Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1886-08-06
JAKE'S LITTLE GIRL.

end of the inlets where the sea
breaks through the long sandbar
into the Great South bay, a point
about fifteen miles from New York.
Of a pleasant Sunday in summer it
was a pretty lively resort. Uncle
Jake made jovial host, and peo-
pie used to say that he owed his
good health in a great measure to
the frequency with which he drank
to it himself. Most of the fishing
parties from the harbors along the
bay stopped here for a clambake
and a cocktail yachtsmen anchor
ed near the inlet, and spOrtsmen
would put up at the tavern for a
week or two at a time. But in
winter it was dreary spot. The
monotonous turmoil of the surf
was broken only now and then by
the shrill cry of a gull or the shrek
ing of the wind as it whirled across
the bar. During the long storms
only an occasional wrecker or a
patrol from the life saving station
visited the place, and at any time
in winter a party like ours was a
rarity.
A real Bohemian freak had
brought us down to Uncle Jake's
that night. The evening before a
dozen of us artists had met at a
little reunion in the studio of one
of our number, and one of us see
ing a sketch of Uncle Jake's tavern
on the easel, had proposed paying
him a winters visit. We all knew
Uncle Jake, and the idea of a
winters visit to him was too much
of a novelty to be resisted. So we
set out for the ia vern the next day,
and arrived there before night
time. Uncle Jake knew that the
trip across the bay had been a
rough one. So he started a roaring
wood fire; and when we had finish
ed supper he put steaming bowl
of punch on the table. But, de-
spite his attention and the .jollity
of our party, he wasn't in the best
of spirits. Not that he didn't dip
his glass into the punch bowl pret.
ty often, but he seemed moody and
didn't talk much. His low spirits
seemed also to have had a depress
ing effect on Samson, his big mas.
tiff, who was about as well known
along the coast as Uncle Jake him.
self. Usually he barked friendly
welcome to everyone who came to
the house. But he had been sui
len and silent all the evening and
had sat near Uncle Jake, resting
his head on his masters knee and
now and then looking up wistfully
at him.
I had known Uncle Jake and his
big dog longer thanlthe others had,
and noticed that something was
wrong. Excepting the last two
years, which I had spent in Europe,
| had been to the tavern off and on
for about a dozen summers. | had
always liked the place-it was so
tar removed from everyday affairs.
There was usually a fresh breeze
coming over the broad expanse OF
ocean, a fine surf, sending its cool
spray over the beach, and here and
there a white sail, outlined against
the blue sky. Beside, Uncle Jake
was always hale and jovial with
young fellows and few of them ever
paid a visit to the tavern without
returning to it at some future day.
The old man seemed glad enough
to see me again and made me sit
next to him. But / felt that since
| had been there some change had
come over him and the dog and the
old place, and at times he looked
as though he would like to tell me
something, but hesitated on ac'
count of the others.
l remembered a pretty, bright
eyed lass, about II years old when
l last saw her, who was at the
tavern in former years, and who
we used to call "Uncle Jake's little
girl. She used to make herself
handy about the place and was SC
simple and graceful in her bearing
that she was a favorite with al
who went there. The sun baC
Drowned her hands and arms, and
the wind had played with her fai
hair until it hung over her fore
head like tangled sunbeams. Sh'
was tall and lithesome, and a
strong as she was graceful. Often
when she was a mere girl of 10 o.
II, | had seen her pulling her skif
across the bay and hailing the oil
fishermen as they scudded past il
their smacks. Many a time the
would lay to and take her aboar'
and tow her skiff home; and the
she would take the helm from tn
skipper, trim the sheet and shou
with glee as the spray came dash
ing over the bow. | wondered
what had become Of her and aske
Uncle Jake, but he didn't seem t
hear my question, though the do
sprang to his feet and roame
about the room uneasily before b
slunk back to his masters feet.
was abont to ask the question aeai
when one of our party proposed
song. While they gathered in
group around the old piano in tn
corner. the old man stole quietly {