use my revolver,
as none were drawn, for I never wanted to kill any man.

THE LAP-ROBE.

My dear old mother--she lived to be ninety-three years old--God
bless her. I can see her now, with her silvered hair and tottering
step. She used to pray for her wild son George, and on one occasion
(I guess it was the result of her prayers) I did a good act that
I have always been proud of, and I received the prayers of all the
ladies of the church for it. I was in the South at the time, and
on board a packet that was laid up at Natchez for a few hours.
Some of the ladies of a prominent church there sent down a
magnificently embroidered lap-rope, wishing to raise $100 on it.
I took ten chances at $5 a chance, and then circulated among the
passengers and easily raised a good sum. We shook the box, and
one of my throws won. Of course I had to set up the wine; but I
put up the robe again, and got one of the blackest men on the boat
to throw for me, and a second time I won. A third time the robe
went up, and this time for good; but not until $400 was realized,
which was sent to the delighted ladies. I think that money spent
did me more good than any that I ever squandered, for I was the
recipient of the thanks as well as the prayers of the ladies.

THE PREACHER AWAY FROM HOME.

Ever since the days when Joseph's brothers gambled for his coat of
many colors when they put him in the pit, the desire to venture in
games of chance has been rampant in the human breast, and even "men
of the cloth" have proved no exception to the rule. I recall an
instance when I was going down the river on the _Natchez_. As I
got aboard the boat I said to myself, "Everything looks blue; I've
got no partner, and I don't think there is a dollar in sight." I
scanned over the faces of the passengers, and soon found one of
the old boys who formerly used to play a little, but who had now
foresworn cards and become a prominent railroad magnate in New
Orleans. Bob and myself were soon talking over old times and
sipping juleps, until at last we got a stack of chips and a deck
of cards, and began to play for a small limit.

Presently a tall, portly, fine looking gentleman came up to the
table, and appeared to be so interested that I invited him to take
a hand, as we were playing for a small limit just to pass away
time. He readily consented, and the game went on smoothly enough,
when I ran him out three queens and helped myself to three kings,
a