The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1905-11-28
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Iorlginall

[Originall
In the autumn of 1859, few weeks
before Thanksgiving day, in an arlsto-
cratic town Of the blue grass region,
Kentucky, a travelling minister-they
CALLED them colporteurs- called at the
house Of Hunter Jackson, a prominent
citizen. and said he would like to do
some work ID saving souls in the neigh
borhood He gave his name as Ed
ward Sherretts. So agreeably inn
pressed was Mr.. Jackson with the rev.
erend gentleman's appearance that,
with southern hospitality, he Invited
him to spend what time he remained
In the neighborhood at his house. Mr..
Sherretts accepted the invitation and
soon won further good opinion from
his host by his sympathy with the
south on the slavery question.
The long autumn evenings were spent
by Mr.. Jackson and his friends at the
national game Of poker. At first Mr..
Sherretts at such times withdrew to
the library with his theological books.
Then he remained by the table and
watched the game. occasionally asking
question as TO the relative value OF
cards, hands and other information
pertaining to the game. lie manifested
50 much interest and 1t was SO unso-
clable without him at the table that it
was proposed to play one evening with
out any stake Ia order that he might
take a hand. He objected on account
OF his calling, but on being urged CON
scented.
Notwithstanding his many blunders
he became SO absorbed in the game
that when one Of the party said. This
Is nothing compared to game In which
there is a stake" and another suggested
that they make stake Of d penny with
a five cent limit just to show the rev
erend gentleman how interesting II
was, Mr.. Sherretts. after much per-
suasion, consented.
AIT 2 o'clock In the morning the party
broke up. after having played for
dollar stake with no limit and Mr..
Sherretts had lost 5000. Ills host in
sisted on making 1t good to him, but he
peremptorIly declined, declaring that
he would stand the loss himself
Then the matter was discussed by
all the players, and It was decided to
induce, If possible, the clergyman to
play one more game, during which they
would permit him to win back his mon
ey.
Mr.. Sherretts, who seemed to have
been mastered by passion for gam
bling, yielded. with tears In his eyes
at his weakness. He held very poor
hands, but the gentlemen confrived to
brSe him win all but SIS OF his losings.
when there was Jack pot involving a
large sum and every one forgot every
interest but his own When the hands
were laid down there was everything
from three Of kind to a royal flush,
which was held by Mr.. Sherretts.
When they told him that bis was tbs
largest hand he nearly tainted and de-
clned to take the pile Of bills they
passed over to him. But no Kentucky
gentleman would permit this, and at
last the winner consented only on con-
dition that he be allowed to give them
d chance to win 1t all back From this
time forward the game ran heavy.
1t was the night before Thanksgiy-
ling. In a little farmhouse In Ohio a
negro sat brooding over the Goals on
the rude hearth. He had not been long
used to the celebration Of Thanksgiv-
ling day because he had been q slave IN
the south, where nothing OF New Eng.
land origin was, at least at that time
acceptable, but his neighbors had been
preparing to celebrate, and be was
thinking of his wife and two little pick
aninnies, slaves In the land Of Dixie
He had worked extra hours and had
thus earned the money with which t
buy himself He was now working
hard to earn the money to buy his wife
and children. on the morrow, wher
others were united In family groups, az
would sit at his table alone stlll faI
from the day when he could have his
own with him.
TO make matters worse he had {
few wveeks before Intrusted q stranger
with the few hundred dollars he hae
saved on the mans representation tina
he would put more with it and secure
the freedom Of his family He has
never heard Of the man since aud has
no doubt that bis money had been los
to him. His neighbors pitied the sim
ple creduiity Of one born In slavery.
There was footstep without, tn
door opened and in walked the mai
who had obtained the poor negro
money. as he considered It. under falls
pretenses.
Hello, Jeff!7 said the man
sYo' git out O. hyer!' exclaimed tn