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14 JACK THE SHRIMP. From the British Magazine.

JACK THE SHRIMP.

BY MRS. S. C. HALL.

SOME ten or fifteen years ago, there lived in the neighbourhood of Bannow, a long, lean, solitary man, known by no other appellation, that ever I heard of, than that of “Jack the Shrimp.“ He was a wild, desolate looking creature; black lank hair fell over his face and shoulders, and either rested in straight lines on his pale hollow cheeks, or waved gloomily in the passing breeze; his eyes were deep set and dark; and there was something almost mysterious in his deportment; some persons imagined him to be an idiot; but others who knew Jack better, asserted that his intellects were of a superior order; however, as few enjoyed the privilege of his acquaintance, the former opinion prevailed. Jack could be found every where, except in a dwelling house; he had a singular antipathy to dry and sheltered abodes; and never appeared at home, except when on the rocky sea shore, scrambling up the cliffs, or in clear weather, looking out for the scattered vessels that passed into Waterford harbour. No body seemed to know how he came to our isolated neighbourhood; his first appearance had created a good deal of village gossip, but that had gone by, and his gentle and kindly manner endeared him to the peasantry; the affectionate greeting of “God save ye” — “God save ye kindly“ -was frequently exchanged between the solitary shrimp gatherer, (for such was Jack's ostensible employment), and the merry “boys and girls“ who, at all seasons, collect seaweed, and burn it into kelp, on the sea shore. Often have I seen him in the early morning, at low water, his bare, lank legs tramping over the moist sand, or midway in the rippling wave; his pole, some six feet long, the net full of shrimps at one end, and the heavy hook at the other, balancing it over one shoulder, while from the opposite were suspended two wicker backets frequently filled with lobsters, or smaller shell fish, which he contrived to hook out of their holes with extraordinary dexterity. The sole companion of his rambles was a little black I really know not what to call it so as to distinguish its tribe but it may be sufficient to state that it was a black ugly dog; who, by way of economy, usually walked upon three legs, was blind of an eye, and, like its master, lonely in its habits, and shy in its demeanour. This animal, who, appropriately enough answered to the name of Crab, was the means of my introduction to its taciturn lord. Even in childhood I was devotedly attached to the sea; somewhat amphibious; fond, when I dare, of getting off my shoes and stockings, and dabbling in the fairy pools which the receding ocean left in the hollow clefts of the rocks; and fonder still of chasing the waves as they rolled along the sloping beach. My affection for this dangerous amusement was so well known, that I was never permitted to go to the strand, although it was considerably within a mile of our house, unattended by an old steady dependant of the family. But there was another who loved to accompany me on all my excursions, my noble favourite Neptune, a tall, stately Newfoundland dog, thoughtful and sagacious. It was not to be supposed that so high born an animal would condescend to associate with a low bred tyke; and no mark of recognition, that ever 1 perceived, passed between him and Crab, any more than between myself and the shrimp gatherer, who, I dare say, thought a noisy laughing girl of ten, á sad disturber of his solitude. One morning, during spring tide, having just bathed, I had quitted the box to take my accustomed stroll along the shore; when, on a rock a considerable distance from land, and which the inflowing rapid waves were covering fast, I saw and heard poor Crab in evident distress; the fact was, that part of his master's tackle wanted some alteration, and Jack, forgetting it was spring tide, had placed his lobster baskets on a high rock, and directed his dog to watch them until his return from the village; poor Crab would not desert his trust, and to save him appeared impossible, even to his master, who had just descended the cliffs, as the intermediate waters became deep and dangerous. I never saw any man in greater agony than Jack on this occasion; repeatedly did he call to the faithful animal yet it would not quit the spot. Neptune was never particularly quick, but when he did comprehend, he was prompt in doing all things for the best; suddenly he understood the entire matter, plunged fearlessly among the waves, and soon returned, bearing Crab between his teeth to the shore; not content with this exploit, he twice re entered and brought the baskets to the feet of the grateful man of shrimps. I do believe the poor fellow would, to use his own words at the moment, have walked “barefoot to Jericho, to sarve me or mine. “He snatched the dripping animal to his bosom, and called it his only friend; ever after, Jack and I were intimate acquaintances. Not so Neptune and the cur; the latter never forgot his obligations; but Neptune only returned the humble caresses of the little creature by a slight movement of his stately tail, or a casting down of his small dark eye, as well as to say, “I see you.”

Still there was something about “Jack the Shrimp,” I could not make out; his mornings, from the earliest dawn, in fair or foul weather, were employed in catching the unwary fish; at mid day he attended his several customers, and in the evenings he again repaired to his haunts among the wild birds, and amid the ocean spray: