Litchfield enquirer., 1879-08-28
Prayer and Poker.


 during the early part of the night, and Forrest had received the usual attention bestowed on him. Now, however, he was sitting of by himself, 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, ''Pve heard you were a great poker player in your time."
 "Yes." says the General, 'Tve played some, and his eyes began to sparkle with the memory of old times. and he at once seemed in the subject, for be it known that no one was fonder than he of recounting his wonderful exploits.
 'How much, General, was the largest stake
 T once called $48, 900 in New Orleans"
 'Did you win"
 "Oh, yes won it."
 "What was your hand, General?"
 'It was three kings.
 "But," says he, ''the hardest game I ever played was at Memphis. Just after the war closed, me and my wife went to Memphis, and we stopped at the Worsham House. The next morning we got our things together, and I emptied all my papers out of my trunk on the floor, and Mary Q'm not certain his wife's name was Mary, but that will do for the tale) went over and over them, hunting for some- thing to raise money out of. I emptied my pockets, and Mary emptied her'n, and between us we had seven dollars and thirty cents After huntin' over everything, we found that every man who owed me was either dead or broke. hadn't one single paper on which l could raise cent outon. After we got through the pile, looked at Mary and Mary looked at me. Now what's to be done, Mary P says I. 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 had heap of faith in her religion. looked at her right straight long time, and at last says 1, Mary, you are mighty good woman, and I'm going to tell you something. There's to be big dinner at--this evening, and I'm invited. They always play poker at that house, and you have always been agin my playing, and I reckon your right about it. But things have become desperate with us, and somehow feel if youldn't be agin me, but would pray for me, I could make raise tonight"
 Says she: Bedford I can't do it. It's wrong for you to do it, and I'd heap rather you wouldn't
 ' 'But Mary says I, I never was in such a fix before. Here we are with no money but seven dollars and thirty cents, and that won't pay our tavern bill. can't lose no more than that, for I'll swear won't bet on credit. If lose that, I'll come home; and if win. then we'll have something to start on.' We'll, argued and argued with her, but she wouldn't say yes But at least she says:
 |" Bedford, 1 know your mind is set on it, and know you are going to bet, whether Pm willin' or not. so 1 won't say nothing more about it.
 "But, somehow, felt when I started that she was for me, and jist knowed how 'twould be.
 ''Well, I went some time before dinner, and sure enough, they were at it. They had three tables-one had a quarter ante, one a half, and one dollar and a half 1 wanted my seven dollars to last as long as 1 could make it, and so l set down to the quarter ta- ble. We bet on until dinner, and by that time had won enough to do better; and, after we had eat, sat down to the dollar-and- a-half table. Sometimes I won, and then again I'd lose on until nigh about midnight, and then had better luck. know'd Mary was setting up and praying; felt like it and 1t made me cool. set my hat down by my side on the floor, and every time I'd win I'd and 1 didn't know nothing about how much I'd won. l didn't keep any count, but l know'd was winning. l thought may be I'd won hundred dollars, or may betwo hundred but didn't know. 1 set there until day broke and then we went home. 1 took my hat up in both hands and mashed it on my head and went home so without taking it off. When got to my room there sat Mary in her gown, and the bed wasn't mashed. She'd set up all night waiting for me. She seemed tired and anxious, and though she looked mighty hard at me, she didn't say word. 1 walked right up to her, and pulling off my hat with both hands I emptied it all right in the lap of her gown. And then we set down and counted it."
 ''How much was there, Gen'l?"
 "Just fifteen hundred dollars even."
 "And that," added the General as he walk ed off, "gin me a start. ."-NGSltUilLe Runner.
 MACAULAY ON SooTr.-Macaulay, when pressed by Napier, the editor of the Edinburgh Review excusel himself in letter from which we make the following extract:
 June 26, 183S-Dear Napier: I assure you that would willingly and even eagerly under take the subjetct which you propose, if I thought that l could serve you by doing SO. But, depend upon it, you do not know what you are asking for. I have done my best to ascertain what 1 can and what I cannot do. There are extensive classes of subjects which think myself able to treat as few people can treat them. After this you cannot suspect me of any aHectation of modesty. And you will, therefore, believe that tell you what I sim cerely think when 1 say that I am not success full in analyzing the effects of works of genius. have written several things on historical, political, and moral questions of which, on the fullest reconsideration, am not ashamed, and by which should be willing to be estimated. But have never written page of criticism on poetry or the fine arts which 1 would not burn if had the power leave it to yourself tha | aSn thof1 you will agree with me- Hazlitt used to say of himself, 'I am nothing if not critical" The case with me is directly the reverse l have a strong and acute enjoy nent of great works of the imagination but have never habltuated myself to dissect them. Perhaps enjoy them the more keenly for that very reason Such books as Lessing's "Lao- Hamlet in ''Wllhelm Mester" fill me with wonder and despair. Now, a review of Lock- lart's book ou. Int to be review of Sir Wal ers literary performances enjoy many of hem-nobody, believe, more keenly. But am sure there are hundreds who will criticise hem far better. Trust to my knowledge of myself. 1 never in my life was more certain ,f anything than of what tell you. and I am ure Lord Jeffrey would tell you exactly the 'ame. There are other objections of less weight, but not quite uninpOrtant Surely it HOulu Dc ucSlTdDlc tiidI SOille person who Knew Sir Walter-who had at least seen him or spo- len with him-should be charged with this srticle. Many people are living who had most intimate acquaintance with him. lnow no more of him than know of Dryden 'r Addison-not tenth part as much as 1 lnow of Swift, Cowper, or Johnson. Then, lgain, have not, from the little do know of Jim, formed so high an opinion of his charac- CT as most people seem to entertain, and as it would be expedent for the Edinburgh Review o express He seems to me to have been carefully and successfully on his guard against 1 he sins which most easily beset literary men, )n that side he multiplied his precautions, and et double watch. Hardly any writer of note las been so free from the petty jealousies and morbid irritabilities of our caste. But | do lot think that he kept himself eqnally pure rom faults of very different kind-from the ants Of man of the world In politics bitter and interruptions partisan; greedy of gain, profuse and ostentatious in expense, agi- ated by the hopes and fears of gambler; oerpetually sacrificing the perfection of his and the durability of his fame to for ks :lI AIz