J. Q. A. Why! I paid myself, of course. What do you take me for? When I got to New York I got another chance as train-boy, all the way through; and I’ve peddled out water in a big-nosed coffee-pot from Annisport to New Orleans. And sold books, too! And prize packages, and things, and magazines. (_Calls_) “Harper’s! December Harper’s! Baby Pathfinder! Puck! Peanuts! Gum drops? (_Offers his basket to_ MARY.) MARY. You funny boy! CAPT. G. Well, yer see, yer marm— MARY (_interrupting_). Sit down, father. (_Offers him a camp-stool._) CAPT. G. No, I just ’s lives stand. (_Leans against railing._) Yer marm took boarders all summer, an’ she made me take that money. She said ’twould never do any more good; an’, then, Leafy Jane, she’s l’arnt the millinger’s trade, an’ she giv’ me some o’ hern. J. Q. A. I tried to get a pass for him, part way, at least; but them railroad men are so mean they’ll never help a fellow along. CAPT. G. Haow is little Nate? MARY. Oh! he’s all right! Here he is, father. Come and see him. (_They go together to the hammock._) He hasn’t been sick a day this summer. The dear little fellow! He grows like a weed. J. Q. A. (_at the hammock, aside_). A pig weed, I s’pose. CAPT. G. Yer see, Mary, yer trouble has set me ter thinkin’; an’ when you wrote they was goin’ to take away yer boat, just cos yer was a woman, by the great horn spoon, I was mad: for yer a Gandy cl’ar through, a sea-cap’n born like all the rest on us. And I’ve made up my mind that wimmin’s rights must be worth suthin’ to wimmin, as well as men’s rights to men. An’, as old Pete Rosson said, when he felt so bad about yer losing the boat, “Sence a woman can’t allus hev her husband or her father tew take care on her, she ort to have the right to take care o’ herself, an’ then she can use it or not, as she wants tew.” An’ so I begin to think that I don’t care if we do let ’em vote. J. Q. A. (_examining the wheel_). Cracky! you can’t make me believe that. I shall vote in five years, and I’m sure I don’t want Leafy Jane taggin’ after me to the poles. ’Tain’t any place for girls. CAPT. G. Stop yer gab! Wait till yer ten year older an’ then if yer up for _see_-lectman, yer’ll be glad enuf ter have tem vote for _yaou_! J. Q. A. Wouldn’t I make a healthy selectman? Yes, I guess not! CAPT. G. An’—an’, Mary, I want to tell yer suthin’ else. I gin in about yer mother’s caarf, an’ went an’ bought her back. To be sure, she ain’t a caarf no longer, but a good likely heifer; but yer mother sez the principle ’s just as good as if she was jest born, or as old as Methuselum. An’ she’s tickled enuf abaout it, an’ she said men ain’t so bad arter all, if yer can onny make ’em see what is wimmin’s jest dues. (_Enter_ PHUS, L.) PHUS. Oh, mis’! dere’s a s’prise for yer, a golly big one! MARY. A surprise! What is it? PHUS. Dere’s two ladies talking to Hank; an’ one looks so peart, so peart, oh, Lor’! (_Turns to_ R. _Aside_) I wan’ tell her de res’. O, golly! I can’t keep in.