Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1853-07-23
''Tops and Bottoms;" or the Way
Sol Science ''sold'' his Daddy.
BY NED ALBRt


Sol Science ''sold'' his Daddy.
BY NED ALBRo.
"Solomon, my son.
And he came very quickly "for'ard," 10 use
sailor phrase, for the old man catched him up
in the hay loft 'chuckin'" dice with Jim, an
older brother, and he knew he was gone.or.
"What are you doin' herew asked his daddy
"A playin' of S,oeat," said Sol, gathering up
what constituted the "bank."
"SWeat! And what's that, sonny!'
"Why, you see this 'ere board, with |, 2, 3,4,
5, s, painted on! Well, Jim sed he wouldn't
bet on any other figure but the 5, if I'd let him
double" and throws three 6severy time, and
beets him to perfect smash"
Old Mr.. Science didn't quite understand this
answer, but he reckoned to himself the "ttle
raskils had been 'er gambn' and winnin' one
another's money"
"Jim," said he, sternly, "jest tote yerselfin the
house, an stay there until return; and you,
Solomon, 60 an cut me willow branch-di-
rectly."
"What for!" asked Sol.
"Im goin' to give you a lickin', my SON.
What sez the Scripture Spare the rod and
spile the child and if should do that thing
you'd continer to 60 on in this wicked way, un-
til you'd come to the gallus."
daddy" said the youngster, putting both
hands in his trouses pockets, "there's no use a
takin' to me in that durn sollum strain, for
tell you I'm bound to be gambler-gallus or
no gallus! Now, there's Nancy Smith, the fe-
male that set up with, she seq as how I'm a
lamb; and don't all lambs gambole'
"Hold yer tuug, you drafted skunk, yure ig-
norant as horse an if you don't take warnin'
you'll come to dredful end, sure as yure hu-
man bein' Solomon, say, them gamblers
have dealins with the devil, and ifyou should
90 down to Moo York with ten dollars in yer
pocket, they'd win it all from you in day!"
"Il bet they wouldn't"
"Besides, if they couldn't get it no how else,
they'd cut yer throte with a banana and then
chuck you down sum Of them hundred foot
pitsr'
"Who's afraid! I'm a teapot if don't think
could beet the captain of the hull crew all
to sbivers with these ERE dice. Why can
throw three SKIES dozen times hand-runnin';
and, daddy, can tell how many spots is on the
top and bottom, without lookin!"
sand let me shake EN- up and kiver them
over?"
ayes daddy"
sand you turn yer back and shet yer eyes?"
"Edzactly."
"It can't be done," said the old man, solemn.
ly, "the things impossible! Angels couldn't do
i'll couldn't"
Well, Ikin," said SOL, with grin.
"Sience! you drafted william; don't tell you
nobody could"
"What'll yer bet!"
"Me bet! an old man Almost in my grave, and
deakin at that! What ,Oould sister Crump say,
Iwonder, fshe should hear of such thing!'
"No dad" said SOL Il didn't mean to say you
would bet-1 aluz know'd you wouldn't, but
I'll tell you what | did mean. You see I've
got five dollars, all in silver, and I want five
more to buy watch. Now, if you'll give me
FIVE fri do this trick, I'll give you five if |
don't"
asked Mr.. s.
"Ofcourse," nodded Sol.
The old man scratched his head and mutter-
ed to himself, sit can't be wicked to try, for it
amt bettin', and the boy can't do it cause it's
impossible. Besides, it will drive all them mas.
ty notions out of his head, and he'll never do
SO no more. Yes, III humor him this wunst, I
VOW. Solomon!"
"Yes, sir"
"What did you say was the trick!'
"Why, you take these ERE dice and shake
'em yourself, and I'll tell how many spots there
is on the top an bottom, and won't look! i'll
don't, you can have my FIVE dollars; if do, you
must give me your 6ve.'
"Well, sonny, Ill do it. Give the things to
me-"
"There they be-" said SOL, handing them to
his daddy; "now put your five dollars in this
pile long with mine, so all will be fair, you
know"
II will" and the old man laid ragged India
ma V amongst Solomon's silver, and put the
dice in his hat. After shaking thom good ten
minutes, he dumped them on the floor, and said
he was ready.
swat spell" said SOL, making b'leeye he
was puzzled; "aIl right. guess there's jest
twenty-one."
The old man raised his hat-counted both
ends of the dice-top and bottom-and of
course there acas twenty. lone spots.
"BIess the Lord!" said he, athe child has done
it, slick and sure. But it warn't far-I declare
to natur' it warn't Solomon, if you'll do it
again, I'll give you another five dollars, and git
you new pair of breeches besides"
"Well, daddy, 60 ahead; but don't think
can guess it again, no how. That's right, shake
'em heap-I hain't got no injection whatever.
All ready!"
"Yes."
swell, there's twenty.one spots there this
time, too."
Up comes the hat. "There's three skies,
daddy, that's eighteen. Turn 'em over-three
aces; that makes twenty-one agin, by thunder''
The old man held up his hands and groa''
ed.
"Marciful Egypt! did you ever! No, ,aeVer
did, Solomon, my son, how was il ,she!
aDone!" said Sol, gathering VI, - ,aas daooys s