Litchfield enquirer., 1878-09-19
A Wicked Old Gentleman.

Nice old gentlema1 he was; big white waist coat, low cut shoes, bald head and silver-bow- ed spectacles. He led in the singing on Sun day evening in the hotel parlor, and sung that old fashioned bass in Coronation" and Chi na' in that sonorous up-and-down style which country choristers used to practice in accom- panying the big fiddle, and withal had the bland benevolent look of a good old up coun- try deacon.
 ''He was looking round the house next night, and stepping in where some of the boys were playing Cards-something where they were talking of calls and raises and see ing" The boys looked little disconnected. but the old man didn't say anything till the hand was played out, and one of the party under pretense of having an engagement, wink ed to the others and said he must go, intending to break up till the old man had gone away | and then resume the game. But he had scarce turned his back when the aged visitor remark | ed:
 ''I wonder he didn't raise ye with the hand he held"
 s:Do you understand the game ?" asked one of the party, taking cigar from his mouth. ''Wall, leetle. Eve seen 'em playing on it, and sometimes thort that I'd like to take a hand in jes for fun"
 'Just so" said another; Suppose you try game or two with us.'' w uA, OOh JSS AOA bhO Ahh VI t'aS thing" So the old man sat down, and with good deal of instruction managed to get | through with the game and won on the penny | ante '"Ihar," said he, |" if that feller that 8 gone had been spunky and put in $5 he'd get | it instead of these eight cents, wouldn't her"
 ''Why, certainly" said one of the young men, certainly. It's your deal, uncle. Now why don't you go in for $5 ante ?
 ''Wall, said the old fellow, throwing around l~s .lo but T h.rkT hasv. nOthin' but $20 bill that drew Outen the ! bank to come here with"
 "Well, uncle" " said the other, gathering up and glancing at his cards, ''Pl go yer twenty, and you can put it in the missionary box when you win it if you like"
 ''Sho! so I ken," said the old man; 'I don't think twud be gambolin' at all ef that's the case"
 ''Not at al," said the other, winking to his companions,
 "Well, then, don't care eff go yer this ere other f1fty-but 1 s'pose you'll think Pm | don on it to skeer ye-but our denominatiOn's 8 tarnal poor, and big contribution is jest what they're hankerin' arter." 1 "Oh no; cover your fifty, uncle, we ought | to be liberal you know" and so the game went on till finally the old man remarked, Wall, | I'd no idee had this ere roll of bills in my pocket-so you call, do ye?-$5O0 up-yes, l you hev got three picters-three queens and a 1 jack! We'll, 'tls queer got t'other queen haw haw! haw!"
 ''Yes, Pm sorry for you, but what are your other cards ?" said the young man triumphant l ly.
 "Well, three on 'em ez kings-why, darn it all that ere pot O moneys mine, young feller :" said he, stretching out powerful paw and squeezing the bills out of the hand of she young man, who had already begun to roll them up. "P'raps mister, you'd like to take your hand again." said he to the other, who had re- turned meantime; "they are goin' to sing some sam tunes up stairs before going to bed, and promised I'd jine 'em." There was blank look of amazement in circle as he left, and the thought forced itself into more than one mind of the danger of trust | ing to appearances. Boston Com. BuLletjR.