The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1867-11-15
About Gamblers.

haps one of the best card players Of
that State. would never play hand
nor risk dollar il there was black
cat in the room.
FIX. Governor r., fiom one OF tho
Western States, an inveterate game.
ster, would never sit down to table
in room where there WAS looking
glass.
Some gamblers refuse to play il, on
entering a room, the left foot crosses
the threshold first, and no persuasion
can induce them to- do SO until they
leave and return again with the right
foot foremost
To put your foot on the chair of n
player is a certain premonition OF bad
luck
In 1S49 | was a passenger on the
steamer Star Spangled Banner, from
New Orleans to Louisville. She was
crowded wi3h the people, and an hour
after leaving New Orleans found per-
haps twenty card tables drawn out,
and three or four score of the passen-
gers deeply absorbed in the mystery
of old sledge, eucre and poker. A
that night and the next day the game
went on. As fortune, however. soon
singled out an made victims of the
poorer and less skilled players, so the
number gradually decreased until the
fourth day out, when only one table
was running. Old Bod Brasher,
negro trader, young Ben Sandford, u
horse trader, and two planters from
La Fouche, still kept on. Although
they had played almost necessarily for
four days and nights, yet luck had fa-
yored neither party, and they were
within few dollars OF even. The
"bucking' had been principally be-
tween Brasher and Sandford, but
heretofore they had kept themselves
within the 'gentlemans limit"-6ve
Hundred dollars. After leaving Mem
phis the game was renewed, and the.
bystanders observed that big play
was on the tapis, as young Sanford.
was considerably under the influence
of liquor, and when in that condition.
he was known to be a heavy player
Late at night the two traders came
together, both had backing hands, and
Louisan and Kentucky bank notes
soon covered almost the whole table.
The margin of five hundred dollars
had been forgotten, and one, two,
three, five hundred better; rapidly
passed between them. AT last Brnsh-
er leaned back from the table, unbut-
toned his vest, and took from around
his body belt filed with gold pieces.
Laying it down upon the bank notes
he exclaimed, ''three thousand bet.
ter !" Sandford became speechless; his
face turned deadly pale; he called for
glass of liquor. which he drank, new.
or once taking his eyes from the belt
of gold. He had exhausted his means
in former bets; all his money lay up
on the table. At last thought struck
him
benjamin, here, sir" ho exclaim-
ed.
Yes, massa," and Srnford's body
servant, fine athletic, pure blood.
came to his side.
sect up on the table, sir y
Not daring to disobey--as he well
knew in that moment of frenzy his
young master would send BUILT
/ through his brain did he refuse the
slave trembingly stepped on the la
BILE, crushing the bank notes aud gold
beneath his feet.
For the good Lords sake, Massa
Ben, don't bet this Niger off. What
will the old Missus say when you go
home"
Call you, sir p shrieked Sandford.
at the same time laying down four
queens and an ace.
IAN invincible, sir, said Brasher,
with n sheer; flour kings and an ace !"
And, as Brasher reached for his belt
of gold, young Sandford fell to the
floor, the blood gushing from his
mouth. nose and ears. With one
spring the slave started from the ta-
bic, dashed through the thin folding
doors of the "Social Hall" out to the
boiler deck, and, with a half uttered
prayer for the "old Missus, he threw
himself headlong into the dark waters
of the Mississippi, and was seen no
more. Death prevented Brasher claim
ing his spoils. Sandford for weeks
fingered on sick bed, but at last re-
covered, and forever renowned the
gaming table. He made good, how
ever, the money worth ofthe negro to
his winner.