The Van Buren press., 1870-09-06
MISCELLANY.
The Boy who Won Himself and Mother

was going up the Mississippi in lS4S,
Judge Underwood Of Kentucky and Hen
ry Clay being on board.
That's tough crew from Natchez,'
remarked the clerk, who came upon the
deck as we were going below They
play hard and high"
Lets 60 and look on for awhile y
said the Judge
We went down into the saloon. where
we found two parties at play. AT one Of
the tables sat four men, about whom were
gathered large number of lockers on :;
and, as these proved to be the heavy
players, we joined the group of specta
tors. The game was twenty deck poker,
and money was changing hands with
sparkling rapidity. One of the players,
a middle-aged man whose face showed
but too plainly the ravages of an excess
that was sapping his life, and, l after
ward learned, was n cotton-planter, had
staked his last dollar and =" called" his
opponents hand. He held four queens.
And he was f" broken" He started to his
feet as though he would leave the table
"Are we dead broke, colonel p asked
he of the four kings.
yes, to the last plcayune.'
"Can't you borrow? p
NO." replied the planter with an
oath, II can do better than that Where 5
Wackman?'
Here" answered dark visaged man.
bring the boy and girl here that
bought at Natchez Held on the game
just one minute, gentlemes, and I'll make
raise
The man went away, and shortly re-
turned accompanied by the "girl and
boy" Said girl proved to be bright
mulatto woman OF five and thirty, or
thereabouts, and the 4" boy" was her son.
The boy was not far from ten years Of
age, with face lighter in color than was
his mothers; his features really hand.
some.
Look here, gentlemen" spoke the
planter, rising, here's as likely pair
for a girl and her brat, as you can scare
mp. | paid eight hundred dollars for
EN-. Who'll give six 2"
"Why not put 'em up separate ?" ask.
ed one.
"'Twont do to sell them separate The
gal has sworn that she will kill herself if
her boy is sold away from her; and her
old master says she'll be sure to keep
her word But don't you see the woman
is worth more'n / ask for the pair? Now
what dye say--who II take 'em at six
hundred 2"
The owner then waited few seconds
without receiving an answer, and then
said
81 must have the money; SO here goes
for rattle. Twenty-dollars throw, and
thirty chances for the pair. Come, gen
tlemen, let us see the color Of your coin.
Them that buys first will throw first.
Here was excitement as well as chance
for profit The three players at the ia
Bile took two chances each. Then the
spectators surged up, and twenty chances
were sold as fast as the planter could take
the money and write down the names
Then came lull. The planter himscl
took two chances, whereupon his tire,
companions took each ole more TheI
three men in the crowd +" doubled up
Two more chances, gentlemen
Clay whispered apart TO the Judge ant
then made his way to the table, ano
threw down two gold eagles.
"What name =
"Give it to the woman
"Ah the gal herself!"
"Yes. Give her chance"
"All right. One chance for Ninettie !!
Before the planter could call again
Judge Underwood had placed twenty
dollars upon the table, saying, as he did
| so
"Ths is Cor the boy"
"Good!' cried the owner Of the prop
erty, "lIerc's chance for Tommy. AnC
that takes the lot Where's the clerk 2
"Iere"
"IIave you got blanks for this sort o
Of business p
| Yes"
Then won't ye fill up bill Of sale o
these two-Ninette and Tommy--an(
leave place to put in the name of th'
winner Now for the dice, gentlemen.
The dice were brought on, and til,
shaking commenced. There were three
dice, and each player was entitled tC
three throws. or the first ten throws
thirty six was the highest number cast
The eleventh throw turned up forty-two
Then the scores fell again till the twen
ty-frst throw, when one Of the gamester
threw out forty-nine.
The crowd were now all excitement
Fory.ninc was hard point to beat. Th
lowest number that could be thrown wa
nine; and the highest (nine sixes) wa
fifty four; making what Is called an aver
age throw, about thirty. one and one
half. OF a hundred throws, the majorit.
will fall below thirty-two.
Again the dice ratified in the box, a