A NICE LITTLE CARD PARTY.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 267, 1 March 1877, Page 3

A NICE LITTLE CARD PARTY.

It is seldom, indeed, that t'otir auch choice spirits congregate fur an e renin;;';* ciirouse ua those that met at the Hotel, Dunedin, the otler evening, this of their number, who ia an expert angler, had been sacceasfot in capturing several large trunk in a local stream, and it had agreed amongst these foar gentlemen > they should have a trout anpper. Tie frsh. was capital, and it was washed

* down by copious draughts of "Roctifirer. Of coarse, It was not at all a likely contingency that they would disperse after having satisfied their appetite for fish and drinkables. Oh, no. A game of "poker" was the item on the programme. This exciting game had lasted for aix'iit three hours, and as the small hours of the morning had been entered upon, and the majority of them had wives to welcome them home, or otherwise, it was agreed that "one more game" should terminate the entertainment. The cards were cut and dealt from a pack that had not been used for an hottr. (We do not know whether this possesses any significance or not, a* we are unacquainted with the noble game. This is a portion of ottr education that has been sadly undetected.) The following was the result A»::»>ngsfc the cards. A had fc*#>ttr 3"s, li four 10*5, C three aces, and I) (the dealer) tour kings and the other ace. As the players glanced at their hands/" each seemed perfectly satisfied that they must vein the game. A was at once convinced that the best course for his three compeers to " lay down tinir anus and capitulate/* but " No,'* said he to himself, "I will p'ay my fish awhile for the sake of spurt." It s.ntd, iu card parlance, '' Hi b.*«k four/' vhich, being interpreted, n tans, " I'm f»tir i»foses.' C was she eked at. the assumption of his prtr ii.nhi.lii Jptfti'tcm. ho but idiot* would think of attempting to compete with a fellow with three acts. He, however. attributed it to their ignorance. Of course, how eotdd they tell what he held at his hand. He w««!d not, however, a».tenipt t<* lift the [loot now, but wou£eH prolong the agony. I> was, however, exceedingly reticent. His heart was too full to admit of spee eh, but be looked volumes. The others, strange to say, did not detect the cunning twinkle in his eye as the game proceeded. It was n»»vv getting interesting. The 1 pool had rer.ched the sum of about £IOO, and the company was revelling in the excitement. "I'll go aiiother~two," said one. 'Til go three, ' exefatmed another. "And so will I," exclaimed a third. "Thank you, gentlemen." said No. -J (the dealer), sweeping the pile of money within a distance convenient for stowing it away in his pocketbook ; " it's about time to put a stop to this prodigality." " What a swindle !" said A. " Have yon only just found that out {" exclaimed the other twu simultaneously. " Come-, gentlemen, don't be foolish : act like- men, and take your thrashing kindly." said the winner, as he threw down his hand. They agreed that the best thing to be done- under the circumstances was to go home.