Thank you for visiting SNEWPapers!
Sign up free
Story
December 18, 1841
Republican Herald
Providence, Providence County, Rhode Island
What is this article about?
In New Orleans, friends Tom and Ned gamble heavily; loser Ned owes Tom $500, who burns the note generously. Four years later, Ned buys and burns Tom's $500 debt note in reciprocal honor.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
Miscellany.
From the N. O. Picayune.
A GAMBLING STORY.—Two friends sat over a game of "brag" in this city four years ago. They played long, late, and high, and at length quit, one five hundred dollars in the other's debt. We have said they were friends, and each knew the other was not so circumstanced as to stand so large a loss, although the excitement from playing had led them on from large bets to larger still, until the event came about.
"Tom, you will have to take my note for it," said the loser, "and it shall be paid in thirty days."
"O, very well," said the winner dryly pulling a cigar from his pocket, and piercing the twisted end with his penknife.
The loser snatched up a pen, and wrote the note for $500, payable in thirty days.
"All correct," said the winner coolly, and taking the note from his unfortunate adversary—"Have a cigar Ned?"
Ned took the proffered cigar, and the next moment opened his eyes in astonishment at seeing Tom deliberately poking the folded note into the candle for a light.
"Fire up, Ned!" said Tom, handing over the burning note.
Ned knew his friend and lit his cigar in silence. The two soon separated with such a mutual exchange of friendly sentiment as might be expected on so remarkable an occasion.
This is no fancy sketch, reader. The two friends have been separate wanderers for four years, and met each other again, for the first time since that parting, the other day in Canal street. Tom had been luckless and unfortunate, while Ned had been gradually creeping into Fortune's favor. In the course of the same day accident brought to Ned's notice a note against his friend Tom, for just five hundred dollars, in the hands of a third person. Ned bought the note immediately, paying for it to the full amount of the claim, and in the evening the two friends met by appointment.
"Tom, do you know I hold a note against you for $500," said Ned.
"No indeed! Why? how so?" said Tom in amazement.
"O yes, here it is! See! your note given to that wholesale firm on the Levee. A small business transaction brought it into my possession, and by the way, Tom, I should like to have the money."
"I can't pay it now, Ned—indeed I can't, but in two weeks or three, at furthest, I can make myself ready for it."
"Cancel this, and draw me a note at thirty days," says Ned, very gravely, taking a cigar from his pocket, and piercing the end with his knife, in precisely the same style Tom had done four years ago.
"All correct," said Ned, as he scattered the old note in torn fragments on the floor, and received the new one from Tom, "Have a cigar, Tom?"
Tom took the cigar, and as he did so, an idea of Ned's design flashed upon his mind.
"No, Ned—no! I remember! Yes, I see what you're at; but mine was a gambling debt, and this is a responsibility of regular trade!" exclaimed Tom, rising to prevent the conflagration he saw was about to take place.
"Mine was a debt of honor, and so is yours," said Ned with facetious solemnity "I will pay yours, as you once took the liberty of paying mine," and he thrust the paper into the candle's blaze, handing it lighted to Tom, exclaiming, "Fire up Tom!" in direct imitation of his generous adversary at 'brag' four years ago!
Gone, reader, the anecdote is true. The two gentlemen whom we have designated as Tom and Ned are at present residents here for the winter.
From the N. O. Picayune.
A GAMBLING STORY.—Two friends sat over a game of "brag" in this city four years ago. They played long, late, and high, and at length quit, one five hundred dollars in the other's debt. We have said they were friends, and each knew the other was not so circumstanced as to stand so large a loss, although the excitement from playing had led them on from large bets to larger still, until the event came about.
"Tom, you will have to take my note for it," said the loser, "and it shall be paid in thirty days."
"O, very well," said the winner dryly pulling a cigar from his pocket, and piercing the twisted end with his penknife.
The loser snatched up a pen, and wrote the note for $500, payable in thirty days.
"All correct," said the winner coolly, and taking the note from his unfortunate adversary—"Have a cigar Ned?"
Ned took the proffered cigar, and the next moment opened his eyes in astonishment at seeing Tom deliberately poking the folded note into the candle for a light.
"Fire up, Ned!" said Tom, handing over the burning note.
Ned knew his friend and lit his cigar in silence. The two soon separated with such a mutual exchange of friendly sentiment as might be expected on so remarkable an occasion.
This is no fancy sketch, reader. The two friends have been separate wanderers for four years, and met each other again, for the first time since that parting, the other day in Canal street. Tom had been luckless and unfortunate, while Ned had been gradually creeping into Fortune's favor. In the course of the same day accident brought to Ned's notice a note against his friend Tom, for just five hundred dollars, in the hands of a third person. Ned bought the note immediately, paying for it to the full amount of the claim, and in the evening the two friends met by appointment.
"Tom, do you know I hold a note against you for $500," said Ned.
"No indeed! Why? how so?" said Tom in amazement.
"O yes, here it is! See! your note given to that wholesale firm on the Levee. A small business transaction brought it into my possession, and by the way, Tom, I should like to have the money."
"I can't pay it now, Ned—indeed I can't, but in two weeks or three, at furthest, I can make myself ready for it."
"Cancel this, and draw me a note at thirty days," says Ned, very gravely, taking a cigar from his pocket, and piercing the end with his knife, in precisely the same style Tom had done four years ago.
"All correct," said Ned, as he scattered the old note in torn fragments on the floor, and received the new one from Tom, "Have a cigar, Tom?"
Tom took the cigar, and as he did so, an idea of Ned's design flashed upon his mind.
"No, Ned—no! I remember! Yes, I see what you're at; but mine was a gambling debt, and this is a responsibility of regular trade!" exclaimed Tom, rising to prevent the conflagration he saw was about to take place.
"Mine was a debt of honor, and so is yours," said Ned with facetious solemnity "I will pay yours, as you once took the liberty of paying mine," and he thrust the paper into the candle's blaze, handing it lighted to Tom, exclaiming, "Fire up Tom!" in direct imitation of his generous adversary at 'brag' four years ago!
Gone, reader, the anecdote is true. The two gentlemen whom we have designated as Tom and Ned are at present residents here for the winter.
What sub-type of article is it?
Heroic Act
Curiosity
What themes does it cover?
Moral Virtue
Bravery Heroism
Justice
What keywords are associated?
Gambling Debt
Burning Note
Friendship Honor
Reciprocal Gesture
New Orleans Anecdote
What entities or persons were involved?
Tom
Ned
Where did it happen?
New Orleans
Story Details
Key Persons
Tom
Ned
Location
New Orleans
Story Details
Two friends gamble at brag; loser Ned owes Tom $500 and gives a note, which Tom burns while lighting a cigar. Four years later, Ned buys Tom's $500 debt note from a third party and burns it in the same generous manner, repaying the honor.