Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-06-01

each. Their example was followed by the
spectators, and twenty chances were taken
as rapidly as the planter could write down
the names and take the money. Then there
was slight pause. The planter himself
now took two chances, and he was followed
by his three fellow-players, who each took
one chance more. Finally, three more
chances were taken by the spectators, when
the planter cried out:
"'Two chances still, gentlemen Who
will have them2
"Goneral k whispered something in
Judge J--'s ear, and then went TO the ta-
bic and laid two ten-dollar gold-peces on
1t.
"Name, sir, please
"Never mind the name. Put ii down
for the woman
"'Eh-whati for the giil herself9'
"'Yes, certainly; let's give her
chance
"All right One for Ninettc. And
now
"'Thars for the boy said Judge j,
quietly as he laid twenty dollars on the Ia
BILE.
"GOod bravol bravop cried the plant
or and several of the by-standers. 'One for
Torlmy, which makes the thirty. Now,
gentlemen, LET'S see whom luck iavors.'
1.-THE dice were brought and the throw
ing began. Each chance entitled the hold
| er TO three throws.
"Thirty-six was the highest thrown un-
| Ill the holder of the eleventh chance threw.
lie scored forty-two. Then less number
was thrown, until number twenty-one
scored forty y.nine.
"The excitement now became intense.
Forty-nine was hard TO beat the highest
throw possible being nine sixes-fily y-four.
"Again aud again the dice ratlled in the
box, until it came TO number twenty-nine.
"Come, Ninette-irs your turn nowp
"As the poor woman came forward, her
hands crossed and pressed convulsively
against her breast, it was truly painful TO
witness her agitation.
"'Wont the gentleman that took the
chance for me throws? she asked in low,
tremulous lone.
"No; let your boy throw replied the
general perhaps he would have more luck
than l.
"'Come, Tom, said the planter.
"Tom came forward and picked up the
box. The woman pressed her lips firmly
together and clasped her hands as If in
prayer. The boy trembled like an aspen
leaf but shook the dice, and threw-three
"Fur a moment he stared at the dice as
though lie could not believe his eyes, then
he put down the box and stepped back pale
and detected.
"'Come, Tommy, throw again. urged
the planter.
"'Irs no use, master; couldn't throw
forty-uine now
"'True, true! But you have your own
chance. Throw that
"'Cerlainly said Judge j, that one
was your mothers. Now throw for your
self, on the chance gave you. Have stout
heart, my boy, and may heaven smile on
your
again the boy returned 10 the liable and
took up the box. lie pressed his lips to-
gether and did his best 10 control his trem-
bling limbs. Not a sound was TO be heard
in the saloon but the rattling of the dice.
For moment every man seemed TO hold
his breath.
lie Threw.
1.-TWO ives aud a six-sixteen = said the
planter, putting down the number, while a
murmur of satisfaction ran through the
crowd.
lone of the Dy-standers gathered up the
dice aud put then in the box, aud the boy
threw again.
1.-TWO skies and tive-seveuteen!
"The excitement now knew no bounds
aud tho 'bravos' resounded on every hand
The boy, as he took up the box TO throw for
the third and last time, was as nearly col
orless as it was possible for him to be with
his yellow skin.
"Out rolled the dice, and up came the
three skies, which made tilty-one!
"Tommy, my boy, l congratulate you !
cried the planter. you are your own and
your mothers master Fill up the neces
sary papers, captain, and will sign them
These gentlemen will be the witnesses
II will not attempt to describe the scen'
that followed. In the general satisfaction
one of the roughest-looking men in thu
crowd proposed subscription for the freeC
negroes. The proposition was received
with such favor that in less than five min
utes fifty dollars were collected" d."-FroD
Appleton's Journal for June.