Forrest's last game was draw poker. He was down to his last sawbuck and had vouched for a friend's $2000 loan. The friend defaulted and Forrest could lay hands on only $500. Next day was payday... So, he and the wife stared at the money on the dining room table and then Forrest said, "Won't you let me hunt up a game of draw?" Being a staunch Christian, Mary Ann said, "Gambling is a sin. No good comes of sin!" Then Forrest said, "Mary, this is a matter of honor." So, she answered, "I will be here praying and reading my Bible." He figured that's what had got him through the war, the Lord works in mysterious ways and he took her words as a good luck charm! Off he went with their eggs and bread money. He returned home at 2am, the wife was in her chair reading the Bible like she said she'd be, and he emptied his hat into her lap - he'd turned $10 into $1500!
The guys he was playing were most unhappy when he stood up and quit the game. They urged him to continue - they wanted a shot at getting back their losses! "No, gentlemen," replied Forrest, "I have won what I came to win. My wife is sitting at home with a Bible on her knees. This is my last game." It was. No one ever saw Forrest gamble after that night. He'd won just enough to pay the debt off and there was an end to it!
(The best poker Forrest ever played, though, was Abel Streight!)
Bringing the