The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1852-06-09
Good as the Wheat" or "Seven up"
for a Wife. a

In the State of Tennessee, there is a
certain village Boosting of 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, stores, or groceries aforesaid,
one or more groups OF persons playing
cards. Gambling there is reduced to a
science-the history of the four kings is
thoroughly studied and from the school
boy to the gray-headed veteran, from the
miss in her teens to the mother of large
family, they are initiated into the myste-
ries of high, low, jack, game; right and
lett bowers; the honors and the odd trick.
One of the best players in the village was
Major Smith, the tavern keeper OF, as he
expressed it, the proprietor of the hotel
q widower, who like -
"Jeptha, Judge in Israel,
Had n daughter passing fair"
Fanny, the daughter was one of the
prettiest girls in Tennessee, and therefore
one of the prettiest in the world; for we
here digress in order to lay down as ipsi
dtrit, that Tennessee women, in point of
beauty, are matchless. The sweetheart of
Miss Fanny was a young farmer, residing
in the neighborhood, whom we will desig-
nate by the name of Bob.
1t happened that one day before har-
vest the young man was detained in tie
village, and found him, as usual, at the
hotel, seated between the Major and his
daughter. After a desultory conversation
between the two gentlemen, on the state
OF the weather, the prospects of the ap-
preaching 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 appear
ed to study for moment, then abruptly
proposed game of old sledge or seven
up" the stakes to be his daughter Fanny
against the crop Of wheat. This, of course
the young man Indignantly refused, be-
cause he could not bear the idea that the
hand Of her he loved should be made the
subject of a 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 there was strong probabil-
ity 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 reluctantly to
play.
The table was placed, the candle 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
1t fell to the Majors lot to DEAL The first
hand was played, and Robert made gift
TO his opponents high, low, game. Rob
ert then dealt the Major begged it was
given, and the Major again made three
to his opponents one.
l." Six to two" said Miss Fanny with a
sigh.
The Major as he dealt the cards, wink
ed knowingly and said
"l am good for the wheat, master Bob"
The old man turned up g trump--;t
was spade. Fanny glanced at her fathers
had-her heart sunk he held three, eight
spot, and the king! She then looked at
Roberts hand, and 10 T! he held the ace,
queen, duce, ana JACK, or KnaVe. She
whispered Robert to beg-he did so.
"Take it." said the Major.
Robert led his duce, which the Major
took with his three spot, and followed by
playing the king; Robert put his queen
upon it. The Major supposing it 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 7" asked Robert. as he displayed
to the astonished Major the ace and jack
yet in his hands.
High. low, jack, gift, and the game"
shouted Robert
Oou !" CALCULATED Fanny.
Good as wheat" added Robert, as he
flung his arms around her neck and kissed
her.
In due time they were married, and after
that when anything Occurred ofa pleasing
nature to the happy couple, they could ex-
press their emphatic appreciation of it, by
the pharase, Good as Wheat"