Strong Draughts of Their Refreshing Minds — Checkers

Strong Draughts of Their Refreshing Minds 1
To drink-enables Mine
Through Desert or the Wilderness
As bore it Sealed Wine-

To go elastic-Or as One 5
The Camel's trait-attained-
How powerful the Stimulus
Of an Hermetic Mind-
(F.770/J.711)
[1] Draughts:: checkers, a board game.
[2] drink:: to realize, enjoy.
[3, 4] Desert, Wine:: travelling with checkers.
[5] elastic:: the jumping moves of the game.
[6] Camel's trait:: the M-shaped move like the camel's back.
[7, 8] Stimulus, Hermetic Mind:: a game of mind that incites brain.

Dr. Dewees recommends a small backgammon table, with men, but without dice. He says, also, that "children, as soon as they are capable of comprehending the subject, should be taught draughts or checkers. This game is not only highly amusing, but also very instructive." In another place he heaps additional encomiums upon the game of checkers. "It becomes a source of endless amusement," he says, "as it never tires, but always instructs." Of exercises which instruct, however, as well as amuse, I shall speak presently. ─ The young mother (1838) by William Andrus Alcott