Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-11-27
DAILY SHORT STORY
THE FIRST FREE THANKSGIVING

LOriginall
In the autumn of 1859. few weeks
before Thanksgiving day, i'll an aristo-
cratic town of the blue grass region.
Kentucky, IL travelling minister-they
called them called at the
house of Hunter Jackson. prominent
citizen, and said he would like TO de
some work in saving souls in the neigh
borhood. He gave his name as Ed
ward Sherretts. So agreeably i'm
pressed was Mr. Jackson with the rev
erend gentlemans appearance that.
with southern hospitality he invited
him 10 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 lie remained by the table and
watched the game. occasionally asking
n question as TO the relative value of
pertaining to the game. He manifested
SO much interest and ii was so unso-
ciable without him mt the table that 1t
was proposed TO play one evening with
out any stake in order that he might
take a hand. He objected on account
Of his calling. but on being urged con-
sentai
Notwithstanding his many blunderS
he became SO absorbed in the game
that when one of the party said. This
is nothing compared TO a game in which
there is a stake" and another suggested
that they make stake of a penny with
five cent limit. just to show the rev.
ercnd gentleman how interesting it
was, Mr.. Sherretts, after much per-
Suasion. consented.
At o'clock in the morning the party
broke up, after having played for
dollar stake with no limit and Mr.
Sherretts had lost $500. His host in
sisted on making ii good TO him, but he
declined. declaring that
he would stand the loss himself.
Then the matter was discussed by
all the players. and ii 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 Il passion for gam
bling. yielded. with tears in his eyes
at his weakness. He held very poor
bands. but the gentlemen contrived to
have him win all but SO of his losings,
oil NJ
large sum ana every one forgot every
interest but his own. When the hands |
were laid down there was everything |
from Hree of n kind to royal flush, |
which was held by Mr.. Sherretts. |
When they told him that his was the |
largest hand he nearly tainted and de- |
rlinol to take the pile of bills they |
passed over 10 him. But no Kentucky |
gentleman would permit this. and at |
last the winner consented only on con-
lition that ne be allowed to give them |
I chance to win it all back. From this |
line forward the game ran heavy.
1t was the night before Thanksgiv- |
ng. In Il little farmhouse in Ohio q |
negro sat brooding over the Goals on
he rrdc hearth. He had not been long
Used to the celebration of Thanksgiv-
nS day because he had been a slave in |
he south. where nothing of New Eng |
and origin was. at least at that time /
acceptable. but his neighbOrS had been /
preparing to celebrate, and he was /
linking of his wife and two little pick
slaves i'll the land of Dixie Il
ie had worked extra hours and had II
hus earned the money with (which to Il
Juy himself. He was now working II
lard 10 earn the money 10 buy his wife II
md children. ON the morrow, when II
thers were united m family groups, he
would sit at his table alone still far
rom the dan when he could have his
wn with him.
To make matters worse he had |,
eW weeks before intrusted a stranger II
With the few hundred dollars he had |,
aved on the mans representation that L
le would put more with 1t and secure
he freedom of his family He had
lever heard of the man since and had |:
10 doutt that his money had been lost
o him. His neighbOrs pitied the sim
lie credulity of one born I'm slavery
There was fOotstep without, the
oor opened and in walked the man /
Who had obtained the poor negro's
money, as he considered Ii, under false
retenses 3
Hello. Jeff,' said the man.
"iO' git out o hyer" exclaimed the
x-slaye. Il know wha' yo' want; yo'
rant mo- money. / hain't got no mo-. )
% TUX it ALL" {
Jeff" said the man kindly. laying
is hand on tire negrO's arm, 81 don't I
lame you for mistrusting me, but
cure mistaken. I'm really what / c
retended 10 be. an agent OF the under
round railroad company, TO run slaves 6
orth, only this time I've worked a =
Ian Of my own. l told you l had 8
erved my apprenticeship in bleeding Z
.ansas," didn't /: Well. / was a Dor
er man long enough 10 learn some \