The southern enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1854-1870, 1860-07-26
Seven Up" for a Wife, or GOOD
as Wheat"

i 60 p" hQots
In the State Of Tennessee, there is a
certain village boasting of a tavern,
three stores, and four groceries, where,
from morning till night, and from night
TIL dawn a person entering the town
may find in the tavern, stores and gro
ceres aforesaid, one or more groups of
persons playing cards. Gambling there
is reduced to a science, the history of
the four kings is thoroughly studied,
and from the school boy to the gray
haired veteran, from the miss in her
teens, to the mother ofa large family, they
are initiated into the mysteries of high,
low, jack, game. One of the best play
ers 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 daughter passing fair"
Fanny, the daughter, was one of the
prettiest girls in Tennessee, aud, there.
fore, one of the prettiest in the world;
for we here digress in order to lay down
an ipse dirit, that Tennessee women, in
point of beauty, are matchless. The
sweetheart Of Fanny was young farm
er, residing in the neighborhood, whom
we shall designate by the name of Bob.
1t happened that one day before har.
vest, 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 con-
versation between the two gentlemen,
on the state of the weather, the pros
poets of the approaching harvest, and
such important staples of conversation,
the Major asked Robert how his wheat
crop promised to yield.
In reply lie was told that the young
farmer expected TO make at least one
hundred bushels. Tho Major appeared
to study for moment, then abruptly
proposed game of old sledge, or " sew
en- up "-the stakes to he his daughter
Fanny against the crop of wheat.
This, of course, the young man in
dignantfy refused, because he could not
bear the idea that the hand Of her he
loved should be made the subject of a
bet, or that he should win n wife by
gambling for her; and, perhaps, he
knew the old man was "hard TO beat"
and there was strong. probability of
his losing both wheat and wife.
IT was not until the Major, with his
usual obstipacy, had sworn that unless
he won her he should never have her,
that the young man was forced reluc-
family to play.
The table was placed, the candles lit.
the cards produced, and the players
took their seats with Miss Fanny be.
tween them, to watch the progress Of
the game. The cards were regularly
shufflcd and cut, and il fell to the Ma
jor's lot to deal. The first hand was
played, and Robert made gift to his op.
ponents high game. Robert then
dealt, the Maj jor begged it was given,
and the Major again made three TO his
opponents one.
Six to two" said Miss Fanny, with
a sigh.
The Major, as he dealt the cards,
winked and said,
"I'm good for the wheat, Master
Bob"
The old man turned up a trump Nit
was a spade. Fanny glanced at her
fathers hand-her heart sunk ;she held
the three, eight spot, and the king |!
She then looked at Roberts band, and
10 he had the ace, queen, duce and
jack or knave. She whispered TO Rob,
ert to beg-he did so.
"THke it," said the Major.
Robert led his duce, which the Majo.
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, lean.
ed over the table, and tapping his last
trick with his finger, said:
That's good as wheat"
q" Is it 2" asked Robert, as he display
ed to the astonished Major the ace and
jack, yet in his hand.
High, low, jack, gift and game"
shouted Robert.
"Outw ~ calculated Fanny.
"Gooh rs wheat" added Robert, as
lie flung his arms around her neck and
kissed ner.
In due time they were married, and
ever after that, when anything occurred
of pleasing nature between the happy
couple, they would exclaim their EN-.
phatic appreciation Of it by the phrase
" Good as wheat"