Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1860-04-04
"sEvEN-uP. FOR A WIFE:


In the State of Tennessee there is certain
village boasting of tavern, three stores and
TOUR groceries, where, from morning till night,
and from night till dawn, person entering the
town, may find in the tavern, stores, and gro-
ceries aforesaid, one or more groups of per-
sons playing cards. Gambling there is re-
duced TO science the history of the four
kings is thoroughly studied, and from the
school boy to the gray haired veteran, from the
miss to the matron, they are initiated into the
mysteries OF high, low, jack and 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 "Jeptha, Judge, in Israel, Had daugh-
ter passing fair.''
Fanny, the daughter, was one of the pretti-
est girls in Tennessee, and therefore one of
the prettiest in the world for we here digress
In order to lay down an ipse dirt, that Tonnes
see women, in point of beauty, are matchless.
The sweetheart of Fanny was young farmer,
residing in the neighborhood, whom we shall
designate by the name of Bob.
1t happened that one day before harvest the
young man was detained in the village, and
found, as usual, at the hotel, seated between
the Major and his daughter. After desulto-
ry conversation between the two gentlemen on
the state of the weather, the prospects of the
approaching harvest, and such important sta
Piles of conversation, the Major asked Robert
how his wheat crop promised to yield. In re-
ply he was told that the young farmer expect
ed to make at least one hundred bushels.
The Major appeared to study for moment,
then abruptly proposed game of old sledge,
or s'seven-up;" the stakes to be his daughter
Fanny against the crop of wheat. This, of
course, the young man Indignantly refused, be-
cause he could not bear the idea that the hand
OF her he loved should be made the subject of
bet, or that he should win wife by gambling
for her; and, perhaps, because he knew the
old man was sshard to beat,'' and there was
strong probability Of MS losing both wheat and
wife. 1twas not until the Major, with his usual
obstinacy, had sworn that unless he won her he
should never have her, that the young man
was forced reluctantly to consent to play.
The table was placed, the candles lit, the
cards produced. and the players took their
seats, with Miss Fanny between them to watch
the progress of the game. The cards were
regularly shuffled and cut, and it fell to the
Majors lot to DEAL The first hand was p lay
ed, and Robert made gift to his opponents
high, low, game. Robert then dealt, and the
Major begged it was given, and the Major a.
gain made three to his opponents one.
"Six to two,'' said Miss Fanny with q sigh.
The Major, as he dealt the cards, winked
and said -
"I'm good for the wheat, Master Bob.'
The old man turned up trump-it was q
Spaue. amy glanced at ner 1atner>S nanQ-
her heart sank he held the three, eight-spot,
and the kingt She then looked at Roberts
hand, and 10 he had the ace, queen, deuce,
and jack, or knave. She whispered to Rob
ert to beg-he did so.
ssTake it,'' said the Major.
Robert led his deuce, which the Major took
with his three.spot, and followed by playing
the king. Robert put his queen upon it. The
Major, supposing it was the young mans last
trump, leaned over the table, and tapping his
last trick with his finger, said:
ssThat's good as wheat.''
sis it7' asked Robert, as he displayed to
the astonished Major the ace and jack yet in
his hands.
'.High, low, Jack, gift and game," shouted
Robert.
ssOutr' calculated Fanny.
tsGood as wheat,'' added Robert, as he flung
his arms around her neck and kissed her.
In due time they were married, and ever
after that, when anything occurred of pleas
ing nature to the happy couple, they would
express their emphatic appreciation of it by
the phrase, ssGood as wheat