The eastern clarion. [volume] (Paulding, Miss.) 1837-1863, 1861-05-03

"Persimons, ir. !" in the lSpirit az he Tyn,cs
gives an account Of old Ben Winnie, O
Arkansas, with his son Joe, who was leav
ing home for business in Texas. The old
man was accustomed 10 deal in euchreism
and his discourse Is enlivened by similies
that the smoking-car passengers on some
| Of our longest local railway trains will
understand. Thus the story runs
In the course of time Uncle Winnie's
eldest son, boy of some eighteen years OF
| age, was most unexpectedly invited to
what was then the new country of Texas.
| distant relative who desired an assistant,
/ offered great inducement. and Winnie ir.
a chip of the old block, and real honor
| to Arkansas, made his preparations for
the first time to leave home. His mother
treated the thing good deal as mothers
do, and filed up the time before his de-
parture with crying packing up a trunk,
and making cake tixins."
Old Winnie took most grasping and
philosophical view Of the matter. He re-
marked that life was a pack of cards, and
that your success depended upon how
they were dealt out. He said he knew Of
fellows who never could get above a four
spot, and never enough OF them to make
more than a pair. He'd known others,
again, who always had their hands full Of
queens and aces and even if the deal
runs low, they would get two pairs, or
three duces, that was even better in this
case than "picters." In short Uncle Win
ME said some men had luck. play as they
would, they could not, in fact help win
ming, whether they set down with green
ones or took shy at the tiger"
At last the hoy" was about to take his
departure his mother gave him her last
kiss, and her most fervent blessing, and
Uncle Winnie accompanied him TO the
wagon that was 10 take him to the steam
boat landing. The moment of leaving
came he had held up wonderfully all
through the preliminaries, but now his
heart was to full, and he broke out as fol-
lows
bob, you are about 10 leave home for
strange parts. Your going 10 throw me
out Of the game and 60 il alone. The
odds is again you, Bob but remember
always that industry and perseverance are
the winning cards they are the bow
ers.'
Book learning and all that sort Of
thing will do to fill up with, like small
trumns but Won must have the bowers TO
rainy day, but hold your head up ard
make 'em believe you're flush Of trumps
then they wont play so hard agin you.
"Pve lived and traveld around some,
Bob, and I've found out that as soon as
folks thought you held weak hand,
the'd buck agin you strong. 80 when
you're sorter weak, keep on a bold front,
but play cautious, be satisfied with a
point Many's the hand I've seen eucher-
ed cause they played for too much.
keep your eyes well skinned, Bob
don't let 'em mig on you recolleot the
game lays as much with the head as with
the hands. Be temperate-never get
drunk, for then, no matter how good
your hand, you won't know how 10 play
it-both bowers and the ace won't save
you, for there's sartin TO be a misdeal' or
something wrong. And another thing,
Bob" this was spoken in low tone, and
in Bob's ear,) don't 60 too much on the
women queens is kinder poor cards the
more you have of 'em the worse Of you
you might have three and nary trump. ]
don't say discard 'em all If you get hold
Of one that's a trump, its all good, and
thar's sartin to be one out Of four.
And above all, Bob, be honest never
take a mans trick wot don't belonging 20
YOU nor slip cards. nor mig for then
YOU can't look your men in the face and
when that's the case, there's no funin the
game its regular cut throat 50 now,
Bob, farewell remember what tell
you, and you'll be sure 10 win, and # you
don't, serve you right to get skunked !"
OAu w WINNIE lttAlhkn hpN NfNtpAAAAAP
him. and with tears in his eyes he con-
cluded
"Good-by agin, Bob, and God bless you'll
Be man, and do honor 10 your native
state, and never be 80 mean as to run for
the legislature. or try TO get into Congress;
TO do either is worse than keeping a sweat
cloth at a mule race, or thimble-riggin at
a negro campmeetinR"
Here the old man fell upon Bob's neck,
and the two wept together and parted.