The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-08-07

cd HE Jolly Sailors were three in
number: Johnny Graves, Pete Davis
IA and Arthur commonly known as
xr Art Thompson. Little did Johnny
Graves know of water and water
craft Less did Pete Davis know OF
such things, and nothing Mt all
about boats or boating did Art Thomp-
son know. And that was why
Johnny was the captain of the Jolly
Sailor" Pete the mate and Art the
Crew. The vessel owned-or borrowed,
to be exact-by the Jolly Sailors was
an old row boat once used by an old
fisherman who delighted in rowing up
stream Just for the sake of floating down
again, as he dangled his fishing line into
the water on which he glided. But the
fisherman was old and worn out now
and preferred to let someone else catch
the fish while he remained at home to
eat them. He was jolly old chap,
however, and told long and exciting
stories of "land and sea" to the boys
who liked to gather about his shanty
door of evenings.
And among his interested listeners
were Johnny, Pete and Art, all citizens
of the little town which nestled close
upon the banks of the river on which the
old fisherman had spent such large part
of his declining years. The old fisher
man, by name Uncle Tim," did not live
In the town itself, but had a shanty
about half q mile Off.
One evening in the early part OF Au-
put Uncle Tim" declared to the boys
that he meant to use his craft no more.
I'm gittin too stiff In the WINGS he
asserted holding out his aged arms and
knotted fingers for inspection. See how
them arms are bent? They used to be
MS fine as any pair in the Ian or on sea.
hoe, tata nd
with his rheumatic wand, an, presto
passl They're not much good now SO
the boats fer loan or fer sale. For loan
TO n friend, or fer sale to stranger
Tben ..IJncle Tim lighted his pipe,
leaned back in his chair and glanced
through his half-shut eyes at his listen
ers.
asked Johnny eagerly. Johnny, Pete and
Arr happened to be the only callers at
tho home of Uncle Tim" on this par
ticnlor evening. All were seated about
the front door, out under the open sky.
.sRe youins my frien's?" asked Uncle
Tim And he squinted at Johnny. Then
he smiled broadly and declared: "You
fellers air my best, shure an certain.
An, II you want the craft-why, say the
word
..Well. I'd like to have her for the rest
~ +ba summer-lf the boys will go In with
me-" said Johnny.
..Sufe we will declared Pete and Art
In a breath.
.HThen call yourselves the Jolly Sail
ors.' +" suggested Uncle Tim my pap was
n sailor. an hadn't 1t bin fer my comm
West when l was a young shaver I'd a.
bin a sailor, too But-a trapper an
fisherman on this here river I've bin fer
three dozen years. Guess that's goin
some chr
And Uncle Tins three young admirers
agreed that it was.
Then the bargain for the craft" was
struck. All that Uncle Tim wanted was
a share of the fish the boys caught while
rowing on the river, and regular visits
from them with full accounts of their ex-
periences. The pay was simple enough,
and the boys agreed that they were
more than satisfied with the arrange
ments.
The first day of sailing was decided
upon, and the three jolly Sailors made
the start from the little landing just a
few feet from Uncle Tins shanty. The
Captain and the Mate used the oars, while
the Crew sat in the rear seat, fishing rod
in hand. A tin can of bait was In the
boat, as well as jug of drinking water
and some ham sandwiches. The Jolly