V WOMEN AND KIDS 285 



'Well, I ilo like to see these here women about. 

 They liorks here like men. They don't try to do 

 the lady like they does at home, which they can't 

 do if they wants to. They helps their husbands. 

 An' they wears pretty caps, too. An' they don't 

 giggle an' screech nuther. They'm wxll behaved 

 here; nice an' quiet like, for all they eyes 'ee 

 sometimes. When I gets back I shall tell the ol' 

 'omnn her'll hae to help me — come down to the 

 boats an' work instead o' biding in house.' 



'Who'll take care of the kids?' 



'Who takes care o'em here?' 



'They haven't got many — two or three at most. 

 They don't want 'em.' 



'/ do. The more the merrier, I say. But I 

 should like to know what they carries in those 

 baskets on their backs, an' w^'er the slings don't 

 hurt their chests. An' I'd ask 'em, too, If I could 

 speak the lingo. — Here, my dear! I wants to 

 speak to 'ee.' 



'Thee't better not to, Jim.' 



'Can't a fellow speak to any girl he wants to 

 in this here country? Her's gone now, an' her 

 smiled to me.' 



At home Jim can frolic with very nearly whom 

 he will. He has a way with him. 'Funny ol' 



