Reminiscences of the old fire laddies and volunteer fire departments of New York and Brooklyn. . r those who found no con-solation in the grape, andcigars to soothe the perturbedspirit of losers. Around thisdelightful banquet, free to allcomers, a few gentlemen satlanguidly eating and scarceglanced at our friend Jenkinsas he entered. In this pleas-ant chamber the young fire-man sought in vain for thosefatal but attractive instru-ments of play, that, inventedoriginally to amuse a child,have ended by being the de-struction of men. There was,however, a bony click sound-ing from the back chamber,a
Reminiscences of the old fire laddies and volunteer fire departments of New York and Brooklyn. . r those who found no con-solation in the grape, andcigars to soothe the perturbedspirit of losers. Around thisdelightful banquet, free to allcomers, a few gentlemen satlanguidly eating and scarceglanced at our friend Jenkinsas he entered. In this pleas-ant chamber the young fire-man sought in vain for thosefatal but attractive instru-ments of play, that, inventedoriginally to amuse a child,have ended by being the de-struction of men. There was,however, a bony click sound-ing from the back chamber,and a monotonous voice thatsometimes might be heard crying, King wins — ten loses, withnow and then a horrible curse from some one who was going to beton the King, but obeying a fatal instinct, transferred his pile to theten — all these indications betrayed to our friend Jenkins the localityof the faro table. The brilliant supper had no charm for Jenkins. He hungeredonly for play, and half eagerly, half timidly, entered the gamingroom. A table, somewhat longer than broad, and covered with. The Fatal Green Board. green cloth, occupied one corner of the room. Before this sat acalm, keen-eyed man. I can see him now, whose hands movedlike those of an automaton, and whose glance comprehendedeverything around him. At his right hand sat another person, witha drawer full of money, open, and a square of ivory counters ofvarious colors ranged before him. The first person had in frontof him a board, on which a whole suit of cards was pasted, and alittle plated spring box containing a pack of cards. He was thedealer, and those were the implements for playing faro—but Ineed not describe the game. The less anyone knows of it thebetter. What eager faces clustered and crowded around that green board!How all the eyes strained toward that little box, and lightened orlowered as the coming card lost or won ! There was little said, butthe silence was ominous and depressing. One felt that he wa
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, bookidldpd63166850, bookyear1885
