The Cairo bulletin., 1910-10-04
Feeling a Part
BY REGINALD D. HAVEN
Copyright. iglo by American Press
Association.


wasn't much credit In 1t to me, but it
was productive Of u lot Of happiness to
others. Ii occurred many years ago.
and as | am now very old man and
have very long, troubled life to look
back upon. including several terms In
the penitentinry, II stands out from the
rest Of my acts In odd contrast.
1t was In the summer of 1859 that
several OF us got together In a north
ern city and manufactured number
OF twenty dollar counterfeit bills As
soon as we had finished the Job we
destroyed the outfit. divided the bills
and started for different parts OF the
country to put them out on the public,
my section being the south Boarding
one OF the crack steamers OF that day.
| started for New Orleans. In order
the better to impose on people | dress
ed myself In ministerial blnck and
wore white cravat. had been an
actor and could personate clergyman.
or any one elses for that matter. to
perfection
THE main cabin Of the steamers run
ming on the Mississippi river In those
days. when the table was not set for
meals, was occupied principally for
! gambling. Poker, seyen-up. euchre and
other games We're played. though the
parties playing wera not large and Of
ten two persons one occupied a table.
was sitting ON the guards one day {,
when a negro came ont Of the cabin,
wringing his hands
| What's the matter. boy? asked.
! Mars done gone lose me to mig
, gah trader. Mn wife an pickaninnes
won't nebber see me no mo-
| II found that his master. a planter.
had taken him to Cairo as his body
servant, was returning. had lost all
the money he had with him at cards.
staked his darky and lost him too.
! went into the cabin, where the plant
er and the trader were settling up
the planter being at the moment occu-
pied in making out bin of sale for
the slave.
81 beg your pardon. sA.' said to
the planter. On accountvof my voca-
ton | am opposed. OF course. to gam
bling in any form, but ! dislike ex-
ceedingly the separation Of families.
! understand that you have lost your
negro. | would be pleased to lend you
the money TO win him back
The gentleman accepted the offer.
brought out some new, crisp bills,
just from the press. and the game
started anew. Ii was euchre soon
saw that the gambler could go on
winning from the trader NIL day Ii he
liked. for the former was perpetrating
one of the commonest tricks on him
that Is, turning jack In other words.
when he dealt he would always turn
up a knave for himself. Seeing this
and other cheating. | lnterfered.
told him that had learned the game
before becoming clergyman and In
sisted on taking the planters place.
Since was backing the latter be was
obliged to yield to me In the matter,
which he did with bad grace.
Il had not only learned the game
before becoming clergyman. but
all the tricks that went with 1t and
many other games. | walked into that
card sharper In way that opened his
eyes. The negro at stake bad follow
ed me into the cabin and was standing
watching the game with bullying eyes.
1t was hard for me to keep u straight
face. playing as l was, supposed min
ister of the gospel, with counterfeit
money and doing as neat bits OF thin
blerigging as bad ever been prae-
ticed on that palatial steamboat. The
negro trader was not professional
card sharper. though he didn't hesitate
to cheat the planter, aud never dream
cd that the somber man before hfn In
| a spotless white necktie was placing
the cards exactly where he wanted
them.
"Of course / soon won the darby
for his master. Then ! arose from the
table, delivered homily on the sin OF
gambling and returned to the guards.
| was followed by the planter, who
said to me:
".Pe'mit me, sub. to say to 20 that
wore the first man OF the cloth that
has eyeh obtained my unbounded re-
spect. sub. Yo' have saved my boy.
sub. from being separated from his
wife and children an act TO which |
would have been to blame. have
SUFFICIENT influence. sub. to control
call to the First Baptist church of -,
Mississippi. II 20 will accept It 1t
shall be yo's with fat salary
II thanked the gentleman for his Of
fer. but declined It. When we reach
ed bis landing he insisted so heartily
upon my visiting him at his planta-
ton that | consented.
II was made welcome by his family.
and the wife and children Of the negro
l had saved from the trader came to
the house with tears In their eyes to
thank me- was good looking young
fellow in those days and could zee
that made I'm impression on one Of
the planters daughters. | had every
thing at my disposal to perpetrate any
rascality l might choose. could get
the planters Endorsement. which wonl,l
enable me to dispose Of my green
goods and | believed could win his
daughter.
IL did neither. For brief season
enjoyed the sensation Of being Il fine
fellow. During that time permitted
| A. A>ol thn mast l,,..t ~, Az, .,.t.,r