The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1879-09-04
Gil fORREsrs GAME OF POKER.
Did his wife Pay While ho was Playing
Etom The Ma,hriile Bannr.

| anu hhe WIG ANoy WHO no WAS Rthyin6
From the Na,hriile Banner.
Several years ago Gen. Forrest visitec
the city and stopped at the Old CITY
Hotel. That night several. gentlemen
called 10 see him, among them q gentle
man now connected with the Banner
The room had been crowded during th,
early part Of the night, and Forrest hac
received The usual attention bestowed or
bin. Now. however, he was sitting cf
by himself, and appareutly worn ant
tired out. Our informant wishing tc
have talk with him about himself
sought him and entered into conversation
with him.
General" says he, "I'vc heard you
wera great POKER rlayer in your time
"Yes," says the General, II have
played aome," aud his eyes began To
sparkle with tho memory Of old times,
| and he at once seemed interested In the
| subject, for be II known that no ono was
| fonder than he Of recouLting his won
derful exploits.
"How much, GcBeral, was the largest
stake you ever played ?"
II once called $4,000 in New Or.
leans"
ibid you VIM"
"Oh yes! I won IT,"
what was your hand, Generals"
at was three kings"
But" says hf the hardest game
ever played was {. Memphis. Just after
tho war closed, me aud my wife went to
Memphis, and we stopped at the Wor-
sham House. The nsxt 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 wife's
name was Mary, but that will do for the
tale) went and over them hunting
for something TO raise money out Of l
emptied my pockets, Mary cmptied her'n,
and between us we had $3.50. After
huntin' over everything we found that
everyman who owed me was either
dead or broke. I hadn't one single pa
per on which could raise n cent outen.
After SIC got through the pile looked at
Mary aud Mary looked at ae. Now
what's to be done, AraryY Gays 1. L
don't know says she, but the Lord will
best women in the world, and she had q
heap of faith in her religion. looked at
her right straight for along time, and at
last says l.; Mary you arc mighty good
women, and I'm going to tell you some
thing. There's to bca big dinner at -
this evening, and Pm invited. They
always play pooker at that house, and
you have always been agin me playing,
and l reckon you are right about it.
But things have become desperate with
us, and somehow feel if you wouldn't
be agip me, but would pray fer me 1
could make q raise TO-. hit"
"Says she: Bedford, Ican't do it. It's
wrong for you to do it, and I'd heap
rather you wouldn't
But, Mary says I, Il never was in
such fix before. Here we are with no
money but 81 80, and that won't pay our
tavern bill. ! cant lose no more than
that, for I'll swear that won't bet on
crcdit. If lose that I'll como home !;
and if win, then we'll have something
to start on Well, Iargued and argued
wi.h her, but che wouldn't say yes. Dut
ut last she says:
bedford, knowyour mind is sci Oh
it aud know your are going to bet,
whether am willin or not; so won't
say nothing more about it,
"But, somehow, felt when 1 started
that she was for me, and jist knowed
now 'tWouid be.
"Well, went some time before dinner,
and sure enough, they were at it. They
had three ta5!es-one had quarter ante,
one half, and one dollar and half.
| wanted my seven dollars to last as
long as could make it, 80 l aet down to
the quarter table. We bet OIL until din
ner, and by that time / had won enough
to do better; and after We had eat, sat
down to the dollar and q half table.
Sometimes won, and then again I'd lose
on until nigh about midnight, and then
! had better luck Iknow'd Mary was
setting up. and praying; I felt like it,
and it made me COOL ! set my hat down
by me 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 moth
ing about low much I'd won. I didn't
keep any count, but ! know'd 1 was
winning. thought may be I'd won
hundred dollars, or may be two hundred,
but / didn't know. | set there until day
broke, and then we went home. I took
my INIT up III b0th haiidds and suiast.ieti,
it On my head and went homo without
taking it off. WhenI got to my room
there sat Mary in her gown, and the bed
waen't mashed. Shed set up all night
waiting for me. She seemed tired and
anxious, anu though she looked mighty
hard at me she didn't say word. i
walked right up to her, and pulling off
my hat with both ofmy hands emptied
1t all right In the lap Of her gCsn And
then We set down aud counted it,"
"How much was there, Goneral7"
"Just fifteen hundred dollars even."
".And that" added the General, as he