The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1896-07-17
JACKS SWEETHEART.

oaeh was SonluS' 1uefe never wa
such fellow as Jack-at least, s.
everybody in the hidden-awa littl
fishing village of Bracebridge would
tell you, from the most ancient fish
erman down to the tiniest inhabitan
OF this picturesque spot by the sea
Jack Was as kind at heart as he wa
clever in head, and, as he possessed
the happy knack of working both
ends at the same time, the result wal
that he was pointed out as being
the cleverest lad in the village, anf
as kindly soul as might be found
for many mile along the coast.
tie was scarcely twenty three
years might be written against him.
for did not the register of the Ole
church tell how, on October 10,
1863, Jack was born? He was the
only child of John and Mary Barton.
and they loved him with all the love
which every only child seems to win
from its parents.
Yes: Jack was 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 befallen their craft during a
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 windows of the nearest mar
Ket town, some six miles away. and
folk tramped away to Reclamation
to see "Jack's pictures on show"
And what said Addie-she was
called little Addie-of all this? WE'LL
Addie was Jacks sweetheart; and
now you know all that she would say
Little Addie mad her story to tell, or,
rather. John Barton used to tell it for
her. In fact, the telling of the story
was au annual event with the fisher
men. He was never tire,i of telling
how sixteen years ago they had the
fiercest 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 convice 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
onece 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. F"
"My eye, an it was a time, too, !"
John would say; "it's a wonder we
didn't all put off that mornin' to sea !;
the mackerel sayson was In full
swing; but Job Bates turned to us
and said: Look zee meates, there's a
storm a-brewin' out yonder, an a
good I'm, too. If zee want to see. your
hoames again-stop abit! An Job
proved bimself good weather pro
nhet, or, true enough, before an hour
was up we'd ct it-ay, as never saw
it are, and hope never to see it again. -
And he would tell how, just before
the daybreak, vessel was sighted in
distress, how a dozen strong hearted
fellows. himself among them, put out
in the safest craft they had got, leav-
inc their wives and little cnes and
neiphbors to wait gu the cliffs, and
tbere. with anxious hearts, watch
the gallant crew, tossed on the water
for three hours ere they could get
within a couple of hundred yards of
the sinking vessel. 1t was too late.
che went down. Then John Barton
would warm to his story,
s'Bless zee, my pet, " he would say,
running his great fingers through
Adde'S fair hair, wed almost ieit
without SEEM our precious nno'
WHY. they must have thrown zee over
you may smile. iltlle
waun-thrown zee overheard just as
thew were goin' down, for the next
minute / caught sight OF zee bound
70 a rough little raft. How we pulled
than Our muscles stood out ike
" hincords; and in another minute we
\ ad GOT a rope around the rats enc
ond as found zee, SO claimed zee. -
a Go that is how little Addie came to
ha in the fishermn's home. And the
&c that abe and Jack had learned I'D
al ;Idhood had grown stronger and
laanar as the one became prettier
With the early days OF womanhood'
I'D the other more earnest anu ue-
nn,a5 as man. The more they were
leather greater became their love,
ma No wonder Addie was flushed with
vehement, and laughing almost
r;idlv at the news contained in let
ter addressed to her lover. 1t came
Nv the carrier in the morning. Tor ie,
Iers were looked upon as veritaD,e
onr;osities at Bracebride-everyb body
friends. everybody's relations all
,eemed to live together in one spot
"Roselle, Reclamation, Cornwai,x; n.
II have seen your pictures in MIS-;
po,.,s sbop window in the town. IL
90, care TO come and see me and bring
ONE of your work, | think | may ieel
nclip.d TO intrust you with a s'ha''
.,
such wac the letter wnich Auu, 1
adj read at least twenty lines anu
Iact had stared at for fully an hour
y was the one topic that day over
1T Thare was an excited little parry
.a;.,ng for the carrier. as Jack was %
turn with him to kockman.pn
nj then, when he did come sno .he
amy fellow took his seat beside ,he
river. il was only John Barton , VII
,auld bid his DO, good luck h.aas