The mountain Democrat., 1864-11-12
"A ohas - RNg.i

many At The eyerTdaE paGe9nGerRy ape ~
| customed 70 while Gway tiIe journey by
playing, cards together; they know opN
another, and make up theiF rubs befope
hand and even have certain carriages re-
tanned ateithss terminus fer their especial
accommodation and, diversion Whist l..
Of course. the .uSpsl game arnOngf them.
but With some Of the juniors that bsauti.
fully scientific game, is voted dnH and
allow; ,and they play brag insteed-ardis-
graceful taste, which is very properly rep
robsted bY. the rest, and stigmati%ed Is
sheer gsd ling even by those who pass
their days ip the stock exchange and risk
huudreds and Thousands upon scrip cad
share, However. it 50 happened last July
that !, q chance passenger between Liver.
pool and Manchester, with q return ticket
for the day, found myself in a first-clAss
carriage occupied by tiVe gentlemen play.
ing at the redOubta6le game; and, without
having the least desire to join them, /
watched their proceedings with some at
tention, and was rewarded by witnessing
what was admitted by all to be an, unpre-
cedented occurrences and one we'll worthy
if not of immortal verse, at least Of print.
ed record.
For the first twenty minutes, I should
mention, they played whist-of course
with two packs Of cards; but upon the
remonstrance of the gentleman who found
himself cut out and obliged them to make
room for the fith man at the railway rug,
which was their card table, they changed
the game to brag.
While my moral nature was shocked,
could not help being interested by the
secretiVeness Of each competitor, by the
air of confidence with which they backed
an indifferent hand, BY the affected hesi-
tation with which they continued to brag
on q good one, and by their close scanning
of one another's countenance, in which
nothing but cunning and aVarice could be
traced. And yet. in the sense Of playing
for big stakes, they were not gambling
A sovereign or thirty shillings was the
most that had been lost by any person,
when, presently, the rest having thrown
up their hands, two players began to back
their cards at such considerably higher
sums as to arouse everybody's curiosity
to know what they were stalking on.
Let me look at your hand, Jones, cried
one; I'm not playing, you know, and
Smith will never be able to tell any thing
by my face
That is true, my dear fellow replied
Jones, coolly; If want Of expression could
beget confidence, one could trust in your
face as much as in any mans. But l can't
let you see my hand-Smith, l brag five
pounds
4 brag ten,' was the response; and al.
low me to warn you as friend not to
back yourself extravagantly, for you'll
lose, my Jones--and you are q family
man I
Here took place burst Of laughter
this was q new ruse, indeed, to affect in
terest in the state Of an adversary's pock
ct, in order to make him give in.
We'll, replied Jones, you're bache
lor, it is true, but you cannot afford t.
lose twenty. five pounds, and that is ths
amount of my next brag.'
4 6rag twenty-five pounds, also,' re-
Joined Smith, cheerfully.
Then l will brag fifty pounds return
ed Jones, and sooner than go on, SOL
emily tell you, you should give me hun
dred to look at my hand
| 1 wouldn't give. a, faEthing to look a
your hand answered the other, scornful
ly; 4 am really sorry to ruin you, bu
your obstinacy brings 1t upon yourself
You will have to part with Mrs. Jones'!
piano as it is, expect
Sir, replied Jones, with resolution, 'or
the cards which hold here would bras
Mrs. Jones herself with the utmost conf
dence.'
You had better not 7 the bachelor re-
sponded, darkly.
And again there was a shout of laugh
ter from the audience, who were not per
mitted to be spectators.
Now, my dear Smith, let US understand
one another. II you continue to play
this game, you will never ride in q frs
class carriage again. should be sorry t
be the means Of driving you into the par
: liamentary.' Tell me how much money
you can afford to lose without going t.
Jail, and will brag that.
4 will brag two hundred and fifty
pounds; and you had better give me bill
of sale upon your furniture at once.
am quite sure you haven't got so much il
your bankers hands
4 will brag five hundred said Jones
with his teeth clenched. 4 will brag my
house and garden; will brag myself ant
my government situation. II, instead o
being IN the express train we were in thu
middle ages, and you we're the Old Gen
tleman himself, I warn you that l woult
brag my soul!'
Then you would lose it = retorteC
Smith, to dead certainty; and shoult
f have made q very Indifferent bargain
Now listen. Let the last brag of two hun
, dred and Fifty stand; and Robinson ant
Lloyd shall look at my hand, and Brow
at yours. Then we win be bound by thei
advice, and If they say to either of u
'StopP we will do So
, Very good quoth Jones, showing hi
cards with q grim smile to bis eft-han'
neighbor. Iwould haYe given anything
to see them, too, but being stranger
did not venture to do so.
DO you think, Brown, l ought to Civ
, in to Smith with hand like this, or mott
; 1T is quite impossible replied Brown
solemnly, that any man should give VI
such cards. l think, under the circum
stances, | am almost justified in sayin
that Smith cannot win.'
: what do you sayf' inquired Smith
I turning the face of his cards to his tw
friends with the most careful secresy, an
5 watching for their reply with triumphan
confidence. .,.--.,
IT'S absurd, quoth Mr.. johnson 'yo
are sure Of winning
4 would lay thousand pounds upo
r such cards, said Lloyd.
'Stopr exclaimed. Jones; 4 will brag
] thousand pounds myself, and what
can't pay will let him of, after havin