Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1879-09-25

| HCNCIdl dSO FOTItSt NlSlttO
Nashville, and stopped at the old City Ho-
tel. That night several gentlemen called
to see him, among them a 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 on him. Now, however
he was sitting off by himself, and appeared
worn and tired out. Our informant, wish
ing to have talk with him about himself,
sought him and entered into conversation
with him.
General, says he I've heard you were
IA great poker player in your time"
"Ies, says the general, II have played
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 fondcr of recount
erlng his wonderful exploits.
GLOW much, general, was the largest
stake you ever playedf Z"
IL once called SIS, 900 III New Orleans. "
"Did you winI'
''Oh, yes! won it."
"What was your hand, general2"
at was three kings"
''But," says he, 'the hardest game |
the war closed me and my wife went to
Memphis, and stopped at the Worsham
House. The next morning we got our
things together, and l emptied all OF my
papers out of my trunk on the floor, and
Mary, Um not certain his wife's name was
Mary, but that will do for the tale) went
over and over them, hunting for something
to raise money out of. | emptied my pock-
cts and Mary emptied her'n, and between
us we had 81 80. After huntin' over ev-
erythIng we found that every man who
owed us was either dead or broke. l had
moi one single paper on which l could raise
a cent out'n.
''After we got through the pile / looked
at Mary and Mary looked at me. Now
what's To be done, Mary says |. 4 don't
know, says she, but the Lord will provide.
You see Mary was one of the best women
in the world, and she had heap of faith
in her religion. looked at her straight for
a long time, and at last says: MARY, you
are a mighty good woman, and I'm going to
tell you something. There's to be big din.
ner at - this evening, and I'm invited.
They always play poker at that house, and
you have always been agin me playing, and
| reckon you are tight about it. But things
have become desperate with us, and some
how feel if you wouldn't be agin me, but
would pray for me, | could make raise
tonight.
''Says she: Bedford, can't do it. It's
wrong for YOU to do it, and I'd heap rath-
er you wouldn't
But Mary says l, L never was in
such fix before. Here we are with no
money but 81. so, and that won't pay our
tavern bill. / can't lose no more than that
for | swear | won't bet ON IA C.edit If |
We'll have something to start on
''Well, l argued and argued with her,
but she wouldn't say yes But at last she
says:
Bedford, l know your mind is set on
it, and know you are going to bet, wheth-
er am willin' or not SO | won't say moth
ing more about it.
''But, somehow, i felt when l started that
she was for me, and jist knowed how
'tTould be.
"Well, | went sometime before dinner,
and, sure enough, they were at 1t. They
had three tables-one had quarter ante,
one half, and one dollar and half.
wanted my seven dollars to last as long as
| could make it, so set down to the quar-
ter table. We bet on until dinner, and by
that time 1 had enough to do better; and
after we had eat, l sat down to the dollar
and-a-half table. Sometimes l won, and
thea again I'd lose on until about midnight
and then | had better luck. l know'd
Mary was setting up and praying; l felt
like it, and it made me cool. l set my hat
down by my side on the floor, and every
time I'd win I'd drop the money in the hat.
We played on, and | didn't know how
much I'd won. l didn't keep any count,
but knOw'd l was winning.
81 thought may be I'd won a hundred
dollars, or may be two hundred dollars, but
didn't know. | set there until day broke
and then we went home. | took my hat up
in both hands and mashed it on my head
and went home without taking it off. When
got to my room there sat Mary in her
gown, and the bed wasn't mashed. Shed
set up all night waiting for me. She SEEM
ed tired and anxious, and though she look
ed mighty hard at me she didn say word
| walked right up to her, and pulling oil
my hat with both hands | emptied 1t all
right in her gown. And then we set down
and counted it.
''How much was there, general Z"
FJust fifteen hundred dollars even.
"And that" added the general, as he
walked off, ''give me a start"