"What would we do without you?"
Captain Jim smiled beautifully.
"Oh, you'd get along nicely--nicely--but you wouldn't
forget the old man altogether, Mistress Blythe--no, I
don't think you'll ever quite forget him. The race of
Joseph always remembers one another. But it'll be a
memory that won't hurt--I like to think that my memory
won't hurt my friends--it'll always be kind of pleasant
to them, I hope and believe. It won't be very long now
before lost Margaret calls me, for the last time. I'll
be all ready to answer. I jest spoke of this because
there's a little favor I want to ask you. Here's this
poor old Matey of mine"--Captain Jim reached out a
hand and poked the big, warm, velvety, golden ball on
the sofa. The First Mate uncoiled himself like a
spring with a nice, throaty, comfortable sound, half
purr, half meow, stretched his paws in air, turned over
and coiled himself up again. "HE'll miss me when I
start on the V'yage. I can't bear to think of leaving
the poor critter to starve, like he was left before.
If anything happens to me will you give Matey a bite
and a corner, Mistress Blythe?"
"Indeed I will.
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