ecture. I have sometimes wished
I had one-tenth part of what I have returned to boys and suckers,
for then I would have enough to keep me the balance of my life.

I had the niggers all along the coast so trained that they would
call me "Massa" when I would get on or off a boat. If I was waiting
at a landing I would post some old "nig" what to say when I went
on board, so while the passengers were all out on the guards and
I was bidding the "coons" good-bye, my "nig" would cry out:

"Good-bye, Massa George; I's goin' to take good care of the old
plantation till you comes back."

I would go on board, with one of the niggers carrying my saddle-
bags, and those sucker passengers would think I was a planter sure
enough; so if a game was proposed I had no trouble to get into it,
as all who play cards are looking for suckers that they know have
money; and who in those old ante-bellum times had more money than
a Southern planter? I have often stepped up to the bar as soon as
I would get on board and treat every one within call, and when I
would pay for the drinks I would pull out a roll that would make
everybody look wild. Then I was sure to get into the first game
that would be started, for all wanted a part of the planter's roll.

I have downed planters and many good business men, who would come
to me afterwards and want to stand in with my play; and many are
the thousands I have divided with them; and yet the truly good
people never class such men among gamblers. The world is full of
such men. They are not brave enough to take the name, but they
are always ready for a part of the game. A gambler's word is as
good as his bond, and that is more than I can say of many business
men who stand very high in a community. I would rather take a true
gambler's word than the bond of many business men who are to-day
counted worth thousands. The gambler will pay when he has money,
which many good church members will not.

ANCIENT GAMBLING.

Hobbes, the philosopher, says man is the only animal that laughs.
He might have appropriately added, he is the only animal that
gambles. To gamble or venture on chance, his own property with
the hope of winning the property of another is peculiar to him.

Other animals in common with man will fight for meat, drink, and
lodging, and will battle for love as fiercely as the old knights
of chivalry; but there is no well authenticated account that any
of the lower animals ever chanced a