Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1845-06-28
From the St Louis Reveillc.
A FRIENDLY GAME OF POKER.
by SOL. SMITH.

On the evening of our second day out
| from New Orleans, found myself seated
at card table, with three Of my fellow
passengers, playing at the interesting game
Of "Poker." Card playing was a very
common amusement then, (l635) and it
was not unusual to see half dozen tables
occupied at the same time in the gentle
mems cabin of Mississippi boat. had
sat down at the game for amusement, but
on rising at 10 o'clock, found my amuse.
ment had cost me about sixty dollars! This
won't do at ALL said l, thinking aloud, i
must try it again tomorrow of course
you must replied one of the players, who
happened TO be an old acquaintance Of
mine from Montgomery, Alabama, where
| he had been a TAILOR for several years. and
where he was considered very respectable
citizen. you must not give it up So he
continued, following me out on the guard
tomorrow you'll get even Ientered into
conversation with my old acquaintance
whose name was Hubbell, or Hubbard,
don't remember which-we'll call him
IIubbard-and he advised me by all means
to try another sitting on the morrow.
suggested to him that slight suspicion
had crossed my mind that some Of our
card party might possibly be blacklcgS-in
other words, gamblers. He answered that
the same thought had struck him at one
| time, but he had como to the conclusion
that all had been fair. Before leaving me-,
my guardian friend informed me that he
had become a sporting mamie felt it his
duty to inform me of it-but he assured
me, upon his honor, @ he would not see
me wronged. Of course | believed him,
and it was agreed that we should try our
luck again.
Next morning, soon as the breakfast
things had been cleared away, found
Hubbard and q friend Of his waiting for
me at one of the card tables, and took
my seat with the hope of getting cuen-a
hope which has led many man into ire
trievable ruin. l felt quite confident of
winning back my losings over night, and
my pldymateS gave me every encourage
ment that | should be successful At it we
went, playing with varying luck for about
two hours. At about l l o'clock Hubbard's
| friend left US few minutes to get drink,
and the jailor and myself were left playing
single handed. When the third hand left,
we were using the small cards. as they're
called--that is skies and under; but Hub
bard Immediately proposed that we should
take the "large cards." Qers and over0
which | agreed to as q matter of course
One thing here observed--my friend, the
TAILOR, dealt the cards ,Dithom shutting.
This made me resolve to watch him closely.
Taking up my cards | was agreeably sur
prised to find | had an excellent hand.
Now thinks to myself, now is the time,
if ever, to get even; if my adversary only
happens to have a decent hand | shall do
well enough
! The reader who does not understand
the game of bluff or poker as it is gen
orally called, may as well leave off here.]
commenced the game by Dragging a
dollar. Ny adversary went the dollar, and
| five better went that and ten. He i'm
mediately put up the ten, and laid down a
twenty, keeping his pocket book out, as
much as to say i am willing to 60 any
thing you choose to bet After a mo-
ments reflection (all actingD ! said 4 60
that and fifty 'All right, replied the iailor,
there it isl GO that and hundred
here looked at my cards again, and affected
to have great doubt whether | should go
the hundred. Take back your last bet
urged--'it is too much for either of US to
lose; begin to think have been rash
take it back, and let US show our hands for
the money already down. mol said Hub
bard-'if you mean sporting, put up the
hundred, or back out and give up the mo-
ney.' Can't do that Il replied; i don't
come from backing out country--I must
have 4 showing for the money that's down.
so there's the hundred--and as my pocket
books out and my hands in,' there's another
c. This new bet seemed to please my
friend Hubbard nightly. He answered il
without moments pause, and went two
hundred more! l now requested my OPP
ponent 10 permit me to show my cards 10
some of the bystanders, who were crowdng
around the table in grea, numbers to see
fun-all considering me most undoubtedly
picked up Hubbard would not agree that
| should show my hand TO, or take advice
from any one. Play your own cards. said
he, reaching over, and gently compelling
mo to lay my cards on the table before
me. Then said l--'you tell me if THREE
ACES and t,Uo other cards can be beat!' Oh
yes,' he replied, smiling with self satisfied
air, and using the spit bOx--'they can be
beat, certainly, but not easy Not easy,
think myself replied I--therefore, mas,
much as believe you are only trying &c
bluff me off, 60 the two hundred You
dop--'Yes do, there's the money ANY,
thing betterP inquired my adcrsary. insin
uatingly, and leaning over TO make use o.
tho snit hox aCain-all the time keeninu hi