Show A RAFFLE FOR A NEGRO in my tour through the southern states I 1 stave nave met with ilia many ny amusing incidents but do not remember anything that created 8 so 0 great an excitement for the time being as a ne irro arro raffle in the town of in the state stale of mississippi mr the owner of the boy having is a note to pay that day and biot having the wh cherr r with to do it was compelled to do what he aladie would not have hare done dine the boy to be raffled was a smart intelligent lad ad of about 18 years of age he went by b the name of bill there were 80 61 ell chin any ces with three dice at 10 per chance I 1 was present when the aff adfur lir dime came off there rem remained ai ne d one ne chance which I 1 took and gave to bill upon the condition that he would throw the dice himself and shake tike like oxen bill rolled his eyes in an astonished and astonishing manner and after afler a apart hearty v wh 0 wha whai in which lie he displayed two frightful rows of ivory opening a mouth like the break of day from east to west and with a low bow slid said 11 try massa As mav be supposed the scene became highly exciting the raffle corn met fenced iced bill looked on unconcerned at anything but the idea of leaving his old master when the chances were all raffled off iff but the last bill took the box previous to his throwing how ever he was offered f for or his chance the highest throw yet made being 46 which stood a tie between two individuals i III divi divid duals nals but bill was a no compromise man he fie refused the oter offer s tying lying ide de whole og or not fin and made his first throw which was 13 his second throw was 16 bill stopped scratched his head threw ag again 1 in and up came 18 it was declared off th tt it mi bill 1 was free and such a shout I 1 never heard in my life bill hardly knew what to do 1 with himself in a moment however lie he asked the whole p pirty party to drink and no man in lis said i ever refused an invitation of the kind except one and he died soon after so says tradition bill s success induced him to try another speculation of the casame same sort I 1 believing that he could do as a free man as much as lie he had before done he proposed to set himself up again in a raffle 4 and as ile he had won belbie he thought it would be no more than fair that he should put the price at this time the chances were soon takers taken bill reserving but bill one ch irice to h himself he pocketed and the sport again commenced bills original nal owner ind himself were the two highest again and in throwing off bill lost it proved a very fortunate speculation for bill and his master both the master had made clear and bill had cleared and remained with wilh his kind master they started for home together the master dee declaring laring that thai no m money L y should induce him to part with bill again unless essi h he e was willing to leave but promised him if he would be as faithful to him as he had always been until he was 81 21 he should have his freedom they were both well contented and every bevery one present was satisfied that he had got his moneys worth L lou jour |