A Raffle for Freedom.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4496, 2 June 1883, Page 1

A Raffle for Freedom.

The subjoined account of an incident alleged to have occurred on a Mississippi steamboat a short time before the war, is a German sketch of American travel:—l ascended the Mississippi, says the writer, on a steamer, on board of which were Judge J and General X-—, of Pennsylvania, with both of whom I was slightly acquainted. "A hard set, these .Natchez men," said tke captain, who met us on the cabin stairs. "There's some of them down in the saloon playing a high game." How men can be such fools, I could, never see!"' Let's go down and look on awhile,". suggested the judge. In the saloon we found] four men seated... at a table, around which a crowd of spectators were gathered. The four men were the •• heavy players." The game was "poker," and tha money changed hands rapidly. We had not been looking on long, when one •of the players,:a middle* aged man, who, I learned waa a cotton planter, bet his last dollar against the hand of one of his antagonists. The latter showed four kings, while he had only four queens. He was " oleaned out," and rose as though he were going to leave the table. " Are you broke, colonel P" asked one of the men. " Bead!" was the laconic reply. " Kefer mind; I'll lend you." "No, I can made a raise, I reckon. Here, Pomp!" " Here, massa!" responded an old negro as he emerged from one corner of the saloon. " Bring that girl and her youngster here that I bought in Natchez. Wait a few mm« utes, pentlemen, I'll raise some money." The old negro went on his errand, and soon returned with the "girl and her iyoungster." The " girl " proved to be a I stately mulatto woman, about thirty-five iyears old. Her " youngster " was a fine intelligent-looking boy,, eleven or twelve years old, whose complexion showed, him to be much more nearly allied to the white I

nice than the black . " Here, gentlemen," ■aid the planter asHhey entered; "you see this girHtnd her boy— two as fine riggers as you can find any where. I paid eight hundred dollars for them yesterday in Natchez. Who will give me six hand dred-dollars for them?" "Will you sell them separate?" asked some one. "No., ;,can!t do it; I promised net to. The girl swears she'll take her life if she's •eparated fromher boy, and her old master said he was sure she'd keep her word. But don't you. all see that the girl is worth more than I ask for both of them ? Come, who'll; give me six hundred for both ?" The planter waited for a reply, and then aaid," Well, I must have some money. Come, what say you to a raffle—thirty chancea, at twenty dollars a chance P Out with your cash, gentlemen. The first on the list has the first throw!" This proposition created a decided stir among all'pregent. The three players at the table led off by taking three chances each. Their example was followed by the spectators, and twenty chancel Jwere taken as rapidly as the planter could write the names and take the money. Then there was a slight pause. The planter himself now took two chancea, and he was followed by his three fellow players, who each took one chance, more. Finally, three more chances were taken by the spectators, when the planter/cried out, "Two chances still, gentlemen! Who will have them?" General X whispered something in Judge J -'a ear, and then went to the table and laid two ten-dollar gold pieces on it. "Fame, sir, please." "Never mind the name. Put it down for the woman." "Eh—what! for the giri herself ?" •• Yes, certainly, let s giro her a chance." "Allright! One for Ninette, and now " " That's for the boy," said. J. , quietly, as he laid twenty dollars on the table. ■" Good ! bravol" cried the planter and several of the bystanders. " One for Tommy, which makes the thirty. Now, let's see whom luck favours." The dice were brought, and the throwing began. Each chance entitled the owner to three throws. Thirty-six was the highest throw until the owner of the eleventh chance threw. He scored 42. Then a less number was thrown, until number 21 scored 49. The excitement became intense. Forty-nine was hard to beat; the highest throw possible Being ninej sixes— S4r- Again and again the dice rattled in the box, until it came to No. 29. " Come, Ninette; it's your turn now J" As the poor woman came forward, her hands crossed and pressed convulsively against her breast, it was truly painful to witness her agitalion. " Won't the gentleman who took the chance for me please throw?" she asked, in a low, tremulous tone. "No; let your boy throw," re» plied the gentlemen ; "perhaps he wonld have more luck than I." " Come, Tom,"

said the planter. Tom came forward and picked up the box. The woman pressed her lips firmly together, and clasped ber hands as if in prayer. The boy trembled like an aspen-leaf, 1 but shook the dice, and threw—three. For a moment he stared at the dice as though he could not believe his eyes, then he put down the box and itepped back, pale and dejected. " Come Tommy, throw again," urged the planter. •• It's no use, master; I couldn't throw 49 now." " Very true; but you hare your own chance. Throw that." " Certainly," said Judge J-—. " That one wa> your mother's. Now throw for yourself on the chance I gave ycu. Have a stout heart, my boy, and may Heaven smile on you." Again the boy returned to the table, and took up the box., He pressed his lips together, and did his best to control his trembling limbs. Not a sound was to be heard in ,-the saloon but the rattling of the dice. . For a moment every maa seemed to hold - bis breath. He threw. " Two fives and a-Bix—l6," said the planter, putting - down the number, while a murmur -of satisfaction ran through the crowd, One of the bystanders gathered up the dice and put them in the box, and the boy threw again. "Two sixes and a five— 17." The excitement now knew no bounds, and the '' bravos " resounded on every baud. The boy, as he took up the box'to throw for the third and last time, was as nearly colorless as it was possible for him to be with Ibis yellow skin. Out rolled, the dice, and up came three sixes, which made 51. " Tommy, my boy, J congratulate you," cried the planter, " You are your own and your mother's matter! FiH up the necessary papers captain, and I will sign them. These gentlemen will be witnesses." I will not attempt to describe the scene ■ that followed. ; In the general satisfaction one of the roughest looking men in the crowd proposed" a subscription for the freed negroes. The proposition was received, with such favor that in less than five minutes fifty dollars were collected. —M.8... .