The daily Alaskan., 1906-01-03
n-a-A-&-&-s-!a*-S-&-&-&-*-'
 ! T6efr Firsr FreN [ J S6ankS8ix'in8

Kentucky, a travelling minister-they called them colporteurs-called at the house of Hunter Jackson, prominent citizen. and said he would like to do some work in saving souls in the neigh borhood. He gave hls name as Ed ward Sherretts. So agreeably im- pressed was Mir. 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. Mir. 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 Mir. Jackson and his friends at the national game of poker. At first Mir. Sherretts at such times withdrew to the library with his theological books. Then he remained by the table and watched the game, occasionally asking R question as to the relative value of cards hands and other Information pertaining to the game. He manifested so much Interest and 1t was so unso- cIable without him at the table that 1t wus proposed to play one evening with out any stake in order that be might take a hand. He objected on account of hls 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, ''Thls Is nothing compared to a game In which there Is a stake" and another suggested that they make a stake of q penny with 6 i've cent limit, just to show the rev erend gentleman how interesting It was, Mir. Sherretts, after much per suasion, consented.
 At 2 o'clock In the morning the party broke up, after having played for dollar stake with no limit and MT. sherretts had lost S2OO. His host in- sisted on making it good to him, but he peremptorify declined, declaring that he would stand the loss himself.
 Then the matter was discussed by all the players, and 1t 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.
 MT. Sherretts, who seemed to have been mastered by a passion for gam bling. yielded, with tears in his eyes at hfs weakness. He held very poor hands, but the gentlemen Contrived to have him win all but $25 of his loSings, when there was jack pot involving q large sum and every one forgot every interest but his own. When the hands were lr!d down there was everything from three of a kind to q royal flush, which was held by Mir. Sherretts. When they told him that his was the largest hand he nearly fain1ed and de clined 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 tU give them a chance to win 1t all back From this time forward the game ran heavy.
 
 It was the night before Thanksgiy- hg. In a little farmhouse in Ohio a negro sat breeding over the coals on the rude hearth. He had not been long used to the celebration of Thanksgiv- ing 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 bis neighbors had been preparing to celebrate, and he was thinking Of his wife and two little pick anlnnles, slaves in the land of Dixie. Be had worked extra hOurs and had thus earned the money with which to buy himself. He was now working hard to earn the money to buy his wife and children. On the morrow, when others were united in family groups, he would sit at bis table alone still far from the day when be could have his own with him.
 To make matters worse he had 6 few weeks before intrusted stranger with the few hundred dollars he had saved on the mans representation tha: he would put more with 1t and secure the freedom of bis family. He had never heard of the man since and had no doubt that his money had been lost to him. His neighbors pitied the sim pie credulity of one born in slavery.
 There was a footstep without, the door opened and in walked the man who had obtained the poor negro's money, as he considered if, under false pretnses.
 "Hello, JefIp' said the man.
 '"Yo' git out O hyer| exclaimed the ex-slave. q know wha' yo' want; yO' want mo money. hain't got no mo. To tuk 1t all"
 "JeR," said the man kindly, laying his hand on the negro's arm, "I don't blame you for mlstrusting me, but you're mistaken. I'm really what l pretended to be, an agent of the under ground railroad company, to run slaves north, only this time I've worked 8 plan of my own. I told you I had served my apprenticeship in bleeding Kansas" didn't I? Well, was a bor- der man long enough to learn some things. I learned how to shoot first and to shufle cards. But in time too