Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-02-08
For the Patriot
HOW Sam McCrary Won the Mule.
BY roorER.


Ocoee, where it bursts through the ChilhOwie
mountain.
AS has been usual with Sam since his late
visit to Nashville. on which occasion he came
SO near making a s'big rize'' at cards, he did
not leave home without being provided with
an old deck of ''plaid backs" the ten spots OF
which bore numerous signs that would serve
for keen eye to determine them from cards of
less value Soon after his arrival at the en-
campment to his great delight. he found
teamster who willing to back his Judg-
ment at game of "old sledge"-the latter
putting up, as stake, an old bag of bones
done up in mules hide against Judge, little
heavy set, fourteen hand pony that the former
had got into his possession somehow in the
Presidential canvass of '56, and was now ri
ding. The preliminaries being settled, and a
fresh supply of light wood thrown into the
fire, the game commenced, each player seated
upon the ground with half bushel measure
inverted between them. upon the bottom of
which they played.
"a fair game" said Sam, ''no crimpin, nor
bendin nor firth jacks from the South"
Nor stock in, nor palm in" cody remark
ed his adversary.
While this conversation was going on, one
of the Transfers associates crept to a large
tree that stood near by, and, by the aid of
fence rail, which he leaned against its trunk,
managed to ascend to a limb that, some fif-
teen feet from the ground, projected almost
Immediately over those engaged in the game.
Creeping along upon this limb he selected a
position from which he could distinctly see the
cards in Sans hands, and, from certain signs
understood between the parties. give his adj
versary such information as would enable him
to play to the best advantage Matters thus
arranged, it could not be expected that Sam
would he successful. He, however mistrusted
nothing, and consequently could not account
for his losing almost every game. Nine
games had alreaay been scored against him,
and it was six to five in the tenth-which if he
lost would make Judge the property of anOth
er. About this time Sam felt gloomy enough
indeed. And his mind reverting back to the
circumstances under which he had come into
possession of J,ao,ge he could not help feeling
that his present bad run was altogether owing
to the interference of a just providence. Yet,
being the non-dealer, with steady nerve he
raised the cards that had been dealt to him.
looking over them and finding no trumps, he
said.
Il beg"
His adversary finding nothing but the eight
of trumps, had to await the proper /" item !"
from the fellow upon the limb before he could
determine what to do A sudden inclination
of the head indicated to run the cards This
being done, Sam was fortunate enough to raise
the ace and deuce, and took down marker
The game now took change in his favor.
Every time he would beg, the cards were rum
The fact was, that the man that had been
placed upon the limb, to give item, had fallen
asleep, and consequently was nodding all the
while, trump or no trumps, by which means
the advantage was in Sans favor. Now the
markers as rapidly disappeared as they had
been piled up, until they had not only all been
removed, but the number scored in his favor
that was necessary to make the mule his prop
erty. just at this time the man upon the limb
became so sound asleep, and kept such a sway
ing to and fro as to lose his balance, and but
for a knot that caught in the seat of his pam
falcons, would have fallen to the ground. AS
it was ne swnnn thnra d""e-Ii~cr r,nor. a.
der side of the limb like an opossum support
ed by its tail. His struggles at once attract
ed the attention of the whole party. And,
though his situation was certainly anything
but agreeable, no one seemed at all disposed
to render him the least assistance Instead,
they tainted him with his faithlessness, de-
claring he might hang there It'll doom's day
for all they cared.
drap," said one.
A second, you stick as tite as death to a
dyin' calf"
third, "YOu're nice TELLER to be placed
upon watch: you let the inimy in without
firm "A gun"
fourth, 'Well, Inever did have any con-
idence in the Teller since he stole the tar outen
the hubs of his own wagon and sold it for
'tangle-foot.'"
All this time Sam looked on in amazement,
not knowing what TO make of it, The true
state of the case, however, soon flashed into
his mind and looking up at the poor fright
encd helpless wretch. he remarked:
81 guess old fell from the way you keep
dodlin that little cimlin head of your'n. there
must be an awful hand of trumps out"
just at this time, the little fellow having
kept such a wrigling, and twisting, and kick
- e Al.
looms gave way, letting the lower extremity
of his shirt fall out, so as to be quite at the
mercy of the night-wind, which seemed to take
a peculiar delight in playing with the tattered
garment
At this new phase. there were no bounds to
the merriment of those looking on. With
their hands upon their sides, as though to keep
from bursting, some rolled upon the ground,
Others shouted ut the top of their voices:
Its time to gear up, boys, the mornin'
stars riz."
"D-n the mornin' STAR said dry looking
chap. That's no mornin' star, nor evenin'
star mother; its a comit-see what a long tail
its got"
In the midst Of all this confusion, the main
waist-band button gave way. letting the un-
fortunate wretch assume perpendicular in
stead of Il horizontal positioa-owing to the
fact that his pantaloons were too tight about
the ankles to permit his feet, Notwithstanding
they were unincumbered with leather, to pass
through. This of course did not lessen his
peril in the least. And here he hung, head
downwards, vibrating like the pendulum of IA
large clock until one OF his comrades, taking
piece of tallow, went up and relieved him by
thoroughly greasing the parts 10 which the
narrow portion of the pantaloons had chung
so tenaciously, letting the poor wretch fall TO
the earth. Happening to alight on his feet