The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-04-07

saw the state of mind / was in, but he
didn't understand it, and it worried him
Finally, after watching first me
and the rod for some two
minutes, he plunged overheard. Presently
the commotion at the end Of the line was
something terrific; then the resistance
quit, and l pulled in a thirteen-pound
bass, with his throat cut. In a minute
| more jeans little black and yaller head
popped up at the side of the boat, and 1
took him in. Then knowed what had
happened. After that never had to use
a gan or a landing net as long as Jean
lived.
But jean had his likes and dislikes
! He wouldn't go near a common fish.
mind one day something heavy struck
my hook. In twinklin' jean was over
board. But in a couple of minutes he was
back again; and l never saw such a dis
gusted look on any critters face in my
life. l didn't know what was the matter
OF course, but found out shortly When
L landed my fish 1 found it was Zig
cat! My tarrypin just absolutely refused
to hunt such scavengers!
"One day, though, jean came near be-
ing lost to civilization and me by reason
of bass. AS it was mourned my tar
rypin for twenty-four hours. 1 was off
Tybee knoll when big bass struck the
hook. AS soon as jean saw the hook
had caught he was overheard after the
game. In half minute there was a tre-
mendous founce and jerk Jean had
struck. But the reel wasn't smart enough
and the line couldn't stand the strain
With swish the rod jumped back to its
natural, and 1 knowed I'd lost the
bass. The hook and two feet of the
line was gone. 1 waited and looked for
my tarrypin from that time, just after
dinner, till black dark; but he didn't
show up / went home with a heavy
heart, can tell you; just like had lost
one of the family. Next day 1 was on
the knoll again fishing for bass. But
my heart wasn't in the sport. I was
thinking of JEAN and wondering wheth-
er he had proved traitor or met tragic
| death, when 1 noticed little vibration
like a drumming on the side of the boat.
L looked over, and dinged If there wasn't
Jeans head poked out of the water
while he was hammering the side of the
boat as hard as he could with his flip
pers! In his beak he held fast a short
bit of fishing line, and at the end of it
was a thirteen-pound channel bass, with
his throat cut! By gee! l was glad! 1
yanked in the cooter and the fish, and
'Jiggered If I didn't stroke jean
and talk to him like he was
thoroughbred spaniel. And he was
proud, too. He danced and turned
round and wagged his tail and grinned
as if he would never get done express
ing how glad he was.
After that l didn't take no chances
about losing my tarrypin.' 1 drilled two
holes in his shell, one over each shoulder.
In these / placed brass rings; and every
time after that before jean jumped over
/ fastened stout line with a snap-catch
in one of the rings Then 1 was able
to haul him in when he tackled the game.
By that means I saved many hook and
sinker."
He paused again to light his pipe, and
smile over the Renaissance. You said
awhile ago." he was reminded, some
thing about the riskiness of taking jean
out visiting; what did you mean by that?"
Listen! it's like this. One evening I
went to the city to go to the opera with
a girl l know. jean had then become
my constant companion. and l. thought
he might like to hear the music. And
l was right. The little rascal poked his
head out of my pocket at the beginning
of the first score, and never batted an
eye as long as the music was going. But
between the acts he got restless. During
the wait between the second and third
acts he poked his head out and
ate all the green ribbon off the
sieve OF young woman who had
a seat next mine. When she saw the
queer little b1ack-an- yaller beak that was
a-chawin' of her clothes she set up "a
screech that like to have caused a panic
Then when told my girl about II she
made out to be scandalized; said she
didn't want nothing to do with a man
that went into decent company with rep
tiles in his pockets. Another time when
Bobby, my girls little brother, was feel
ing in my pockets for peanuts, 'Jean
grabbed him by the finger and wouldn't
let go till had said 'B-r-r-r-rr and made
believe 1t was laundering. No; tarrypins
won't do for social companions; hardly"
1.-THE" grew morose, quiet and thought
full
What was the fate Of jean" he was
asked. Did you sell him 20 a dime mu-
seum?"
I'D as soon a-sold my child for a
SHOW" he replied earnestly. mo; but a
worse fate overlook him. l had to go to
town one day. and left jean playing in
the back yard at the fishing club. felt
mean when 1 slipped of from him, but
didn't want any more ribbon-chawi
Well. when Jean missed me, he started
down to the boat-landlng to look for me.
And then there come along one OF them
ding'd smart tourists from the North. he
knowed a diamond back when he saw
one. He could outrun jean and the tar
rypin couldn't talk, 80 he went into the
pot at the Island hotel. and was served
with wine and celery TO a party OF two.
including q schoolma am from Moo Eng
land"
-s-e->--
jamaican Negroes Proverbs.