Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1860-03-17
ssSeven up'' for . Wife; or, 'sGood -
Wheat.,s


. certain village Boosting 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, gro
ceries aforesaid, one or more groups of
persons playing cards. Gambling there
is reduced to science, the history Of
the four kings is thoroughly studied,
and from the school boy to the grey
haired 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,
~ be expressed it, the proprietor Of the
hstel q widower, who, like
"Jspths, Judge in Israel,
Had daughter passing fair"
Fanny, the daughter, was one Of the
prettiest girls in Tennessee, and, there
fore, one Of the prettisst 10 the world
for We here digress in order to lay down
a. ipse di1it, that Tennessee women, in
pointi Of beauty, are matchless. The
sweetheart of Fanny was young far
mer, residing 10 the neighborhood, whom
we shall designate by the name Of
Bob.
Ithappened that one day before har-
vest, the young man was detained in the
village, and found himself, as usual in
the hotel, seated between the Major
and his daughter. After desultory
conversation between the two gentle
men, on the state of the weather,
the prospects of the approaching
harvest, and such important staples
Of conversation, the Major asked Robert
how his wheat crop promised 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 abrupt
ruptly proposed . game of "old sledge,"
or "seven up,"-the stakes to DO his
daughter Fanny against the crsp Of
wheat.
This, Of course, the young man indig-
nantly refused, because 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 gam
bling for her; and, perhaps, because he
knew the old man was "hard to beat"
and there wasa strong probability Of his
losing both wheat and wife.
1t was 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 reluc-
family to consent to play.
The table was placed, the candles lit,
the cards produced, aud the players took
their seats with Miss Fanny between
them to watch the progress Of the game.
The cards we're regularly shuf1ed and
cut, aud it fell to the Majors lot to deal.
The first hand was played, and Robert
made gift to his opponents high, low,
game. Robert then dealt, the Major
begged; it Was given, and tho Major
again made three to his opponents
one.
"Six to two" said Miss Fanny, with
an audible Sigh.
The Major, a. he dealt the cards,
winked and said
"l'm good for the wheat Master
Bob"
The old man turned up = trump.-it
was . spade. Fanny glanced At her
fathers hand-her heart sank he held
the three, eight spot, and the king
She then looked at Roberts hand, and
10! he had the ace, queen, deuce, and
jack, or knavs. She whispered to Rob.
ert to beg-he did 20.
"Take it" said the Major.
Robert led his duce, which the Major
took with 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 bis last trick with
his finger said
"That's ~ good - wheat"
us it 7" asked Robert as he displayed
to the astonished Major the ace and
jack yet in his hands.
High low, jack, gift and game" shout
ed Robert.
"Out!" calculated Fanny.
"Good - wheat" added Robert, ~
he flung his arms around her neck, and
kissed her.
In due time they were married. and
ever after that when anything occurred
Of pleasing nature t. the happy couple,
they would express their emphatic ap-
r. "a -