Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1869-07-08
The Gard Player and the Bishop.

A good story used to be told BY q
think) Pierce Egan. the elder, which was
"a gem in its way. The bishop of L
was man of eminently social and congo
NAL habits, and being something Of an
original himself, his reverence could
heartily appreciate joke. An eccentric
of any kind would bring more JOY to bis
heart tlan a hundred liturgies or prisons,
aad wb4si he came across anything of the
kind he gave it his entire attention One
warm day i'll summer. he was travelling in
Il part Of Lancashire, and had stopped, at
hosiery to shake off the fatig lie and
dust Of journey. After taking a snack of
lunch he wandered out in a pleasant little
grove that stood convenient to the inn,
which was deliciously cool Hearing the
sound of voices he peered through a hedge
of bushes and behcld man sitting Oh the
root Of a large tree, with two hands dealt
for game Of cards, and giving vent to
excited ejaculation.
"A lunatic. probably" thought his
reverence, and at the same tine he cough
ed slightly.
The man raised his head, but bis eyes
were not devoid of reason, and he bowed
respectfully to the shepherd
my son." said the bishop, You seem
quite beside yourself. May ask what
you are engaged at ?"
"Certainly," replied the man, Il am
having rubber with God"
This convinced the reverence of the
lunacy, and in the same time he saw no
harm in pursuing the subject.
'And how does the luck run 2" SAID
the bishop blandly.
Il have no chance at all to day" re-
piled the man, throwing down the cards
in disgust, Il already owe him one pound
four aud SIX
land how do you pay your losses
ooh, he always sends some good per-
son, to whom make over the amount for
the poor, I see you are clergyman, sir !;
pray take this and use it as you think pro-
per, and he counted out well fllel
purse the amount mentioned, which the
bishop accepted without scruples Of any
kind. He then bid the singular acquaint-
ance good day, and returned to the inn,
The money was judiciously laid out for
charitable purposes. For many days the
prelate did not see his friend again
He happening to be going the same way
soon after, and passing the spot forbidden
to clergymen, viz the tap-room of the
tavern, he behed his acquaintance sola-
cling his sorrows with tumbler Of negus.
His reverence sat sentry for some time in
window above, and after awhile saw the
man emerge from the inn and disappear
in grove Downing his Chapeau, he
followed in his trail, and after little
search, found the man as before, seated
on the root of tree with the pasteboards
spread out before him.
eii, ny SUI, 0aiA wy pioHop Pl0do-
antly, Better, better, thank you," re-
piled the gentleman 4" was flush of mo-
ney, and have just won large stake Of
forty pounds
"And how does God pay your said
his reverence, with pleasant smile at
the mans silly theory.
"He sends along some rich person,
and" cropping in the pocket Of his coat
tail, ''they give whatever | have Won -
The hand came out Of the pocket with a
jerk, and there was a villainous little pis-
tol cooked and primed I; staring his rever-
ence unpleasantly in the face.
His clerical knees knocked together,
and he dropped his pocket book before the
extraordinary gamester
"a should say about twenty pounds
said no taking peep at at the conlents'
"but your time piece will settle the differ
ence." OFF came the bishops watch was
I'D and equity.