas quite a step to Bedford. The _South Sea Belle_ was havin' hard time makin' up her crew. She warn't a new ship. Am'zon was twelve year old an' looked fifteen. An' he was fifteen 'fore he got back from that v'y'ge. Mebbe I'll tell ye 'bout it some time--or Cap'n Am'zon will. He's been a deep-bottom sailor from that day to this.
gpt
And where is he now?
human
Why--mebbe!--he's on his way here. I shouldn't wonder. He might step in at that door any minute,
gpt
I'll jest see who 'tis,