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 to the things I 've seen and helped do . I 've got 'em all jotted down in my life-book but I have n't got the knack of writing them out properly . If I had , I could make a great book , if I had the knack of hitting on just the right words and stringing everything together proper on paper . But I ca n't . It 's in this poor human critter , '' Uncle Jesse patted his breast sorrowfully , `` but he ca n't get it out . '' When Uncle Jesse went home that evening Mother asked him to come often to see us . `` I wonder if you 'd give that invitation if you knew how likely I 'd be to accept it , '' he remarked whimsically . `` Which is another way of saying you wonder if I meant it , '' smiled Mother . `` I do , most heartily and sincerely . '' `` Then I 'll come .
You 'll likely be pestered with me XXXXX any hour .
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