The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1896-09-19

aown to the tiniest inhabitant of this
picturesque spot by the sea. Jack was
as kind at heart as he was clever in
head, and, as he possessed the happy
knack of working both ends ct the
same time, the result was that he was
pointed out as being the cleverest lad
in the village, and as kindly a soul as
might be found for many mile along
the coast.
He was scarcely lad-twenty-three
years might be written against him,
for did not the register of the old
church tell how, on October 10, 1868,
Jack was born? He was the only child
of John and Mary Barton, and they
loved him with oil the love which
every only child seems to win from it's
parents.
Yes; Jack was q genius. From his
earliest years he would go down to the
beach with paper and pencil. and draw
the fishing smacks and the boats with
the mariners mending their nets and
remedying the mishaps which had be-
fallen their craft during gale. His
talent increased with years, and the
young fellow was prudent, carefully
cultivating that which seemed to be
his gift. His pictures of the sea had
even been exhibited in the shop vim
dows OF the nearest market town, some
six miles away, and folk tramped away
to Rockmanton to see Jacks picters
on show"
And what said Addie-she was
called little Addie -of all this? Well,
Addie was Jacks sweetheart; and now
you know all that she would say. Lit
tie Addie had her story to tell, or,
rather, John Barton used to tell it for
her. In fact, the telling of the story
was an annual event with the fisher
men. He was never tired of telling
how sixteen years ago they had the
Aercest storm that had within mem
ory found its way near Bracebridge.
He had made Adde'S birthday the
morning when the sea had sent her.
and It took lot to convince him that
the little sea waif was quite three
years old when he saved her from the
wreck. So on the anniversary Of that
terrible time, John and his wife, Jack
and his heroine, would sit around the
fire and listen to the story once again,
while little Addie would shudder and
Jack would hold her hand tighter, as
much as to say, "Well, I've got you
now, you see. =,
"My eve, an it was time, too.
John would say; sits wonder We
didn't all put of that mornin' to sea;
the msckerel sayson was in fullswing;
but Job Bates turned to us and said;
Look zee meates, there's o storm
a-brewin' out yonder, an good I'm,
too. If ZEE want to see your hosmes
apsin-s;op abitl' An Job proved
himself q good weather prophet, for.
true enough, before an hour was up
we'd got it-ay, as never saw 1t
afore. and hope never to see 1t again.
And he would tell how, just before
the daybreak, vessel was sighted IN
distress. how dozen strong hearted
fellows. himself among them, put out
IN the safest craft they had got, leav-
Ing their wives and little ones and
neirhbors to wait Oh the cliffs, and
there. with anxious hearts, watch the
Gallant crew, tossed on the water for
three hours ere they could get within
: couple of hundred yards of the sink
ING vessel It was too late, she went
down. Then John Barton would warm
to his story.
q ssBless ZEE, my pet" he would say.
running his great fingers through
Adde'S fair. brown hair, "we'd Almost
left without seein' our precious lind.
Why. they must have thrown zee over
board-ahl you may smile. little
waun-thrown ZEE overheard just e.
they were goin' down. for. the next
minute caught sight Of ZEE bound TO
.yough little raft How We pellsd