Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1892-11-18
JACK DOBSON'S WARD.

JACK DoBoDE9' = WARD.
Captain Jack Dobson, Of Dohsons
Bay, was the best known, the best
liked and the most frequently seen Of
any man on or throughout the southern
waters. lie always wore Il corduroy
coat and Il fireman's hat, was tanned
quite as much as any old tar, but had
far more pleasant face than most Of
them, and Il heart as tender as Il Wo-
mans. If he was profane, as are very
many scamcn and fishermen, then he
must have "cussed easy" for no ones
ears We're ever offended by any pro
family from Captain Jack
lie owned Il schooner and Il luggcr,
the first for long trips in deep, rough
water, the latter for shallow, narrow
bodies of water near home. He was
quite 4 fine sailor, Il lucky fisherman,
IN excellent shot and Il right fair fire
man. 4 Jack Of many trades, and
good 1T them all
Down i'll the either Of the boats that
hc CHANGED to be on could always be
seen Il rifle, shotgun and revolver. His
liremanS outfit consisted of Il large
hose and i dozen zinc buckets. Then
came his fishing nets. poles and lines.
lis route was most frequently along
the bayous and lakes Of Louisiana, and
it was this fact. or IN occurrence there
from, chat suggested the fire outfit On
the shores Of many Of these bodies Of
water are small settlements, which are
visited sometimes by fires.
TN one occasion, while Captain jack
lugsrr sailed laZily up the stream, he
witnessed IN old oystcrman's home
burn down for merely lack of buckets
with Which to carry water from the
river After that he prepared himself
to lend Il hand il ever necessary, and
while his outfit may seem abSurdly i'll
sufficient to cope with Il building cnvel-
oped i'll flames, it was quite i'll proper
ton to the size OF The house, and proved
Of valuable service many times.
Ills own home was Il quaint little
affair Oh The shore of DobSon'S Bay,
and his houSekecpcr and companion, his
mother, Il dear old woman, upon who's
loved to sill while she told them stories
and incidents of her childhood. Captain
Jack would ;nluSe himself for hours
With the children of tho neighbolhood,
hut not il liz did he care fer the mar
riagcable daughters, who Slyly threw
their nets 1T every opportunity, but
failed utterly TO cntrap ann. But, With
all that, he fell victim later on To the
great malady known rs love, and for Il
Ii
own.
one afternoon, while visiting the bay,
] went down 10 the shore where ! stood
watching far i'll the distance sail boats
and SEA gl1lS which seemed headed for
land. There was Il stiff wind blowing
from the southeast and III that same
direction the sky was heavily overcast
with blue black clouds, from which is
sued now and then deep, rumbling
thunder. Nearer came the boats and
nearer the gullS until the fishermen,
eager to reach home before the storm
broke, We're strcWn all along the beach,
and the birds by dozens circled over
their heads. While l stood there Il little
sailor song that | had once heard came
into my head and | began to sing this
part OF 1t:
Cur Jacks come home from sea today.
And brown and bronzed is he,
Tor many Il day he's been away
From his home, his love and me;
Vet his heart is true rs it was of old,
Ills spirit light and gay.
You little know the joy we felt
Ihny, Ia aar,n hama +,Ior
Just rs l began the chorus Il hand
was laid lightly on my shoulder. l
turned around quickly and saw Cap
tain Jack
Don't sing that, please" he said
hurriedly. L never heard anyone sing
il but Cassie; she used to sing it TO me
sometimes, and | haven't heard it since,
aud Id rather not"
Cassie was 4 very sweet girl
Ventured, so I've been told
And good as she could be-" said Cap
tain Jack. slowly and fondly. Then
looking out on the broad. rough water
lie went on: How we'll l remember
the day her father gave her in my keep
ing. | wrapped her up SO well to pre-
vent her taking cold that after | got in
my boat and laid her on 4 bed made of
warm, soft skins that it took me some
time to find he, or. that is, her head
and feet When 1 did she opened wide
her big blue eyes, frowned, doubled up
her tiny fists, smacked her lips and
looked SO cute that l sat there for the
longest time watching her.
when l took her to mother and
told her that it was our friends. poor
Ed. Brown, who had just lost his wife
and was going away for while, and
how he dropped great salt tears over
her little face before handing her to
me to keep until he returned, she gath