Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1848-01-06
MRTNsDURG COUNTY VIRGINIA THURSDAY MORNING. JANUARY 1872

be better felt than described, as he thought OF
the termination Of a game which would in all
probability end by leaving him and his seye-
raj thousand dollars minus. A lIt'le advance
in front of him stood the General and the
Yankee--,he former cool aud collected, the
latter exhibiting much uneasness; which was
particularly persepuble in his boldness. quiz
ering lips-and he seemed half inclined 10
"back out" A few oaihs, however, from his
dreaded antagonist, finally nerved him 10 the
sticking point" which was made manifest
| by his saying
81 am about as ready as / ever will be, Gen
eral--so how much do you think ought 10
bet2 Don't be getting in tew high, now !;
cause you see, GIaeral, you'll have to bet me
two to one"
"Oh, that matters not, my dear fellow, said
the General, I'VE Arkansas Generals only play
for amusement; so, merely to make the game
interesting, my larkey, will try you with two
thousand dollars"
wal, Gineral. bein it's you, and only for
amusement. dew just lay down them ar -four
thousand of yourn, and III try and raise the
half ont"
The General accordingly land down his four
thousand dollars on the boat--whe the Yam
kee placed his two thousand in companion
ship.
"Now, Mr.. General" said Jonathan, ssjest
hide them are hands o. yourn. and speak it out
plain so shan't make no mstakeo
| The General cast his eve towards the land
lord, winked, placed his hands behind him,
and then in a low, distinct voice, said s'open
and shut;
| The Yankee looked at him steadily for some
moments, without moving a muscle of his face,
as though, by some intuition, he was about TO
divine the certain position of his hauds--when,
with a motion quick as lightning, he drove
| his brawny fist slap between the eyes of the
General, which laid him PROSTATE upon the
deck.
'Open, by gosh! |" cried the Yankee, as he
saw the others hands flying through the air,
at the same time snatching the money, cram
ming tinto his pocket, and hurting the Straight
ened body Of the General on the shore then
giving the boat a sudden shove by means Of a
pole, he and his French companion, to the
grea, discontinue of their enemies, were soon
gliding down the stream.
"Fire" roared out the General at the top
ofhis lungs, as soon as he could regain his feet
and turn TO his host--"fire! tell you : you
stupid fool, blaze away! blow out that infer
nal Yankees brains-he's not fit for dog 5
meat!"
ne Irlgntencu most enueaVOred 10 OBEY, Dui
it was no go; the more he tried to shoot the
more he couldn't-while, to complete their
chagrin. and add TO their vexation, the voice
OF the Yankee--ln the real nasal twang-was
heard calling out
81 say, General, this ere's putty considera-
be kind of slick game Of amusement, ain'l
lii2 Tell that ar chap on the stump 10 blaze
laway--keep telling him so--horn gun-fiuis
are rael slick slings 10 shool, ain't they, Gen,
eral2 4"
Il give it up said the General with an
oath that cursed Yankee has beat my game
.'dead open and Shut by loading my gun
with wooden nutmegs and putting in hcrn
/ iiint.n
"Isay, General. called out the Yankee again
with a hearty laugh-p.acing his thumb &c
his nose, and giving his fingers few extra
flourishes--s'I say, General, jest give my res
pecls to that ar Niger of yourn, and don't get
TO pIayn none of your "dead open and shut"
with Yankee again; and he added TO the
flourish OF his fingers BY giving his other arm
the motion of turning crank--and keeping
time by moving his right foot up and down,
as long as he was in sight.
Until the day of tie Generals death. no Sc
verer chastisement could have been inflicted
upon him, than 10 have simply said-"horn
gun flints"-wooden nutmegs,-big Yam
KEGS French gentleman, or dead open and
shut"