I used to do other things , as you 'd admit if you saw my life-book . '' I was so hungry and tired that I did not then `` rise to the bait '' of Uncle Jesse 's `` life-book . '' I simply wanted to begin on those trout . Mother insisted that Uncle Jesse sit down and help us eat the repast he had prepared , and he assented without undue coaxing . `` Thank ye kindly . ` Twill be a real treat . I mostly has to eat my meals alone , with the reflection of my ugly old phiz in a looking glass opposite for company . 'T is n't often I have the chance to sit down with two such sweet purty ladies . '' Uncle Jesse 's compliments look bald enough on paper , but he paid them with such gracious , gentle deference of tone and look that the woman who received them felt that she was being offered a queen 's gift in kingly fashion . He broke bread with us and from that moment we were all friends together and forever . After we had eaten all we could , we sat at our table for an hour and listened to Uncle Jesse telling us stories of his life . `` If I talk too much you must jest check me , '' he said seriously , but with a twinkle in his eyes . `` When I do get a chance to talk to anyone I 'm apt to run on terrible . '' He had been a sailor from the time he was ten years old , and some of his adventures had such a marvellous edge that I secretly wondered if Uncle Jesse were not drawing a rather long bow at our credulous expense . But in this , as I found later , I did him injustice . His tales were all literally true , and Uncle Jesse had the gift of the born story-teller , whereby `` unhappy , far-off things '' can be brought vividly before the hearer and made to live again in all their pristine poignancy . Mother and I laughed and shivered over Uncle Jesse 's tales , and once we found ourselves crying . Uncle Jesse surveyed our tears with pleasure shining out through his face like an illuminating lamp . `` I like to make folks cry that way , '' he remarked . `` It 's a compliment .
But I ca n't do justice XXXXX the things I 've seen and helped do .
If as at before for from like over that to