The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1918-01-24
Y - mmn a., 49, - - = = - ~

uoou.Dye, fete, good bye Ginnle,
said Colonel ST. Ledger to negro and
his wife who were about to be taken on
board a steamer at Vicksburg, in 1910
II hope you will get good master.
was about to give you your freedom
when this blow fell upon me. The law
takes you out OF my hands and / have
no power to make you free. The col.
onel who had heart as big as an OK
| had endorsed a note TO save friend
] from bankruptcy and thereby become
a bankrupt himself.
I'VE know dat Marse Colonel" said
the woman. "Don't yo' worry yo'self
about dat I: you couldn't help it,
The slaves were taken aboard the
boat which was bound for New Or
leans. showering blessings on their old
master, but as soon as they were Off
on their journey southwark they began
to bewail their probable coming sepa-
ration; for they would doubtless be
sold to different masters.
In those days the steamers plying on
the Mississippi river were infested
with gamblers. In the cabin of the
steamer on which these slaves were Ia
ken, were half dozen tables around
which sat card players with chips or
money stacked up before them. A man
whose serious mind marked him for
clergyman, went to one of the tables
and said to those playing:
Gentlemen, there are couple of
slaves on this boat, man and his wife,
who are going to New Orleans to be
sold, quite likely, separately. 1t has
been suggested to me that a game of
"freeze out" be played for them--what-
ever that may be-the winner to give
them their freedom. Will someone
please tell me what is freeze out?"
"What this plan is that has been sug-
gested to you, SIR" said one of the
gamblers, as to sell chips to the
amount of the price the owner puts on
his slaves, and the chip holders play
game of poker till one Of them owns
all the chips. He then buys the slaves
and sets them free"
Several Of the players at the table
bought chips, and the clergyman went
TO other tables and induced others to
buy. But when he had got In all he |
could it was only half enough. The J
owners Of the negroes wanted $1,000 |
for the TWO, and chips only to the val
lie of 5000 could be sold.
Friend" said the clergyman. "all
the money I have in the world is sew
en- hundred dollars. / win buy the rest
Of the chips IL anyone who knows how /
to play this game of poker will play
'or me-"
You needn't take all the unsold
chips. parson," said the owner of the
slaves. "Ill divide 1t with you. I'll
AXE half; you take the other half"
The game was arranged but there
vas trouble in finding anyone to play
or the parson. He would not commit
he interest to any professional gam
'ler Of which class he professed hor-
or; and no one else would accept the
responsibility Of playing for him.
Gentlemen" he said at last, "the
ord will play for me. / know moth
ng of the game, but in such cause
he Lord will send me luck with enough
4 the element of luck. will need no
kill"
The chip holders took table and
he game began. II was a slow pro-
eeding, for everything must be explain
d to the parson. He neither won nor
ost for time. but one by one the
layers lost all the chips they had
ought except the owner of the slaves
nd the clergyman. The former desir-
,g to hasten the winning of the par
,n's chips proposed jack pot. When
jack pot was explained to the parson
Q acceded TO 1t and after consider
BILE enlargement of the pile on the ia
e his opponent opened 1t. The par :
IN won on three kings, the other
rowing three knaves.
They played on with various success :,
II the parson laid his cards on the
bile face down, and asked which was
e higher hand. three kings or queen
Id four deuces. When told that four m
suces beat the kings he seemed sur s.
Used. But he took up his hand and, sc
ter a profound study of II, put fifty W
liars in the pot. His opponent rails m
him. He raised his opponent and az
g raising went on till all the chips
ere on the table. The cards were =
rned over. =
as that what you call royal fiush?" be
ked the parson looking up from his
rds, showing four aces and a king. w
There was a clapping Of handy FIR
long the lookers-on. The slave own of
had been frozen out. az
The clergyman made out free pa \,
RS for the slaves.
who is that MANI" asked the slave r.
'ner, II think there is something
ong about him." to
Something wrong and something on
ht," replied a bystander. Hes a 70
torious card sharp. but he's given his wa
ney and his skill to free a couple OF
slaves" va