The Portsmouth inquirer. [volume] (Portsmouth, O. [Ohio]) 1849-1855, 1855-01-25
Good, my young Dayy; but that fellow

'tood, my young Dayy; but that felloy
is big enough to swallow YOU =
Yes; but he can't digest n1el s''
J" 1T wouldn't be fair fight intcrpose
several Of the bystanders. s'''2a2s' p.
We'll, there's something that nqllife
brute force, and places all on an equal foot
mgr g'a'lF >iatG 2'.' 'b- p H.t
That's the talk, Davy. You are m, m,
man, exclaimed George slapping him d
the back. ,9 eCi7ltatN S9lG aiyf
He's7rightl, said one Of the bystan
ers, d man about forty years old, steppint
forward, i'fhe young man is right, ant
I'm his friend in the matter. It's as clea
as day, and the affair can soon be settled.
& 2 The speaker had been a Major IN tn,
Texan Revolution, and he led the stran
ger down the cabin towards his state room
telling the gambler to have things arfang
ed within fifteen minutes. When they
4 reached thestate-room the Major said:
How is it that a person Of your age
understands so much about cards as tc
beat those old gamblers" @ 'N''.ls,sa''a Hp'
| Curiosity led me to study them; but
never play but for amusement Most Of
the tricks l learned from fellow boarder
who had spent a great part of his time al
the gambling table. l noticed that these
honest countrymen had been swindled,
and thought it would be an act of char
lity to beat the gamblers with their own
weapons, and recover the money for my
partnsr and his friend. Every time I no
ticed the gamblers secrete the cards, | cali
ed for another pack of cards Of a different
color, and watched them too. closely to give
them chance to cheat me in DEAL
They did not suspect till near the finish
Of our play, You know the rest ''''''
Pretty good But do you think you
could face that fellows fire? He is an old
hand at the business. .-
But he's coward, or he would moi
have drawn a knife on me. Yet if it can
be avoided | would rather not meet him
| woull not like to have him meet his death
at my hands, nor would l like to sacrifice
my life for so Unworthy a purpose
les too late to buck out now
Can't it be settlcd?'
No! if you refuse to meet him, every
one will pronounce you coward
well, if it must be, suppose it must
but have no weapons l
Never mind that; / have q pair of du-
cling pistols, and SO if you have any ar.
rangcments to make, be about it, for time
lis short, and the affair should be settled
before it gets noised about the boat. III
see to other matters e#.t
Stay! make the distance short p.
Only the breadth of the boat
So saying, the young man went to his
own stttte-roon, but soou returz1cd- a.. and
seated himself by table in the cabin and
commenced writing. His face was pale
deadly palc-but there was fixedness
of features that at once told that his mind
was made up. A tear coursed down his
cheeks as he wrote-but probably that
tear was for those far away, yet still tc
memory dear. Strange thoughts fitted
through his mind-so young, and yet to
stand on the brink of dcath-to make one
fearful plunge into that dark unknown riv-
er, and to be carried by its current into
the ocean Of eternity to return no more
A lifetime passed before his view in a
moment. Yet the Geni said, go on-too
late!' TO die, orkill--either was a dread
ful reflection Yet the proud passions of
youth would not submit to reflections
1t must be done, and thessooner it is
over the better---so reasoned passion, and
passion triumphed. When he had finish
ed his writing, he gave it to the Major,
requesting him to follow the directions
which he would find in note addressed
to himself, in case he should fall. Also
TO give his winnings to George to make up
for the loss he had sustained.
They went upon the upper deck of the
boat 1t was calm still night. The
moon shone forth in all its pale splendor.
AS far as the eye could reach nothing
but frost and water met the gaze. The
boat had just rounded to, for the purpose
of wooding, and when she was again i'm
der way, the young stranger, his second,
and three other persons anxiously awaited
the approach of the gambler Scarcelys
word was spoken, none felt disposed to dis
turb the silence that reigued. Half an
hour passed and the gambler came not
1t was suggested that man go in search
of him. The messenger soon returned
and reported that both gamblers had left
the boat at the wood yard. When the
young man heard this, fervent Thanh
God T escaped from his lips, and the par.
ty retired to seek repose in sleep.
l. Mn. SYIpE's LITANy--From tailor'i
bills, doctors pills, western chills, and 9th
er ills--deliver us!
From want Of gold, wives that scold
maidens old, and by "sharpers sold p
preserve us! 5E tt .aN
From singing flies, coal-black eyes, ba
ker's pies, and baby cries-deliver us!
From strong-minded women, female
lecturers, and other masculine ladies-pre
serve usl m sir
i From seedy coats, wrested notes, ant
sinking boats protect us!
! From creaking doors, wife that snores
"confounded bores" and dry goods-pro
tect'usl
From colic's gripes, Paddy's pipes, and
Mrs. Snipes--deliyer usl aot f,891g
From modest girls, with waving curls
and teeth Of pearls--neyer mind.