human
Look, he cried, breaking into Joe’s day-dream by poking him in the ribs,
gpt
Mighty big one—and a mighty dirty one, too, commented Sam, hanging away out of the wagon to get a better look at it.
human
Look at the whopping big bridge across it! he whooped, pointing at the great bridge that spanned the muddy waters.
gpt
Hey, Father, what river is that? It’s a mighty big one!
human
What river is that? That’s a great question for a boy your age to ask! Don’t you know where we are? What have you studied geography for if you don’t know what river that is?
gpt
Oh, I know! shouted Ruth,
human
I know, Father! It’s the Mississippi! This is Illinois, that State over there is Iowa, and that is the Mississippi that flows between!
gpt
Ah, good girl! applauded her father.
human
Of course! The Mississippi—the great Father of Waters. And the boundary line —he continued thoughtfully, speaking more to himself than the children,—
gpt
The Mississippi at last—hurray!
human
Huh, I knew it all the time, grunted Sam.
gpt
Ruth needn’t think she’s so smart. Golly, when I got kept in last winter ’cause I couldn’t tell what States were bounded by the Mississippi I didn’t think I’d be crossing it so soon!