The Van Buren press., 1878-09-17
A WICKED Or.D GENTLEMAN.
How Ec Sanr Bass and Baeely Took
In the Boys.
from tn. Boston Comm er,ial pulle,.n.l

tFrom the Boston comme ciai Bulieten.l
Nice old gentleman he was, big white
wastcoat, low cat shoes, bald head and
silver bowed spectacles. He led in the
singing on Sunday evening in the hotel
parlor, and sung that old fashioned bass
in "Coronaton" and 'China" in that SON
orous up-and down style which country
ehoiristers used to practise in accompa-
nying the big eddie, and withal had the
bland benevolent look of a good old up-
country deacon.
He was "looking around the house
next night, and stepped in where some Of
the boys we're playing cards-something
where thnl we're talking Of 'calls' and
raises" and ..eeeing." The boys look
ed little disconcertcd, bus the old msa
didn't say anything till the hand was play
ed out. and one Of the party under pre-
tence Of having an engagement, winked
to the others and said he must 60. inten-
ding to break up till the old man had
gone away snl then resume the game.
But he had scarce turned his back when
the aged visitor remarked:
81 wonder he didn't raise ye with the
hand he held"
Do you understand the game ~ ask.
cd one Of tho party, taking cigar from
his mouth.
"Wall. a leetle; I've seen 'em playin'
on it. an sometimes ihort I'd like to take
hand jcs' for fun
"Just so" said another: "sup2ose you
try game or two with us"
"Wall, ! don't mine jes' for the fun er
the thing"
So the old mvn oat down and with a
good deal Of instruction managed to get
through with the game and won on the
penny ante. "Thar, said no, .if that
feller that's gone had been spunky and
put in S5 he'd get 1t instead of those 8
cents wouldn't hep
"Why, certainly" said one Of the
young men, certainly; it's your deal,
uncle now, why don't you 60 in for S5
ante =
WALL" said the old fellow. throwing
round the cards, IL dunno but | will, but
hain't got nothin' but $50 bill that l
drew outcn the bank to come here
with"
We'll, uncle" said the other, gather
ing up and glancing at his cards, "I'll go
yer twenty, and you can put IN In the
missionary box when you wit it If you
| like
"Sho so ! KEN" said the old man
81 don't think 'twud be gamblin' at all ei
that's the case'
"Not at ALL said the other, winkine
70 Waii, hlS fiiGTRar9nsi tHsa, don't care er % yer
this ere other ffty--but | s'pose you'll
think I'm doin' on II to skear ye--bul
our donations tarnal poor. and big
contribution is jest what they're hanxer.
in arter"
"Oh, no. cover your fif,v uncle, We
ought TO be liberal, you KNOW and so
tho game went on till finally the old man
remarked. "Wall, I'd no idee this ere
roll O bills in my pocket-so you call,
do ye?-S500 up!--yes, you hey got
three pjctures--three queens and jack
Well It's kinder queer l got tother queen
--haw haw haw ~
"Yes, I'm sorry for you, but what are
your other cards p said the young man
triumphantly.
"Well, three on 'em ez kings-why,
darn it, all that ere pot O. moneys mine,
young felerw y said he, stretching out a
powerful paw and squeezing the bills out
of The young man, who had already be-
gun to roll them up 'sPraps, mister,
you'd like to take your hand again" said
he to the other who had returned mean
time "they are goin' to sing some sam
tunes up stairs before going to bed and
promised I'd jine EN-"
There was blank look of amazement
in that circle as he left, and the thought
forced itself into more than one mind
of the danger of trusting to appearan
ces.