The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1886-08-12
JAKE'S LITTLE GIRL,

For many years OlQ Unc1e JAKE nQu
kept little tavern near one end of the in
lets where the sea breaks through the long
Sandbar into the Great South bay, q point
about fifteen miles from New York. OF .
pleasant Sunday in summer twas pretty
lively resort. Uncle jake made ]orial
host, and people used to say that he owed
ais good health In great measure to the
Frequency with which he drank to it him
self Most of the fishing parties from the
barbors along the bay stopped Eere for
clambakc and cocktail; yachtsmen an
chored near the inlet, and sportsmen
would put up at the tavern for 4 week or
swo at a time. But in winter it was Il
Glreary spot The monotonous turmoil of
The surf was broken only now and then by
ehe shrill cry Of gull or the sllrieking OF
the wind as it whirled across the bar.
During the long storms only an occasional
sYrecker or patrol from the life saving
station visited the place, and at any time
in winter party like ours was rarity.
A real Bohemian freak had brought us
down to Uncle Jake's that night. The
evening before dozen of US artists had met
at little reunion in the studio of one of
our number, and one of us seeing a sketch
of Uncle Jakc'S tavern on the easel, had
proposed paying him winters visit. We
all knew Uncle Jake, and the idea of q
winters visit to him was too much OF a
novelty to be resisted. So we set out FOR
tbe tavern the next day, and arrived there
before night time. Uncle Jake knew that
the trip across the bay had been q rough
one. So he started u roaring wood fire;
and when we had finished supper he put q
stealning bowl of punch on the table.
But, despite 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 pretty often, but he
seemed moody and didn't talk much.
His low spirits seemed also to have had u
depressing effect on Samson, his big mas
tiff, who was about rs well known along
the coast as Uncle Jake himself. Usually
he barked Il friendly welcome to everyone
who came to the house But he had bean
suIen and silent all the evening and had
sat near Uncle Jake, resting his head Oh
his masters knee and now and then lock-
ing up wistfully ut him.
had known Uncle Jake and his big
dog longer than the others had, and no
ticcd that something was wrong. EN-
cepting the last two years. which ! had
spent in Europe, had been to the tavern
off and OH for about IL dozen summers. l
rad always liked the place-it WAS so far
removed from everyday affairs. There
was usually Il fresh breeze coming over
the broad eXpanse of ocean, fine surf,
sending its cool spray over the beach, and
here and there white Suil outlined
against the blue sky. Beside, Uncle Jake
was always hale and joviul with young
fellows and few Of them ever paid visit
to the tavern without returning to it at
some future day. The cid man seemed
glad enough to see me again and made me
Sit next to him. But felt that since I
mad been there some change had come
over him and the dog and the old place,
and ut times he looked as though lie
would like to tell me something, but heSl-
tated on account of the others.
I remembered pretty, bright eyed lass,
about II years old when / last saw her,
who was at the tavern in former years,
and whom We used to call "Uncle Jake's
little girl. She used to make herself
handy about the place and was so simple
and graceful III her bearing that she was
q farorite with all who went there. The
Gun had Drowned her hands and arms,
and the wind had played with her fur
hair until it hung over her forehead like
tangled suubeans. She was tall aud
2ithesome, and rs strong as she was grace
full Often, when she was mere girl of
10 or 12, I.had seen her pulling her skiff
across the bay and hailng the old fisher
men as they scudded past in their smacks.
MANY time they would lay to and take
her aboard and tow her skiff homei and
then she would take the helm from the
Skipper, trim the sheet and shout with
glee as the spray came daShing over the
bow | wondered what had he
come of her and asked Uncle Jake,
but he didn't seem to hear my
question, though the dog sprang to
bis feet and roamed about the room un-
easily before he skunk back to his masters
feet. I was about to ask the question
again when one Of our party proposed O
song While they gathered in group
around the old piano in the corner, the
old man stole quietly to the door Of
another room and beckoned me to follow
him. AS I joined him he was stopping
over an old bureau fumbling among some
papers, while the dog, who had slipped in
after him, watched him intently until he
put his hand on tin type, which he drew
out and showed me. It was the picture
Of child, and in the features I recog-
nized ''Uncle Jake's little girl In 2he
next room some one WAS playing IL jang-
ling accompaniment and the rest were
shouting boisterous song. I thought
then would be good time to ask him
what had become of the girl whose
childish features we were looking Mt, so I
inquired, by way of introduction, if he
had ever been married. 1t was to this he
had replied "No, mister, amt spliced,
0or never was.''
"But yer see," he continued, us though
he knew what was driving at, it's I'M
common lonesome here in winter, an
many Il time when I've heard some young
one ashore yonder as wasn't cared for at
home I've got its folks to let me.take it
out here with me. The children kind
cheered ME up durin' the long winter eve
Minis, an when summer came I'd ask to
have 'em stay Il bit longer. The little
ones would beg real hard, too, for I made
q good deal of 'em, and they thought kind
o. we'll o. me for it, Some O. them StaTcQ