Weekly Trinity journal., 1867-02-16
"Seven Up" for n Wife.

In the State of Tennessee there is n certain
village boasting of tavern three stores, and
four groceries, where, from morning till night,
and night till morning, person entering the
tavern, stores and groceries aforesaid one more
groups of persons playing cards. Gambling there
is reduced to science. The history of the four
kings is thoroughly studied, and from the school
boy to the gray headed veteran, from the miss in
her teens to the mother of large family, they
are initiated into the mysteries of high low
jack, game; right and left bowers, the honors
and the odd trick, ffteen-two ffteen-four. etc.
One of the best players in the village was Major
Smith, the tavern-keeper he expressed
it, the proprietor of the hotel a wdower who like
'Jephta, Judge in Israel.
Had daughter passing fair
Fanny, the daughter, was one of the prettiest
girls in Tennessee, and therefore one of the
prettiest in the world for we here digress in
order to lay down as ipse di1it, that Tennessee
women, IN point OF beauty, are matchless. The
sweetheart of Fanny was young farmer, resid-
ing in the neighborhood whom we shall desig-
nate by the name of Bob
1t happened one day. before harvest that the
young man was detained in the village and
found himself, as usual, at the hotel seated
between the Maj jor and his daughter After
desultory conversation between the two gentle
men, on the state of the weather, the prospects
OF the approaching harvest, and such important
staples of conversation, the Major asked Bob
how his wheat crop promised to WELD In renlv
he was told that the young farmer expected to
make at least one hundred bushels The Major
appeared to study for moment then abruptly
proposed game of cold Siege or "Seyen-
up, the stakes to be his daughter Fanny against
the wheat crop This, of course the young man
refused, because he could not bear the idea Tho,
the mana OF her he loved should be made the
subject of a bet, or that he should win a v;fs
Dy gambling Tor her; and perhaps he knew
the old man was hard to beat, and there was a
strong probability of his losing both wheat and
wife.
1t was not until the Major, with his usual
obstlnacy, had sworn that unless he won her he
should never have her, that the young man was
forced reluctantly to consent to play
The table was placed, the candle lit, the cards
produced, and the players took their places with
Miss Fanny between them, to watch the progres:
of the game. The cards regularly shuffied
and cut, and it fell to the Majors lot to deal =
The first hand was played, and Robert made gif
to his opponents high, low, game. Robert ther
dealt; the Major begged it was given, and th
Major again made two to his opponents one.
q Six to two,n said Fanny with q sigh
The Major, as he dealt the cards, wnke,
knowingly, and said
I'm good for the wheat, Master Robert"
The old man turned up trump-it was
spade. Fanny glanced at her fathers hand
and the king. She then looked at Robert
hand, and 10 ! he had the ace, queen, duce ant
jack. She whispered to Robert to beg-he did so
''Take il" said the Major.
Robert led his duce, which the Major tool
with his three-spot, and followed by playing thu
king. The Major, supposing it to be the young
mans last trump, leaned over the table and tap
ping his last trick with his fingers, said
That's as good as wheat"
=" 1t is ?" asked Robert, as he displayed t.
the astonished Major the ace and jack yet in hi
own hands.
Robert.
Out" CALCULATED Fanny.
-" GOOD as wheat" added Robert, as he fune
MS arms around her neck and kissed her.
In due time they were married, and ever afte
'naI, "nen anything occurred of pleasiuI
nature to the happy couple. thew wonld ernres
tneir emphatic appreciation of it by the phrase