ll put up the $1,000 against
your watch and chain, and when you gain it back we can have a big
laugh over it." He put up his handsome watch and chain (that had
been presented to him by his congregation), and, as he was playing
in hard luck, I soon had the "ticker." He bade me good night, and
went to his room.

I went to see the Captain, and when I showed him the reverend
gentleman's watch, with the inscriptions on it, he could hardly
believe his own eyes. After having a good laugh with the Captain,
I went to the minister's room, and found him on his knees. When
he saw me he said, "I have just been praying for you." I replied,
"Brother, hadn't you do a little of that for yourself?" "Oh," says
he, "I have prayed mostly for myself this night." "Well," I said,
"since you have prayed for yourself, and me too, here is your watch,
chain, and $100. 'Go and sin no more.'" He said (with tears in
his eyes), "God bless you." I left the boat at Natchez, and did
not get to see the old gentleman again.

I caught a preacher once for all his money, his gold spectacles,
and his sermons. Then I had some of those queer feelings come over
me (and when they came upon me I could not resist their influence),
so I gave him his sermons and specks back. At one time there were
fifteen preachers on the Jackson Road, going to a conference at
Hazelhurst. I got in among them, and, just for fun, I opened up
monte, and I caught five out of the fifteen for every cent they
had. I tell you, my dear readers, preachers are but human, and
some of them will steal the livery of the court of heaven to serve
the devil (Devol) in.

FIFTY TO THE BARKEEPER.

I was in the St. Charles bar-room one morning--having been up all
night playing the bank--when a good looking old fellow walked in
and called for a champagne cocktail. I turned to him and said,
"Have one with me; I drew $6,000 out of the Havana Lottery last
evening, and I would like you to join me." He accepted the
invitation; and while the barkeeper was mixing the drinks, I slipped
out some monte cards, and began playing them on the counter. I
told the old gentleman it was a kind of lottery I saw a man play,
and I wanted to learn it. He looked at the game, and turned the
card for fun, then for the drinks and cigars. Finally he said, "I
will bet you twenty-five dollars I can turn the card." I said,
"If I bet, it will not be less than $100." He got out his wallet,
and there was plent