The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1855-05-11
VOLUME XI.-NUMBER 10.

any such suspicion and yet the gentle, swell
ing strains Of tho instrument sounded iifo
tho hcart-rcnding lamenta.ion Of despair
ing and guilty bosom. -,
Something now appeared to DO taxing
place liulc above the bar. and the spec'a'
tors soon collected round table where lad
Of about thirteen was playing vingtum with
two green mountain boys. They looked
like couple Of farmers sons from tho hlll',
who had not seen much life In the world;
but here, with the French cards,with which
they were better acquainted than tho span-
ish, and game which they had oilen seen
in New York, or had, perhaps, themselves
played, they farcicd they could "find"
their money without tho trouble OF gong 10
tho mountains and digging for II. Thsfrsf
Eve times they gained small sums, and ono
OF them seemed to feel his conscience prick
him for taking the money from such
child. l.,.
"Hansi, H." ho said, half aloud to his
brother, "ii's really shame for us two
grown and sensible men to play with
such little greenhon-lct's 60 somewhere
else"
Nonsense, I don't SEQ it," said the 9th.
er. THE boys so stupid as TO stand here
and challenge Others 10 play, we may rs
well pluck him as any one else bu. what
i'm so pleased at Is, that he fances he's
caugh, couple Of aa,s-wo'll show him
tho difference"
The lad never altered feature while this
conversation was being carried on, but he
kep, his lips closely compressed, and had
moi the two Yankees been so busted in
talking, they nigh, have seen him exchange
a couple ofrapid glances with another lad,
abou, his own age, who was standing near
him, behind largo dice,tox. The boy
did no, look in any way like greenhorn.
"Well, my cherub, here's a dollar on
my card, said the elder, as no took il up
and looked at il, "and buy"
"Is iha, enough, sir''
gEnough-well, yes-rll pass"
"And you p
am buy too."
"a four; ,ha, will suit you."
"No, conound !n one more.
els that enoughl"
"Three.and.twen,y," the younger broth
er exclaimed, pushing the money over 10
the young gambler. The latter laughingly
turned up his cards, they made fihecn.
"I pass ,oo" he said, and tho other
American, with low curse, threw over tho
money, without showing his cards. But
why had tho young scamp stood at fiheen'
The game began again. The two brothers,
10 their surprise, lost continually, and be,
came excited. They staked two dollar, on
a card, then three, and without their per-
ceivng il, a number Of spectators had col.
lecied round them, who regarded the pluck
ing with all outward indications OF pleasure.
The two brothers, only more excited by
this, slaked higher and higher, wiihou, at
tending TO many kind word OF warning
and one of,hem a. las, threw whole hand
fnl of silver and several gold Eicces-prob.
ably all his capi,al-upon his card ior las,
decisive stake. This time he must win
he had drawn one-and-,weniy his brother
had two eagles on his card, and two king,
in his band-luck had turned. The lad dis
played his cards; he had an acc and
thee he could not stand on them. He
bought tenth card-iour,eea again-ho
bough. again asix-,wenty. To buy again
would have been madness, but his eye flew
from one stake 10 the other, and his fingers
played, as il in deep thought, with the
pack.
"lll buy" he suddenly cried, as ifwilh
desperate determination, and the only
card which could save him-,hc acc-came
up,while he took up tho money with quiet
smile.
"Don't give in, gen,lemen-don't give
in !" he exclaimed at the same time. at
will be your turn soon-luck's everything
don't despair-wha,'s your mex, s,akel -
let mo see your next stake !"
But the two green mountain boys had had
enough for tho present. They nudgcd ono
another and lei, the table, while others
'hronsed forward TO take their places. Tho
mex. table did no, appear 10 do such -four
ishing trade, but in truth, dollar after dollar
was pocke,cd, though tho stakes rarely
amounted TO moro than quarter dollar. II
was dicc.lablc-a piece Of canvas, with
iiye large letters, a, B, c, b, Z, painted
on il. Three dice lay on il, each of which
bore the letters and blank. The boy bc'
hind the table had largo box before him.
Any one who wished 10 play s,aked his
money on one or more Letters, aud then
threw himself lihis letter turned up, he
received his, or even twice or thrice its val
nc IL fortune dccreed that, for instance, ho
had backed d, and all three dice turned up
D; on the other hand, tho stake was los, IL
other letters came up. Next 10 this ,ablo
was roulette bOard-lhen a faro. Further
on stood gambler with three cards, which
he moved back and forwards on table, us
an invitation 10 the as'onlshed spectators 10
stake, who did not dare do Il, or thought ho
was jes,ing with them so extraordinarily
simple the affair seemed to bc. Right in
iron, Of the table man was standing in q
black coat, aud watched the cards and their
change ofplace very closely. Around him
was collected swarm OF backwoOdsmea
aud miners whispering together, while tho
banker moved the cards about in such way
that II was easy 10 follow each, and any ono