Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1906-09-27
: T5cir First Free
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[OriginaL]
In the autumn of 1859, few weeks
before Thanksgiving day, in an aristo-
cratic town of the blue grass region,
kentucky, travelling minister-they
called them Olporteurs-called at the
house of Hunter Jackson, a prominent
citizen, and said he would like to do
some work in saving souls in the neigh
borhood lie gave his name as Ed
ward Sherretts. So agreeably i'm
pressed was Mr.. Jackson with the rev.
crend Sontleman's appearance thar,
with southern hospitality, he invited
him to spend what time he remained
in the nGighb0rhood 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 We're 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
q question as to the relative value OF
cards. hands and other information
pertaining to the game. He manifested
so much interest and it was so unso-
ciable without him at the table that II
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-
seCted.
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 n stake" and another suggested
that they make stake of penny with
a FIVE cent limit, just to show the rev.
ercnd gentleman how interesting 1t
was. Mr. Sherretts, after much per-
suasion. consented.
At . o'clock In the morning the party
broke up, after having played for a
dollar stake with no limit and Mr..
Sherretts had lost $780, His host in
sisted on making it good to him, but he
reremptorily declined, declaring that
he would stand the loss himself
Then the matter was discussed by
all the players, and it was decided to
play one more game, during which they
would permit him to win back his mon
ey.
Ntr. Shcrretts, who seemed to have
ben mastered by a passion for gam
bling Welded. with tears in his eyes
at lis UeaEness. He held very poor
hands. but the gentlemen contrived tc
have him win all but SO of his losinge /
Wien there was a jack pot involving a /
lerre sum Snl every one forgot every |
Interest but his own. When the hands |
were l9i1 down there was everything (
from three Of kind to a royal flush, /
which was held by Mr.. Sherretts. \
Vhan they told him that his was the |
largest Ian1 lie nearly tainted and de-
-,.al 70 take the pile of bills they
passed ovcr - him. But no Kentucky
,outlcEaau would permit this, and at
Z lie winner consented only on con
litiGn that he be allowed to give them
/ Chance to win it all back. From this
inc forward the game ran heavy
1t was the night before Thanksgiv-
ng. In a little farmhouse in Ohio a
icgro sat brooding over the Goals on
he rude hearth He had not been long
lsed to the celebration of Thanksgiy-
ng day because he had been slave in
lie south. where nothing Of New Eng
and origin was, at least at that time,
but bis neighbors had been
preparing TO celebrate, and he was