28. XXVIII.
THE GAME OF YEWKER.
This ill-bred game ov kards is about 27 years old.
It was fust diskovered by the deck hands on a
lake Erie steam Boat, and handed down by them
tew posterity in awl its juvenile beauty.
It is generally played by 4 persons and owes
mutch ov its absorbingness tew the fackt that yu
kan talk, and drink, and chaw, and cheat while the
game is advancing.
I have seen it played on the Hudson River Railroad,
in the smoking cars, with more immaculate
skill than ennywhare else.
If yu play thare, yu will often hold a hand that
will astonish you, quite often 4 queens and a 10
spot, which will inflame you to bate 7 or 8 dollars
that it is a good hand tew play poker with; but you
will be more astonished when you see the other feller's
hand, which invariably consists ov 4 kings and a
one spot.
Yewker is a mollatto game, and don't compare tew
old sledge in majesty, enny more than the game ov
pin does to a square church raffle.
I never play yewker.
I never would learn how, out ov principle.
I was originally created cluss to the Connektikut
line, in Nu England, whare the game ov 7 up, or old
sledge, was born, and exists now in awl its pristine
virginity.
I play old sledge, tew this day, in its natiff fierceness.
But I won't play enny game, if I know my charakter,
whare a jack will take an ace, and a ten spot
won't count game.
I won't play no such kind ov a game, out ov respekt
to old Connekticut, mi natiff place.