The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1879-08-29
GEN. FORESTS GAME OF POKER.
\ THRILLING STORY-DID HIS WIFE
PRAY WHILE HE WAS PLAYING A.?

\ THRILLING sTORY-DID HIS WIFE
PRAY WHILE HE WAS PLAYING ?
Several years ago, says the Nashville
Banner. Gen. Forrest visited this city
and stopped at the old City Hotel
That night several gentlemen called to
see him, among them gentleman now
connected with the Banner The room
had been crowded during the early part
of the night, and Forrest had received
the usual attention bestowed upon him.
Now, however, he was sitting off to him
self, and appeared worn and tired out.
/ Our informant, wishing to have talk
with him about himself, sought him,
and entered into conversation with him ::
General, - says he, ''I've heard you
Were great poker player in your time. 3"
Yes, = says the General, Il have play
ell sOme, = and his eyes began to sparkle
with the memory of old times, and he at
once seemed interested in the subject. for
be it known that no one was fonder than
he in recounting his wonderful exploits.
''How much, General, was the largest
stake you ever played 20
81 once called SIS, 600 in New Or
leans -
Did you win ?''
''Oh, yes | won it. -
'What was your hand, General -
''It was thee kings"
"But, . says he, 1.-The hardest game |
ever played was at Memphis Just after
the war closed my wife and l went to
Memphis, and we stopped at the WOr-
sham House. The next morning we
| got our things together, and / emptied
all my papers out of my trunk on the
/ floor, and Mary I'm not certain his
q NK-aC lint hot Il
for the tale) went over and over them.
/ hunting for something to raise money
out of. l emptied my pockets and
/ Mary emptied heT'n, and between us we
/ had seven dollars and thirty cents. At
/ ter huntin' over everything, we found
/ that every man who owed me was either
dead or broke. l hadn't one single pa
I per on which ] could raise a cent outen
/ After we got through the pile looked
( at Mary and Mary looked at me. Now,
what's to be done Mary = says l. i
don't know says she, but the Lord
will provide You see. Mary was one
of the best women in the world, and she
I had a heap of faith in her religion.
. looked at her right straighta long time
and at last says l: Mary, YOU are a
mighty good woman, and I'm going tC
tell you something. There's to be big
dinner at - this evening, and L IN in.
vited. They always play poker at that
. house, and you have always been agiI
me playing, and / reckon you are right
about it. But things have become deS
perate with Us, and somehow / feel if you
wouldn't be agin me, but would pray foI
me, l could make a raise tonight"
''Says she. Bedford. l can't do it
It's wrong for you to do it, and I'd heaI
rather you wouldn't
'''But. Mary, says l, Il never was il
such fix before. Here we are with nc
money but $1.30. and that wouldn't pay
our tavern bill. l can't lose no more
than that, for I'll swear I won't bet on
credit. If l lose that, III come home
and if | win, then we'll have something
to start on. Well, | argued and argued
with her, but she wouldn't say yes
But at last she says a:
Bedford. | know your mind is set OF
it. and | know you are going to bet
whether I'm willin' or not so | won
say nothing more about it.
But, somehow, l felt when l started
that she was for me, and L jiSt knOweC
how it would be.
'Well, l went some time before din
ner. and, sure enough, they were at it
They had three tables-one had quar-
ter ante. one half, and one dollar anC
a half / wanted my seven dollars tC
last as long as l could make it, and so
set down to the quarter table. We be-
on until dinner, and by that time l haC
won enough to do better; and, after W,
had eat. l sat down to the dollar-and-a
half table Sometimes | won, and theI
again I'd lose on until nigh before mid
night andsthen | had better luck, and
knOw'd Mary was setting up and pray
ing | felt like it. and it made me cool
l set my hat down by my side on tn,
floor, and every time I'd win I'd droI
the money in the hat. We played on
and | didn't know anything about how
much | d won. didn't keepany count
but l know d [ was winning. Though
may be I'd won hundred dollars, o
may be two hundred, but | didn't know
| set there until day broke, and then W,
went home | took my hat up in boil
hands and mashed it on my head. anC
/ went home so without taking it off
When l got to my room there sat Mar,
in her gown, and the bed wasn't mashed
She'd set up all night waiting for me
She seemed tired and anxious, an,
though she looked mighty hard at me
she didn't say word. l walked righ
up to her, and pulling off my hat wit
both hands l emptied it all right in tht
lap of her gown. And then we set dow
and counted it.
.-How much was there, Gen1 -
''Just fifteen hundred dollars even.
''And that, d" added the General as h
walked off, ''gin me a start" D."