Daily Los Angeles herald., 1879-08-30
GEN. FORESTS GAME OF POKER
How His Wife Helped to Pray Him Thr:ugh
Nashville Bauner.l

Nashville Banner.l
Several years ago Gen. Forrest
visited this city and stopped at the
old City Hotel. That night several
gentlemen called to see him, aud
among them gentleman now COLI
nected with the Banner. The room
had been crowded during the early
part of the night, and Forrest had
received the usual attentions be-
slowed on him. Now, however, he
was sitting off 10y himself. and app
peared worn aud tired out. Our
Informant, wishing to have talk
with him about himself, sought
him and entered into conversation
with him.
"General,n says he, "I've heard
You were great poker player in
your time.n
Yes" says the General. II have
played some," and his eyes began
to sparkle with the memory of old
times, and he at once seemed inter-
ested in the subject-for be it
known that no one was fonder than
he Of IecountiDg his wonderful ex.
ploits.
"How much, General, was the
largest stake you ever played?"
"I once called $4,000 in New
Orleans"
"Did you win?"
ooh, yes; l won It,"
"What was your hand, Gen
eral?n
"It was three kings."
"But." says he, "the hardest
game 1 ever played was Mt Men,
phis. Just after 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 | emptied
all my papers out OF my trunk on
the floor, aud Mary (pm not cer-
tain his wfe'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. l
emptied my pockets and Mary
emptieh her'n, and between us
We had S730. After huntin'
over everything we found that every
man who owed ME was either dead
or broke. | hadn't one single pa
per on which 1 could raise a cent
out of. After we got through the
Pile 1 looked at Mary and Mary
looked at me. Now, what's to be
done, Mary?' says I. Il DON'T know
says she, but the Lord will pro-
vlde.' You see, Mary was one of
he best women in the world and
she had a heap Of faith in her reli.
glon. L looked at her straight for
long time, and at last says 1:
MARY, you are q mighty good
woman, and Pm going to tell you
something. There's to be big
dinner at--this evening, and Pm
invited. They always play poker
at that house, and you have al.
ways been agin me playing, and |
reckon you are right about it. But
things have become desperate with
us, and somehow L feel if you
wouldn't be agin me, but would
pray for me, could make raise
10 night"
"Says she: Bedford, 1 can't do it.
It's wrong for you to do it, and I'd
heap rather you wouldn't
"'But, Mary says I, II never
was in such fix before. Here we
are with no money but 81 so, and
that won't pay our tavern bill. l
can't lose no more than that, for
pll swear that l won't bet on
credit. III lose that I'll come back
home; and If win. then we'll have
something to start on. Well, ar
gued and argued with her, but she
wouldn't say yes. But at last she
says:
Bedford, / know your mind is
set on it, and | know you are go.
ing to bet, whether am willin' or
not; so won't say nothing more
about it,
"But, somehow, [ felt when L
started that she was for me, and /
list knowed how 'twouid be.
"Well, l went some time before
dinner, and, sure enough, they
were at 1t. They had three tables
-one had quarter ante, one a
half, and one q dollar and q half
l wanted my seven dollars to last