Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1892-03-03
AN ODD INCIDENT.

often remarked upon by friends. neigh
bors. and passing acquaintance. that Il
had come TO flt them like well worn
garment, and without q multitude Of
oddities they would not have seemed
like Uncle Jacks folks. "
II is as well to explain here whom tho
folks" comprised. First. there was
John Hardwick. Uncle Jack 70 all per-
SONS old and young ia the little settle
ment Of Greenport, where, as boy and
man. for over half century he had fol-
lowed. as he termed il, fishing and farnl-
ing; next there WAS his wife, Patience,
spoken of far and near AZ Aunt Patty
Jack, TO distinguish her from Patience
Green, James Green's widow, who was
known as Aunt Patty Jim; third. there
was, at the time we are writing Of.
y months old baby that they had adopted
on the death OF its parents.
II was a peculiar thing for an elderly
couple, after 35 years Of childless mar
ried life, to adopt an infant, but they
were well able to provide for the child
properly. They had no near relatives.
and long years OF industry and saving
had made them, In the language Of the
settlement, the most "forehanded" FAM
lily in the place.
The nearest to anything like reprcach
or ridicule that had ever been cast upon
them by their neighbors was with regard
TO these same habits Of shaving and saw.
ing after they were in more than COM
Portable circumstances. Even the best
disposed could not forbear little joke
about Uncle Jack using bis boathook TO
stir hay in the field, TO save tile expen 10
of a new light pitchfork, or Aunt Patty
making his overalIs out OF the fragments
Of an old sail from his little fishing
schooner. Then, after the infant came,
1t was said that Aunt Patty pressed the
clothes basket into service for baby
crib. Uncle Jacks method OF carrying
the baby was also the subject of much
goodnatured ridicule. the mildest Of the
comments being that he "lugged it as
he would an armful OF kindling.
The baby was about the oldest mem-
Der OF Uncle Jacks household, with its
quiet ways aud its solemn face, its habit
of sleeping Is hours day and contin-
ually creeping about when il happened
to be awake. 1t wasn't any more regu-
lar in its times Of rest than the average
infant, but would just creep from one
room to another until tired, and then go
70 sleep in some corner. where Aunt
Patty would soon, in the lull Of the
household duties, pouncs upon it and de-
posit it--in the clothes basket? Well, no,
to tell the truth, new wooden cradle
of brilliant red color, had been bought
from the village carpenter shortly after
the baby came into the household. but
not soon enough to prevent some village
wag from manufacturing that story
about utilizing the clothes basket for
crib. In rural districts some one family
is generally made the butt of the fun
makers, and it really seemed that most
Of the standing jokes Of Greenport were
at the expense of Uncle Jacks folks.
Soon after the baby came to Uncle
Jacks, the old couple made the most Pc
culiar decision of their lives, and that
was to spend few months in Boston,
not to work harder and add to their accu-
mutations, but just for change. As they
had numerous relatives In the city, and
possessed, moreover, the means and the
will to pay their way. there was f7r-
haps, no reason why they should not.
for once in lifetime, be like THEN neigh
bors in one respect at least-that of liv-
ing up to their income.
They rented neat little furnished cot
tage In the Highlands, and in order that
Aunt Patty might not be too much bound
by household duties and the care Of the
naby, they employed Sarah Briggs, 8
daughter Of one of their poor neighbors,
10 60 with them as general ahelp.
Strange though the city appeared to
them, they took to the new order OF
things very kindly, and the novelty and
pleasures OF their season in Boston were
Galked about the remainder of their lives.
just at the close Of their stay an incl
dent occurred which afforded material
for humorous comment until long after
the baby became q man. 1t was on We'd
slesday that Uncle Jacks folks were 10
move out Of the city cottage, and on
Saturday they were to start for Green
port in a coasting packet, as rail and
steamboat lines had not yet made that
place one Of their stopping stations. At
ter moving. they had arranged TO stay,
until the packet sailed, at the house or
Joe North, one Of their old neighboIs,
who was now living In the Highlands.
They were all in the sitting room on
Wednesday, waiting for the ever tardy
truckman to come and take their lug
gage to the packet, when Aunt Patty sud-
denly recalled their visit to the pllotogra-
pher few days before. They had been
took, and were TO have called for the
finished pictures the day before but in
the hurry Of moving they had been for
gotten.
Like good general in M emergency.
Aunt Patty formed her plans on the spot,
and gave orders quickly and sharply.
aNow, Jack, YOU 90 and look up an
other truckmap, while Sairy goes after
hem picters. Then Sairy can take tho
baby and 20 b Joe Norths and I'll go
with you TO the packet to see about get
ting our parcels in safe place. P'rapa
I'd better take the baby myself. but I'll
see about that wien SaiIy comes back.
The studio was not very far away, but
Sarah was delayed some Is or 20 minutes.
al the photographer was busy When
she returned. she found neither Cncle
Jack, Aunt Patty, nor the baby. As she
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