Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1852-07-22
NJ | S C E e L A N. Y
.GooD AS THE WHEAT"
OR SEVEN UP FOR A WIFE.

u
To the State Of Tennessee, there is GER
tain village Boosting Of a tavern, three stores
and four groceries, where from morning till
night ana from night till dawn, person en-
tering the town may find, in the tavern,
stores or groceries aforesaid one or more
groups of persons playing cards. Gambling
there is reduced to a science the history of
kings is thoroughly studied, and from the
school boy to the grey headed veteran, from
the miss in Her teens to the mother of a
large family, they are inflicted into the mys-
teries of high, low, jack, game right and
left bowers the honers and the odd trick
One Of the best players IN the village was
Major Smith the tavern keeper; or, as he
expressed it, the proprietor Of the hotel, a
widower, who like
aJeptha, Judge in Israel
Had daughter passing fair"
Fanny, the daughter, was one of the prot
tiest girls in Tennessee, and therefore one
of the prettiest in the world for we here d.
gress in order to lay down as ipsc dirit, that
Tennessee women in point Of beauty are
matchless. The sweetheart of4Miss Fanny
was young farmer, residing in the neigh
borhood, whom we shall designate by the
name al. Bah -,ssss ueTaEnaa III the viflage
and found him as usual, at the hotel, seated
between the Major and his daughter. At
ter desultory conversation between the two
gentlemen, on the state of the weather, the
prospects of the approaching harvest, and
such important staples of conversation, the
Major asked Robert how his wheat crop
promised to yield. In reply, he was told
that the young farmer expected to make at
least one hundred bushels The Major APP
peared to study for moment, then abrupt
ly proposed game of old sledge or seven
up the stakes to be his daughter Fanny a
gainst his crop of wheat. This, of course,
the young man Indignantly refused because
be could not bear the idea that the hand Of
her he loved should be made the subject of
bet, or that he should win wife By gam
bling for her, and perhaps, because he knew
the old man was hard to beat, and there was
strong probability of his losing both wheat
and wife.
It was not until the Major with his usual
obstinacy, had sworn that unless be won her
he should never have her, that the young
man, was forced reluctantly to consent to
play
The table was placed, the candles lit, the
cards produced, and the players took their
seats, with Miss Fanny between them to
watch the game. The cards were regularly
shufied and cut, and it fell to the Majors
lot to deal The FIRST hand-was played and
Robert made gift to his opponents high,
low, game Robert tfen dealt, the Major
begged it was given, and the Major again
made three to his opponents one.
Six to two,n said Miss Fanny with a
sigh The Major, as he dealt the cards,
winked knowingly and said
/ am good for the wheat, master Bob"
The old man turned up a trump-it was
spade. Fanny glanced at her fathers
hand-her heart sank # he held the three
eight spots and the king She then looked
at Roberts hand, and 10 he held the ace,
queen, duce, and jack Or knayo. She whis-
pered Robert to eeg-he did 50.
Take it." said the Major
Robert led his d9ce, which the Major took
with his three spot, and followed by playing
the kingl Robert put his queen upon it
The Major supposi1g it was the young mans
last trump, leaned over the table, and tap.
ping the last trick with his finger said
That's good as wheat"
aIsita ~ asked Robert as he displayed to
the eyes Of the astopished Major the ace and
jack Jet in his hands
High, low, jack, gift, and the game,
shouted Robert.
aY9ula sententiously, calculated Mis-.
Fanny
Good as wLeat,n added Robert, as he
i flung bis arms around her neck and kissed
her
In due time they were married, and ever
after that, when anything occurred of q
pleasing nature to the happy couple, they
would express their emphatic appreciation
Of il, by the phrase, Good As wheat