Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1864-02-15
Gugs gnm0r~


Seven up for a Wife, Or Good as
Wheat"
In the State of Tennessee there is
a certain village Boosting of a tavern,
three stores, and four groceries, where,
from morning till night, and from
night till dawn, a person entering the
town may find in the tavern, stores,
and groceries aforesaid, one or more
groups of persons playing cards. Gam
bling there is reduced to a science, the
history of the four kings is thoroughly
studied !; and frem-she school boy to
the gray-haired veteran, from the miss
IN her teens to tbs smother of a large
family, they are initiated into the mys..
terles 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, sthe tav-
ern keeper; or, as he expressed it, the
proprietor of the hotel, a widower,
who like
N"Jeptha, Judge in Israel,
Had a daughter, passing fair"
Fanny, the daughter, was one of the
Lprettiest girls in Tennessee, and there
Wore one of the prettiest in the world
for We here digress in order to lay
down an,apse danit, that Tennessee wo.
men, in point of beauty, are matchless
The sweetheart Of Fanny vas a .youn,
farmer residing in the neighborhood.
whom we shall designate by the NAM
of Bob.
It happened that one day before
harvest the young man was detaine
in the village, and found.himself as usuaf
at the hotel, seated between the Malo i
and his daughter. After a desultor
conversation between the two gentle
!, men, on the state OF the weather, th
prospect of the approaching harvest
: and such important staples OF CONVEX
f s~ation, the Major asked Robert ho,
his wheat crop promised to yield.
In reply he was told that the youn
farmer expected to make at least on
= hundred bushels. The Major appeare,
: to study for a moment, then abrupt /,
:. proposed a game Of old sledge or : sew
= en- up the stake 70 be his danghtei'
; Fanny, against theProp Of wheat.
!. This, of course, he Young man in
!. d~ignsantly rstEssillIk s~ssersss he soul
- he loved should bfInade the subject 0
= a bet, or that he should WHO a wife b,
:, gambling for hert and perhaps, be
cause he knew theIold man was har
= to beat and therewas a strong prob
"a ability of his losing both wheat an
Of wife.
Il It was not untilt The Major, with hi
IN usual obstinacy, hid sworn that. unle<
Of he won her be should never have hel
:, that the young man was forced reluc
family to consent & play.
IL The table was. placed, the candle Ii
the cards prodsced and the player
took their seats Nth Miss Fanny be
Gle tween them to watch the progress {
~ the game. The cards were REGULAR
shufled and cut, and it fell to tn
:, Majors lot to deal. The first han
rs was played, and Robert made gift t
IN. his opponents hiqh,low, game. kobel
tie then dealt, the Major begged; and
in was given, and the Major made tw,
DIS to his opponents one.
it'll six to two,' bid Miss Fanny with
sigh.
The Major, as he dealt@the card
"a winked and said: 4
Of I'm good for the wheat, Mastt
Bob @
The old man turned up a trump
was a spade. Fanny glanced at he
an fathers handler heart sank he hel
ar the three, the eight spot, and the king
ich She then looked at Roberts hand, an
1er 10! he had tue ace, queen, deuc
vn, and jack or knave. She whispered
red Robert to beg-he did so.
til, Take it, sad the Major.
ght Robert led his deuce, which the Ne
The jor took with his three spot, and fol
not lowed by playing the king. Robe
put his queen upon it. The. Majo