human
He may look fat enough, but I’ve been up with him night and day all winter, she said.
gpt
Amonia of the lungs ’twas, and the mumps first of November. So much nursin’ is bad for me on account of my heart.
human
Do you have heart trouble?
gpt
Yes, Miss. But that’s not the worst. I’ve got a disease that will take me off some day, I s’pose. She lowered her voice thrillingly.
human
Lots of folks die of it. You’ll see by the papers. It’s complication.
gpt
Complication!
human
Complication, repeated Mrs. Dunn, as if determined to make no concessions.
gpt
I guess it’s pretty near the most fatal of any. You can buy things at any drug store to cure consumption and amonia of the lungs, but there ain’t a cure for complication. I ast the druggist myself and he said he didn’t know of none.
human
I don’t suppose Jimmy is home?
gpt
No, Miss. He’s off sellin’ papers.
human
He’s left school, has he? It’s a pity, for he seems so bright.
gpt
Jimmy’s been through the fourth grade, said Mrs. Dunn.
human
He can read well enough for anybody. And Francesca, she pretty near finished the fourth grade, too, and she’s in the factory now. In the spring they’re going to give her a machine.
gpt
Isn’t she pretty young? I thought they weren’t allowed to work in the factory till--
human
Francesca got a permit, explained Mrs. Dunn,
gpt
Do you mean that Mr. Dunn hasn’t any work at all? exclaimed Peggy.
human
Do you have to live on what those two children earn?
gpt
This is gettin’ to be such a country that a man can’t earn an honest living, she said.
human
Mr. Dunn’s an awful smart man. He can turn his hand to most anything, but these Eytalians and other furren folks is comin’, and takin’ away all the jobs. The doctor told me last week that I’d ought to get some medicine to make my complication a little easier, but I haven’t had a cent to spare for it. Seems as if it took all Jimmy and Francesca make to keep us in coal, and pay the rent.