Daily American telegraph., 1852-04-02
Good as Wheat!

Perhaps you would like to know the origin of
this phrase:
In Tennessee, there is a certain village, boasting
its tavern three stores and four groceries, where
from morning till night and from night till
dawn, person entering the town may find, in
the tavern, groceries, or stores aforesaid, one or
more groups of persons playing cards. Gam
bling there is reduced to science the history of
the four kings is thoroughly studied; and from
the school-boy to the gray haired veteran-from
the miss in her teens to the mother of large
family-they are all initiated into the mysteries
of high, low jack game-right and left bowers
the honors of the odd trick. One of the best
players in the village was Major Smith, the tav-
ern-keeper-or, he expressed it, the proprietor
of the hotcl-a widower, who, like
"Jephtha, judge in Israel,
Had daughter passing falr,
Fanny, the daughter, was one of the prettiest
girls in Tennessee, and therefore one of the pref
test in the world The sweetheart of Miss Fanny
was young farmer, residing in the neighbor-
hood, whom we shall designate by the name of
Bob.
1t happened that one day before harvest, the
young man was detained in the village, and night
found him as usual at the hotel, seated between
the Major and his charming daughter. After u
desultory conversation between the two gentle
men 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 Mt least Il hundred bushels. The Major
appeared to study for moment then abruptly
proposed game of old sledge or "sevcn up"
the stakes to be his daughter 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 subject of bet, or that he should win
a wife by gambling for her, and, perhaps, because
he knew the old man was hard to beat" and
that there was very strong probability of his
losing both wheat and wife.
1t was not until the Major, with his usual OBJ
stinacy, had sworn that unless he 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 progress
of the game. The cards were regularly shut1ed
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. Bob then
dealt, the Major begged, it was given, and the
Major again made three to his opponents one.
'Six TO two" said Miss Fanny with n sigh.
The Major as he again dealt the cards, wnkcd
knowingly and said, "1'm good for that wheat.
Master Bob" The old man turned up a trump
it was spade. Fanny glanced ut her fathers
hand-hcr heart sank-he held the three and
eight spots and the king! She then looked at
Roberts hand, and, 10. he held the ace queen
deuce, and jack, or knuvc. She whispered Rob
crt to bcg--hc did so. Take it," said the Ma
ior Three to SIX" said Miss Fanny, aloud
Robert played his deuce, which the Major took
with his three spot, and followed by playing the
king. Robert put his queen on it. The Major,
.surposlng 1t was the young mans last trump,
leaned over the table, and tapping the last trick
with his finger, said, " That's good as wheat"
Is it ?" asked Robert, rs he displayed to the
eyes Of the astonished Major the ace and jack
yet in his hand. "High, low jack, gift, and the
game" shouted Robert. "Out," sentcntously
CALCULATED Miss Fanny Good rs wheat, added
Robert, as he flung his arms around her neck
and kissed her
In due time they were married and ever after
that when anything of n pleasant nature oc-
Cured to the happy couple, they would express
their emphatic appreciation of it by the phrase
GOOD as wheat"
ANEcDoTE.-A baronet Of the last century,
whose mansion was in Yorkshire, was supposed
to be dead when the following conversation took
place between his jester, or fool, and ono of his
servants:
Seru. Our master is gone
Fool All whittier has he gone?
SerD. To Heaven, | hope.
Fool Tos Heaven No, that he is not am
sure.
ScrU. Why 80?
Fool Why because Heaven is a great way OFF;
and when my master was going long journey he
used for some time to talk about, to prepare for it.
But never heard him speak of Heaven, or make
any preparation for going he cannot therefore
be gone thither. The baronct, however recov-
cred, and this conversation being told him, he was
so struck by it, that he began to prepare for his
journey to that country ''from whose bourne no
traveller returns"
The concert of Mr.. Ole Bull on Wednesday
evening was highly satisfactory to his delighted
audience. The mighty power over sense and