The Daily empire. (Dayton, Ohio) 1865-1867, 1866-01-26

There was n fellcr here once by the name
of Jim Smiley, in the winter of '40--Or may
te it was the spring of '50-I don't recolleGt
exactly, some how, though what makes me
think twas one or the other is because |
remember the big 1umc wasn't finished
when he first come to camp; but any way
he was the curiosest man about always bet
ting on anything that turned up, you ever
see, if he could get anybody to bet on the
other side, and If he couldn't he'd change
sides-any way that suited the other man
would suit hipl--any way just SOS he got a
bet, he was satisfied. But still, he was
lucky-uncOmmOn lucky he most always
come out winner. He was always ready
and laying for a chance-there couldn't be
no solitary thing mentioned but that fell
ler'd offer to bet on it--and take what side
you please, as ] was Just telling you; IL
there was horse race, you'd find him flush
or you'd find him busted at the end of it If
there was n dog-hght he'd bet on it; If there
was a cat fight he'd bet on H.; if there
was chicken fight, he'd bet on IL; why, IL
| there was two birds setting on fence, he
would bet you which one would fly first
or if there was a camp-mecting he would
be there regular to bet ON PaTsOn Walker
whom he judged 20 be the best oNhorler
about here, and so he was, too, and good
man: If he even see n straddle-bug start to
go anywheres, lac would bet You how long
| u Nttiltl ltht MN lo HtL Wherever ne was
| going TO. and If you took him up, he would
follow that straddlc-bug to Mexico but
what lac would find out where he was
bound for and how long he was on the
road. Lots of the boys here has seen that
Smiley and can tell you about him Why,
IL never made no difference to hinl--he
would bet on dRythiRg-the dangdest feller
! Parson Walkers wife laid very sick once
| for a good while, and il seemed rs if they
~ A Inn pa,p
| ing he come in and Smiley asked him how
she was, and he said she was considerable
! better--thanked the Lord for his infnit
mercy--and coming on sO smart that,
with the blessing of Providence, she'd get
we'll yet-and smiley, before he thought
says ''Well, I'll resk twO-and-a-half that
she don't any way
This-yer Smiley had marc-all the boys
called her the flfteen-minute nag, but that
wils only In fun, you know, because, of
course, she was faster than that-;ind he
| used To win money on that horse, for all
! she was so slow and always had the asthma,
or the distcmper, or the consumption, or
something of that kind. They used to give
her two or three hundred Yards start and
then pass her; but always at the fig-end of
the race she'd get excited and desperate
like, and come caVorting and spraadlng
up, and scattering her legs around timber,
sometimes In the air, aud sometimes out 10
one side amongst the fences, and kicking
up MORE dust, and raising m-o-r-e racket
with her coughing and sneezing aud blow
ing her nose-and always fetch up at the
stand Just about a neck ahead, as near as
you could cipher it down. lI ~ ast
And he had little small bull-pup. that
10 look at him you'd think he warn't worth
q cent but t0 set aronnd and look oncry,
aud lay for a chance to steal something.
But as soon rs money was up ON him, lie
was q different dog-his under-jaw'd begin
"a stick out like The forecastle of a steam
boat, and his teeth would uncover, and shine
savage like the furnaces. Aud dog might