The mountain Democrat., 1863-10-31
Good as Wheat"

In the State of Tennessee there is GER
tain village boasting ofa 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 or groceries
aforesaid, one or more groups of persons
playing cards. Gambling there is re-
duced to science. the History of Four
Kings is thoroughly studied, and from
the schoolboy to the greyheaded veteran,
from the miss in her teens to the mother
of a 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 keep.
er, or, as he expressed it, the proprietor
of the hotel-a widower, who like
"Jeptha, judge in Israel,
Hada daughter passing fair"
Fanny, the daughter, was one of the pref
test girls in Tennessee. The sweetheart
of Miss Fanny was young farmer resi-
ding in the neighborhOOd, whom We shall
designate by the name Of Bob. 1t hap.
pened that one day before harvest the
young man was detained in the village,
and night found him as usual at the no.
tel, seated between the Major and his
daughter. After a desultory converse
tion between the two gentlemen on the
weather, the prospects of the approach
ing 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 farm.
er expected to make at least one hundred
bushels. The Major appeared to study
for moment, then abruptly proposed a
game of old sledge, or "seven up" the
stakes to be his daughter Fanny against
the crop 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 gambling
for her; and perhaps because he knew
the old man was "hard to beat" and
there was a strong probability of his lose
ing both wife and wheat. 1t was not un-
til 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 hama was played, and Robert made
gift to his opponents high, low, game
Robert then dealt, the major begged il
was given, and the Major again made
three to his opponents one.
Six to two," said Miss Fanny with q
sigh.
The Major, as he dealt the cards
winked knowingly, and said:
-" | am good for the wheat, Master Bob. "
The old man turned up trump-it
was spade. Fanny glanced at her faith
er's hand-her heart sank he held the
three, eight spot, and king! She then
looked at Roberts hand, and 10 he held
the ace, queen, deuce and jack or knave.
She whispered Robert to beg he did so.
"Take it," said the Major.
Robert led his deuce, which the Major
took with his three spot, and followed by
playing his king; Robert put his queen
upon it The Major, supposing it was
the young mans last trump, leaned over
the table, and, tapping the last trick with
his finger, said:
"That's good as wheat"
"Is p" asked Robert, as he displayed
to the astonished Major the ace and jack
yet in his hand. " High, low, jack, gift
and the game" shouted Robert.
"Out!" calculated Fanny.
"Good as wheat!" added Robert, as he
flung his arms around her neck and kissed
her.