# Old Uncle Jake — Short Fiction character guide

> Old Uncle Jake in Short Fiction by O. Henry.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** Jake, old Jake, Old Jake, Uncle Jake

**First appearance:** 0000-lord-oakhurst-s-curse

## Who they are

An older African American man.

## In the story

### [An Unsuccessful Experiment](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/an-unsuccessful-experiment)

The old colored preacher who tries Sam Jones's style

### [The Duplicity of Hargraves](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/the-duplicity-of-hargraves)

Uncle Mose, the former slave who supposedly sends the $300, is actually Hargraves in disguise.

### [The Marionettes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/the-marionettes)

The loyal negress servant who fetches Doctor James and cares for Mrs. Chandler.

### [Cupid à la Carte](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/cupid-la-carte)

Mentioned as part of the Dugan family, though not directly involved in the main action.

### [The Renaissance at Charleroi](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/the-renaissance-at-charleroi)

Mentioned as part of the plantation hands; not directly featured but part of the setting.

### [The Emancipation of Billy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/the-emancipation-of-billy)

Jeff, the Governor's elderly colored body-servant, who is loyal to Billy and first learns of his judicial appointment.

### [One Thousand Dollars](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/one-thousand-dollars)

Not present in this chapter.

### [The Defeat of the City](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/the-defeat-of-the-city)

A battered colored retainer of the family who plays the banjo during Robert's rustic revelry.

### [The Rathskeller and the Rose](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/the-rathskeller-and-the-rose)

Not present in this chapter.

### [The Making of a New Yorker](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/the-making-of-a-new-yorker)

Not present in this chapter.

### [An Adjustment of Nature](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/an-adjustment-of-nature)

Not present in this chapter.

### [The Tale of a Tainted Tenner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/the-tale-of-a-tainted-tenner)

Referred to as 'Old Jack,' the gambler who donates the tainted bill to a poor woman.

### [The Day Resurgent](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/the-day-resurgent)

Old man McCree, Danny's blind father, who sits by the window and longs to hear about the 'hippopotamus' from his history book.

### [The Handbook of Hymen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/the-handbook-of-hymen)

Not present in this chapter.

### [Calloway's Code](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/calloway-s-code)

Not directly present; the story focuses on the Enterprise staff.

### [Proof of the Pudding](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/proof-of-the-pudding)

Not present in this chapter.

### [Thimble, Thimble](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/thimble-thimble)

A faithful elderly former slave and body servant to Blandford's father; brings the family heirloom watch to New York and struggles to identify his 'young Marster' among the two cousins.

### [No Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/no-story)

Not present in this chapter.

### [A Poor Rule](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/a-poor-rule)

Not present in this chapter.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/characters/old_uncle_jake
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/characters