Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1848-12-22
1T WITH A RUSH; PLAY
ING POKER WITH AN EXTRi
KNAVE IN THE PACK.

OOIINO w L IL "A IL u Sff; OR FLA j
ING POKER WITH AN EXTRAs
KNAVE IN THE PACK.
There is in this city an honest, indus
,trious colored man, whose patronymic isl
Jim Rush. Jim, paridoxical as it mayl
seem, though black man, is white
washer, and among his coored brethrenE
'of the long brush stands high. when on his
ladder or off it. He annually dusts the
jacket of the ST. Charles Hotel, and after
wards gives it coat of Stacked lime, guar
santied 10 stick like knife" 1t is told
,of Jim, that on one occasion he was soil
gcited by another of Alrca's sons to white:
wash his shanty, for a fair remunerativel
consideration Of course.
Whar am dis house oh yours sitter
waited, Misser Jones?' said Jim.
Right back Of de Gas Works. saidI
Jones.
why it amt muffin but the smallest;
kind of shanty,' said Jones.
Jim looked for a moment down at theI
sground and for another moment at the sky !
and the next moment he was looking Mr.,
Jones full in the face, remarking at the
same tme-his manner showing that hei
gGe!t as 1.-THE mere proposition had lowered
/ him at least ten rounds Of his professional
I ladder Misser Jones, does de fancy
white washing of de St. Charles. Use al
little above shanty jobs-good mo'nin,
and he walked away as if he felt conscious
sof having delivered a just rebuke to Mis-
I ser Jones'
Jim's fame as a white washer, floatedI
sacross the lake and penetrated the forests
sof Mississippi. 1t having come to the
knowledge of Col. Montgomery of the
Pass Christian Hotel, he secured the pro
sfessionar services Of Jim-who, unlike
when he received the proposition from
& Misser JONES' felt fattered at the engage
sment, and with all the appliances of long
sbrushes, short brushes, open brushes and
sclose brushes, size and buckets, started on
sboard a steamboat for the Pass one fine
smorning. Arrived there, he soon, and
with an air of no little importance, went to-
swork, and continued to ply his brushes till
sbe had earned 500. During this time, his
Behavior to his brother darkies OF the es-
Establishment was more aristocratic than
sotherwise. Ike 'Doots,' a good natured
Hooking negro, with mouthful of teeth
sthat looked like opposite rows of chess
smen, he never recognized; the cook he oc-
OCCASIONALLY nodded to; he would say how
edo yer do 2 to the muIatto nurse; but Bill,
Ethe barber, negro Of plausible and insinu-
] ating manners, was the only one in the
5whoe grocery as poor Felix O'ConneI
used to figuratively say of the world, of
whom he made all associate.
He would sometimes stand in the billiard
room and look on at the playing Off game
for an X, or he would occasionally stop at
{ the door of room to see quiet game Of
] brag, which often called out hundreds on
] the table as stake. This he was permit
sted to do as he was known to most of the
gentlemen, more particularly those from
anew Orleans, stopping at the Hotel. This
docking on operated on his bump of imita-
stiveness, and ON the evening he had his
sjob finished, lie challenged Bill the barber
Ito quiet game of poker. 1t was the very
Sthing that Bill desired. He had been ma
Eny years on the Mississippi steamboats,,
Sand knew as much of the rascalities of the
Fgame as Green. the reformed gambler
Shown they sat. Bill laid out the cards;
I he always had dozen packs on hand; so
lat it they went. They played some time,
sBill winning now, and now jim Rush, till
FINALLY Jim got hand of four aces. Il
! have him now thought he; bu! he had
not, for Bill was only waiting to bring him
sout.
q Il goes you FIVE dollars, this time,' says
sJim, posting at the same time, the tin.
i sees dat. and I goes you ten better,
] said Bill. you ain. goin to bluff dis child
no how you can fix it,
3 L sees you again. said Jim, and goes
syou forty better; dis Orleans niger won''
kstay stump'd dat tell you-sartin.'
8 We'll, l tells you what it is, Masser
Rush. said Bill, dat is goin it with q
rush; but amt goin to give it up so;
hold on dere nigger'-and he went to a
Sdrawer, pulled out tin box, and pulling
Sout leather purse from the tin box
come now says he, sees you and gees
you twenty better; are you dare. darkey?'
Jim laid down his cards. counted over
his money, scratched his head. and said:
4 Will you take my brushes and bucket in.
to the stake at ten dollars?
q Il has no objection said Bill. i wants
Ito take no advantage OBJ YOU
Dsn,' said Jim, comes da.,' putting