The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1864-10-21
OUTDONE BY AN ACTOR.
4 Tale of the Mississippi.


consisted of man about thirty or thity five
years old, with MS WIFE and a young BABY,
and his mother. Ths Young man was what
| call hard character. He wore a gray coat
and pants, and purple .elvet vest, with a
massive gold or it might be gold plated, chain
across the breast. His long black hair was
turled and shiny. and smelt like a BARRIERS
shop. He had a red fluffy face, and his eyes
were black and wicked lie had been what
many people call good -looking-good, | do
not think he could have been with such a
mother. She was tall and stately woman
quite as tall as her soI, and about half
century old. She wore false front AMI her
forehead was shaved to make it look noe
expansive and intellectual | can't answer
for her age very accurately. fo- she Was made
up altogether in the most elaborate fashion.
and was dressed even on tie steamboat. in
the richest moire antique and the costiest
lace. There is not a sin Of the civilized
world that was not written on that woman's
face. | have seen great mary women, with
little enough that was womanly about them.
but never saw one who seemed 10 me so
bad as this gamblers mother.
The fact is they were party Of gamblers.
The poor little wife was trained stoul-pige-
on, and even the pretty little baby was dress
ed to attract attention and lead TO acquain-
tance. The wife was pretty, hut struck me
as strange compound. She seemed loving
and gentle, as | dare say shq might have
been under the circumstances She was
dressed too well and wore too much iewelry.
This afterwards found was not her fault.
She was made TO play her part in attracting
her husbands victims. The coquelry of her
appearance did not correspond with the ex-
preston of her face There was sad look
III it that made ne pity her. The had come
from Canada, they said and were goin5 to
New Orleans. kept aly eyes on them; and
so, found, did the experienced chamber
maid, who had been on the river 90 long
not to know such customers al frs sight.
Among onr fellow passengers Was gen,,--
men who called hin If NJ. Eroane, who
seemed 10 be ether az actor travelling iAco :.
or a gentlemen ~ho .nten1el to ,G02t tie
.Ir, N 80
over a sherry cobler. r.bec.me intimate with our
noses in our two first mint ju,ep>. and when
w had little private party in our corner,
he amused rs hy initiating thos" on board,
or Others We happened 10 knos. very clever
ly. Among the rest he took off the roue-
looking gambler RoddeG, as he called him
self, and the stately mother. He had made
up his mind about them pretty much as
had made up nine.
Among the other occupants oc the great
cabin, where society gc:S about as well ming
led as Won lind it IN this world, was a Nouug
man, Mr.. John Greene, master carpenter
from Chicago, going to Memphis. He was
simple, honest, and as veriant as his name.
He got acquainted with everybody. and told
OF his means intentions, and prospects, as
il he thought everybody as innocent as him
self. Rodden made a set at Greene as soon
as h. heard that he h.d money, but not b.
making the first advances. The old LAD,
talked with him III the most mogh-riy way
about his home, his prospects, and sweet
hearts. Tie Young wife, who seemed a
times to sc0rn ever; thing about her. smile,
on him seeetly, and gave HIM her baby t,
mold. Whoever she may have feared o
hated. she loved the baby. 1t was. believe
the bond that held her TO the gambler ant
MS mother, and made her 20 do their in!erna
bidding. But for the baby she might kav
Jumped into the river TO escape tyrann
: that hour by hour became more apparent I
NE, as watched the drama PLAYING bsf5r
me-
Rodden, of course, had made az his min
to plunder the Young carpenter, and it ha
to be done before We got TO Memphis. The
had played in little f,rsiiy party at viii,
: and euchre for candies and sherry co5hler
: or champagne Greene generally won. ar
was confident in his luck and not lit
prcud of his ski. lie was fascinated al,
with the pretty wnmaH, who could 10. vii
5 him round her fingers. Then he tried n
hand with Rodden alone. AMI won thirty do
Il lars. as he boasted to Browne. at half do
,, lar game. 1t was of no use to advise hin
u he was Conceited as he was honest. Lii
many very green persons, he believed hin
y self an excellent Judge of character, and
Q sharp as needle.
The night before We were - reach Me.
.phis RJdden and Greene were playing. al
Green was flushed with his luck and drink,
more thai. usual. Browne watched then: u
:. til he vas tired, and turned IN about II (
y cl 'ck. Ther RoGden ana Greene drank mo
- or stronger drinks than urual, ard t!.ey Pls
ed for higher stakes. 1t was the Cd SO
intatuaticn. madness, an9, o. course, tho lc
: o. the las. dollar Greene had in the w2.!d.
y Then came another insanity, wolss than Il
=. of the drunkard and the gaulbler-;he
10 sanity of despair. Irste.i of going TO
- berth, he assembled II the hurricane deck,
=, Then he took off his coat and vest, and VIZ
on a scrap of paper win pencil this j.
80 legible note
O. "To THE CAPTAIN OF THIS Boat: Rodd