The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1860-03-21
tsSEVGN UPss FOR A WIFE.

In the State of Tennessee there IS a Ger.
tain village boasting 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 and groceries aforesaid, one or more
groups of persons playing cards. Gambling
there is reduced to asclence-the history OF
four kings is thoroughly studied, and from
the school-boy to the grey headed veteran,
from the miss in her teens to the mother of
large family, they are initiated into the
mysteries of high low, jack, game, right
and left bowers-the honors and the odd
trick. One of the best players in the village
was Major Smith, the tavern-keeper; or, as
he expressed it, the proprietor Of the hotel
widower, who like gaa- .. ...."r :saE
~ .sJeptha, Judge in Israel, 4.s ..... sni
Had daughs er passing fair"
Fanny, the daughter, was one of the pref
tiest girls in Tennessee, and, therefore, one
Of the prettiest in the world; for we here di-
gress in order to lay down as ipse dirit, that
Tennessee women, in point of beauty, arc
matchless. The sweetheart of Fanny was
a young farmer, residing in the neighbor-
hood, whom we shall designate by the name
of Bob. -, AS .sa. 49, ,...... .. ...
1t happened that one day before harvest,
| the young man was detained in the 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 approaching harvest, and
important staples Of conversation, the Ma.
jor asked Robert how his wheat crop pro
ised to yield. In reply he was told that
the young farmer expected to make at least
one hundred bushels. The Major appeared
to study for moment, then abruptly pro-
posed 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, because he
could not bear the idea that the hand of he,
he loved should be made the subject of q
bet, or, that he should win wife by gam
bling for her; and, perhaps, because he knew
the old man was ''hard to beat" and there
was strong probability Of his losing both
wheat and wife. a a aa ~sE sa'
1t was not until the Major, with his usua
obstinacy, had sworn that unless he wor
her he should never have her, that ths
young man was forced reluctantly to con
sent to play. at .I #+t
The table was placed, the candles lit, th'
cards produced, and the players took thei
seats, with Miss Fanny between them, t.
watch the progress of the game. The card
were regularly shuffled and cut, and it fel
to the Majors lot to deal The first hant
was played, and Robert made gift to his op
ponent's high low, game Robert then dealt
the Major begged; it was given, and the Ma
jor again made three to his opponents one
"Six to two," said Miss Fanny, with
sigh. ..... 40.
The Major as he dealt the cards, winke,
knowingly, and said: 80.
I'm good for the wheat, Master Bob.
The old man turned up a trump-it wa
a spade. Fanny glanced at her father
hand-her heart sank; he held the three
eight spot, and king! She then looked a
Roberts hand, and 10! he had the ace, queer
deuce and jack or. knave. She whispered t
Robert 20 beg-he did so. .r.-, ..s..... .
Take it," said the Major. ....
Robert led his deuce, which the Major tool
} with his three spot, and followed by playin
the king. Robert put his queen upon il
Tie Major, supposing it was the youn
mans last trump, leaned over the table
and tapping his last trick with his finger
said: #E .,n. "s
That's good as wheat" zas ss. @#
: ''Is it," asked Robert, as he displayed t
, the astonished Major the ace and jack, ye
] | in his hands.
High, low, jack, gift and game" shoute
, Robert. Il ... a...D.# .
\ "Out!' calculated Fanny. s...a ss
"Good as wheat" added Robert, as h
, flung his arm around her neck and kisse
. her. s@ -Fsas
, In due time they were married, and eve
, after that when anything occurred of
, pleasing nature to the happy couple, the
! would express their emphatic approbatio
r Of it by the phrase, "Good as wheat"