"Do you remember," the boy asked, "when you came to our house, a great while ago, and brought your telescope with you?"
"Yes," the old man replied, "and I remember, too, how a certain little fellow got almost crazy when he looked through the instrument, at the moon and stars, and when I told him something about them."
"And do you remember what you said?"
"No, I'm sure I don't."
"Well, I do, as plainly as if you had said it but yesterday; and it was what you said about living to some purpose, and having a high aim, and being governed by high principles, that put a new soul into me."
"And made you talk so largely?"
Samuel colored. "I was a foolish little creature, I suppose," he said.
"No, not a bit of it," said the captain, grasping the young man's hand, "not a bit of it. I was glad to hear you say what you did. I've thought of it a thousand times since, and I have said to myself, 'That chap will make something, if he lives, see if he don't.'"
"Well, he hasn't made anything yet."
The captain laughed. "I don't quite agree with you," he said. "But, let that be as it may, you are young yet, and the great pyramid and St. Peter's church were not built in a minute. Sam, what are you now?"