Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1860-07-19
Cum Miscellany.
A SKETCH Of ALABAMA.

A SKETCH Of ALABAMA.
Long years ago, when the no
populous State OF Alabama was a
almost uninterrupted wilderness, th
region Of country new comprised j
the county of Randolph, WIS inieste
with wolves, and stocked with gam
of every kind. 1t was very com
mon thing for companies of men t,
60 from the older settled county O
Chambers up to Randolph county
for the purpose oi tcamp-buntiug,
and il is with one Of these eXpedi
tions that we now have to do.
In the fall Of 1881, four men lefl
the village Of Lafayette, and bent
their course to a place among the
hills Of Randolph, known as the
White Oak Mountain. a place where
game of all kinds .abounded., Just
about the line dividing the two
counties there was q little one e-horse
grocery. kept by one Redmen Horns
by, or, as he was usually called by
bis associates, "Redhnn.. His
principal characteristics were an in
ordinate love OF wbiskey, fear, of
wolves and Indians. and an unquench-
able desire to swindle every body in
any manRer that presented.
Calling at his grocery, the crowd
concluded to take Redhorn along
partly to amuse themselves with his
eceentricitios, and partly because be
wanted to 60. The campiDg-ground
was reached about night ard as
was too late to hunt any that evening,
they built up a fire, and set about
enjoying themselves. A pack Of
greasy cards was produced, bat one of
the boys declined 20 enter the game.
Here, Redhorn, said Ben Walker,
there s but three Of US TO play, take
a hand with us.
who? me-! said Redhorp, who had
been intently watching the proceed
iugs, i don't know no more about
them epssed things than / DO about
the twelve Ap6stles!'
oh, nonsense said Ben, you GER
tslnly know something about it,
'Darned If | know one keard from
t'other,' persisted he.
'Well, come on, you can soon learn,
urged Ben.
No. said Redborn, you three do
it a while, onlwel | sorter git the
hang Of it, and then I'll give You n
turn.'
Accordingly they played a few
games without. any bets, until Red
horn thought he seed into IT,
Nov, boys, said Ben, winking at
The others, give me and Redhorn
three in seven, and we'll Try you for
half ,iolIar a game
This was agreed to. and at IT they
went. AS may be supposed Ben and
Red lost all the time, the latter ours
ing all the time, and swearing it was
DO better than stealing 'to take a
filters money that-a-way, an be not
knowing thing about the game
But they thought differently.
At length Redhorn appeared very
much excited, and, rising to his feet,
broke out:
: You We, made a bargain to cheat
me out'n my money, an I'll be ciissedI
eff stand i'll You just had Ben on
my side to help you, and I'll be
burned eff / cant beat the best Of
you, even pop. Come yher, ef you
want the silver jsrked ou:: o ye by
hatfuls.' @
I'm your man, said Joe BIount,
and pulling out his money they went
at it, the betting being raised 10
a dollar a game. 1t coon became
evident to Joe that be bad caught
Tartar. None Of his tricks would
succeed While Redborn was contin.
uai,y 'raking down the pile After
playing shout an beur, Joe found /
himself minus stake aud threw
down the cards with an osth.
These is curious fxens,' said Bed,
rs he viewed them one at time.
I'll bet FIVE dollars l kin turn.
Jack, as vou csllit, the first pop
.Done!' said Ben, pulling out bis
Get me shuttle EN-
The cards we're duly shuf1led, and
handed back to Red, who ciiefessiy
ook OF few and turned up the
bottom one for Ben's inspection.
It was the Jack of Spades!
.Confound you!' said Ben. handing