Mary. Have you found anybody yet to take Patsy’s place, if he leaves?
Phus. No, mis’. All de boys dey say as dey won’t be de mate to no woman. Dey say you has no licens’, an’ can’t be de cap’n. An’ Mass’ Rumberg, he cum an’ take away de Keyhole’s Bride.
Mary. Oh, Phus! is that what they say? Then that is the reason that I could not get the cargo that was promised here; and when they knew, too, that I had been running the boat these three months all alone!
Phus. When de cap’n cum hum?
Mary. Not until December, Phus.
Phus. Whar’s he, mis’, now?
Mary. Away out to sea, on a ship; not a steamboat—a sailing vessel. The doctor said it would cure him if he took a sea-voyage.
Phus. Is de sea bigger dan de Missip’ or de Gulf Mex’?
Mary. Oh, yes, Phus! a good deal bigger, and wider, too. You can’t see across.
Phus. O, sho!