The southerner., 1852-04-10

Improvement.
ORIGIN OF CANT PHRASES.
In the State of Tennessee, there is
certain village, boassing Of It's tav.rn
three stores, and four groceries, where
from morning till night, and from ni3nt
till dawn, person entering the town
may find, in the tavern, stores, or groce-
rles aforesaid, one or more groups Of
persons playing cards. Gambling til re
is reduced to a science, the history Of
four Kings is thoroughly studied. and
from the school boy to the grey headed
veteran, from the miss in her teens to
the mother of large family, they arc
initiated into the mysteries Of hgn, Nv
jack, game; right and left bowers; tic
honors and the odd trick.-Ono Of the
best players in the village was MAJOR
Smith, the tavern keeper; or, as he cx-
pressed it, the proprietor of the hotel;
widower, who, like.
"jephtha, Judge in Israel,
Had daughter passing air"
Fanny, the daughter, was one Of the
prettiest girls in Tennessee, and III .rafore
one of the prettiest in the world; for we
here dgress in order to lay down as our
1pse di:rtt, that Tennessee woman, in
point of beauty, are matchless. The
sweetheart Of Miss Fanny was Il young
farmer, residing in the neighborhood,
whom we shall designate by the name
Of Bob.
1t happened, that one day before har-
vest the young man was detained IN the
village, and found him as usual at the
hotel, seated between the Major aad
charming daughter. After desuItory
conversation between the two gentle
men, on the state Of the weather, the
prospects of the approaching harvest,
and such important staples Of conversa-
ton, the major asked Robert how his
wheat crop promised to yield. Inreply
he was told that the young farmer ex-
pected to make at least one hundred
bushels. The Major appeared to study
for moment, then abruptly proposed u
game of old sledge or seven up the
stakes to be his Fanny against the crop
of wheat. This, of course, the young
man Indignantly refused, because he
could not bear the idea that the hand
of her he loved should be made the SUBJ
ject of a bet, or that he should win a wife
by gambling for her, and, perhaps, be-
cause he knew the old man was .shArdt
to beat" and that there was strong
probability Of his losing both wheat and
wife.
1t was not until the Major, with his
usual obstinacy had sworn, that unless
he won her, he should never have her,
that the young man was forced reluc-
: tantly 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 progress of the game.
The cards were regularly shuffled and
, cut, and it fell to the Majors lot to
3 deal. The first hand was played and
Robert made gift, to his opponents high
1 low, game. Robert then dealt, the Ma
jor begged, it was given and the Major
: again made three to his opponents one.
2 six to two,' said Miss. Fanny, with
4 sigh. The Major, as he again deals
e the cards, winked knowingly and said,
e L am good for that wheat, Master Bob
s The old man turned up trump, If, was a
a spade. Fanny glanced at her fathers
S hand-her heart sank, he b. the three
!; and eight spots and the king! She
n then looked at Roberts hand, ara lo
1t he held the. ace, queeD, deuce. and jacl
l. or knave. She w}isperc,d Robert t
,e beg, he did so.- 'Take It, said the Ma
k jor. 'Three to six said Miss Fanny
n- aloud. Rob,,rt led deuce, which tn,
Or Major took With three spot, and follow
ii ed by rlay, ing the king, Robert put hi
v queen On it. The major supposing i
IN Vas the young mans last trump, lean
r. over the table, and tapping the last tricl
n with his finger, said, That's good a
Id wheat Is it?' asked Robert, as b
displayed to the eyes of the astonishet
ed Major, the ace and jack yetin his hand
IN High, low, jack, gift, and the game
,m shouted Robert. 'Out, sententiousl
1T; calculated Miss Fanny. Good a
ter wheat,' added Robert, as he flung Ill
OF arms around her neck and kissed her.
in. In du. time they were married, am
Nv ever after that, when anything occure'
De, Of a pleasant nature to the happy couple
in they would express their emphatic ar
srv probation of it, by the phrase, 'Good 9
4 llwheat.,