I paid
the $800 over to the pill-mixer and shut up shop, as I did not want
to lose any more of my "little partner's" money.

LACKED THE NERVE.

I made a mistake one time that came near getting me licked, and it
was only the want of nerve that saved me. I feel the effect of
the shock to this day, and I believe it will follow me to my grave.
I will tell how it happened.

I was playing the little game of monte, and had caught some pretty
good fish, when I noticed a Jew, that I had seen in Natchez, standing
near the table and watching me and my cards very closely. I took
him for one of the finny tribe, and expected to see him swim up
and take hold of the hook; but he walked over to the bar and
commenced talking to the barkeeper. I found out afterward that he
asked the barkeeper who I was, and told him he could beat me at
that game I was playing; for says he, "Do you know, there is a
little spot on one of the cards, and I don't believe he can see
it." The barkeeper was a friend of mine, and he told the Jew that
I couldn't see very well, as I was up so much at night. I was
fishing along, when back came the sucker. Then I began to think
a little better of myself; for I had spotted the fellow, and when
I saw him walk off, I began to think that for once I had made a
mistake in my man, and was losing some of my conceit. He got up
very close, and then he asked me how much I would bet him that he
could not turn the card with the old woman on it. I looked at him
for a moment, as I had lost a little of my confidence when I saw
him go away; but soon I remembered that the best fish will sometimes
play around the bait and then swim off, only to come back, dart in
and swallow it, hook and all; so I said to him, "I will bet you
$500 you can't pick up the old woman the first pick." I had $500
worth of confidence, thirty years ago, that no man could pick up
the old woman; but I am married now, and have quit gambling, but
I will bet $5,000 that no man can pick up my old mother-in-law the
first pick.

Well, the Jew put up $500 and picked up one of the cards, and as
his eyesight was so much better than mine, he got the one with the
little spot on it; and while he was looking for the old woman on
the other side of the card, I put the $500 in my pocket and rang
down the curtain. The Jew stood and held on to the card, until I
told him if he was done with it I would like to have it. He handed
it to me, and then walked over to