getObject returning 'null' on SQL Server nvarchar type

[Gary Frick]

I need to return a Java Object so as to satisfy the Map 'get' method. But the getObject only returns 'null' for SQL type of 'nvarchar'. What gives?
== "TitleOfCourtesy" is from the Microsoft Northwind DB.
cur_BB = rs.getObject("TitleOfCourtesy");

Integer frequency = (Integer)BBmap.get(cur_BB);