Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1869-09-11
'Seven Up" for Q Wife,

'sevsn Up" for Wife.
In the State Of Tennessee there is GER
tain village boasting Of tavern, three
stores, and four groceries, where, from
morning till night, and night till morning,
person entering the tavern, stores and
these groceries, finds one or more groups of
persons flying cards. Gambling there is
reduced to a 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 tho mother
Oft large family, they are initiated into
the mysteries Of high, low, jack, game,
right and left bowers, the honors and the
odd trick, fftccn-two, fifteen-four, etc.
Ono Of the best players IN the village was
Major Smith, the tavcrn-keeper; or as he
expressed it, the proprietor Of the hotel, a
widower, who, like
"Jeptha, 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 ;psc
dirit, that Tennessee women, in point Of
beauty, are matchless. The sweetheart Of
Fanny was young farmer, residing 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, stcated between the Major and his
daughter. After desultory conversation
between the two gentlemen, on the state
Of the weather, the prospects of the ap-
preaching harvest, aud such important
staples of conversation, the Major asked
Bob how his wheat crop promised to yield.
In reply, he was told that the young farm
or expected to make at least one hundred
bushels. The Major appeared to stud y
for moment, then abruptly proposed u
game Of" Old Sledgc," or " Seven up, the
stakes to be bis daughter Fanny against
the wheat crop. This, Of course, the
young man refused, because he could not
bear the idea that the hand of her he loved
should be made the subject Of bet, or,
that he should win wife by gambling for
her; and perhaps he knew the old man
was hard to beat and there was strong
probability of his losing both wheat and
wife.
It was not until the Major, with his
usual obstinacy, had sworn that unless he
won her he should never have her, that the
young man was forced reluctantly to con-
sent 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 progress of the game. The
first hand was played, and Robert made
gift to his opponents high, low, game.
Robert then dealt; the Major begged; it
was given, and the Major again made two
to his opponents one.
"Six to two," said Fanny with a sigh.
The Major, as hc dealt the cards,
winkcd knowingly, and said:
81 am going for the wheat, Master Rob-
ert.
The old man turned up trump-it was
spade. Fanny glanced at her fathers
hand-her heart sank he held the three,
eight-spot and the king. She then looked
at Roberts hand, and To-! he had the ace,
queen, deuce, and jack. She whispered to-
Robert to beg-he did so.
"Take it," said the Major.
Robert led his deuce, which the Major
took with his three-spot, and followed by
playing the king The Major, supposing
it to be the young mans last trump, leaned
over the table and tapping his last trick
with his fingers, said: ra.
"That's as good as wheat" .....
"Is it ?" asked Robert as he displayed
to the astonished Major the ace and jack,
yet in his own hands. -"f
"High, low, jack, giftand game" shout
cd Robert. ..ls..-.
"Out," ejaculated Fanny.
"Good as wheat" added Robert, as he
flung his arms around her neck aud kissed
her. f
In due time they were married, and ever
after that, when anything occurred Of a
pleasing nature I, the happy couple, they
would express their emphatic Appreciation
of it by the phrase, good as wheat"