The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1910-03-25
MARSE JAKE AND RUNAWAY CAGE.
ASTORY OF THE DUTCH FORK.
BY COL. D. A. DICKERT.


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not much in vogue in those days
they would walk for miles and miles,
to hunt the yellow hammer or the
timid dove. It was the joy of Cages
life to have the powder horn and shot
! gourd swung around his neck, the
gun on his shoulder, pointing occas-
ionally at an imaginary game. Then
(Oage always gathered up the birds,
and carried them home, which was
another delight to lis soul.
Then, when the fishing season set
in, how willingly and Loyalty did
Cage WELD the sprouting hoe IN his
hunt for the elusive angle worm or
grubs to furnish Marse Jake with
bait. Cage taught him every art and
trick in the science of the rod, as it
had come down to him from his sng
ago ancestors. During rainy days,
when there was no place about the
house for the two to amuse them
selves, they would go down to the
gin house and there Cage would
give Marse Jake lessons in dancing,
and he learned him every step known
TO the negro in that day and TINA
for Cage was sure enough an artist
in the 'ttripping Of the hight fam
tastic toe" Dancing comes natur-
ally to the negro, as an inheritanee
from Providence to while away the
monotony Of his slavery days and
Cage did delight in teaching his
young master the Divine art Of the
"pigeon wing and ''possum tpot. y
Cage would often say with secret
pride, "Mlarse Jake is certainly a
dancer, case T larned him myself" :"
When Jake was forced to go to
school, an exertion he bitterly re-
sented Cage would always meet him
down the road to carry his bucket
and incidentally to eat what was left
over from Marse Jake's dinner. So
these two worthless, hunted, fshed
and danced the days away, and with
the exception Of the school days no
happier couple ever lived.
The overseer, Mr. Rurdee, had
beautiful daughter, a year or so
younger than Jake Baldwin. Miss
Carolina, or as Cage called FCal-
ine," and they we're smeetbearts,
as long ago as they could remember.
The news Of this association would
always throw the naughty and proud
Miss May into a eataleptic fit, and
her high strung mother into agonies
of despair, at the thought Of The
son of a Baldwin keeping company
with an overseer's daughter. Often
! would they upbraid him for lower
ing himself and for his want of self
respect in walking from school with
that little "uppish'' Caroline Pur-
dee, who would soon think herself
as good as anybody. But Jake whis-
tied derisively at their Gliding, and
continued to carry little Caroline's
books and dinner bucket, assist her
with her lessons, help her over the
fence and in all was as perfect a
gallant to the overseer's daughter
as the knights Of old knight errant
days. :.. .. ~: D..
But time, that artifeer of every
ones future, the dispenser Of des-
tiny and fate, decreed that Jake
Baldwin, in. order to keep up the
honor and traditions Of his anees-
tors, must 60 away to a boarding
school, there being but few colleges
in those days. The overseer, too,
thought it high time that lazy, worth
less Cage should be put to work in
the cotton field. All this was a Sc
we're test for Jake and Cage, and
overwhelmed them in serious
thought. The day before his depart
ure, Jake stationed himself at the
spring Of the overseer about thu
time Miss Caroline was expecte to
come for water for supper. When
Jake saw her 1.-the and beautiful
form coming sprightly down the
spring path, her pail balanced on
her head, her bonnet swinging in
her hand, and singing a love song,
Jake sprang to meet her. He filed
her pail and then motioned his