Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-05-25
CASTIGAToR.

NAS l0A lOk.
II is not easy to conceive any vice moro
hateful TO God than Gambling, because
none can be conceived MORE DIAaErRi-
cALLr OPPOSITE TO THE VERY END Oh
OUR CREATION!
God created the human family to be as
one great social body, whereof every man is
member, and to which every man is bound
to contribute his part of ser0ice, and in re-
turn to receive from it his portion of safety
and comfort. Hence that sublime and sweet
doctrine of the Apostle, q no man lives for
himself only" but in and for his brethren al
SO; and hence too, that Golden saying,
"live and let Lue )" implying that in his
dealings with others, no man should take
any thing from his brother without giving
hi an equivalent for it. Fhis is the dictate
of mans necessities, which require gains
rather than losses; and this is the dictate of
Love, which finds il g more blessed 20 give
| than TO recefUe."
| but alas the Gambler is blind to all such
beautiful ideas, and stupidity insensible to
all such divine mpulses.--Sordid, groqel-
ling wretch Himself, Himselfis all that he
cares for; provided he swims, no matter
who sinks. Hence his life is a shameful dis
| cordance from the universal harmony. Fhe
sun rolls on in his light and e-giving glory !;
| the winds breathe their refreshing gales !;
the tides heave their fish and commercials
den floods; the trees put ON their gay green
robes, or bend under their luscious fruits; in
short. all nature, like the springs of a Hea-
ven-framed machine, rolls on tremendously
tor the general good but alas the Gamb-
Ter bears no part in the divine concert. Far,
far he lives below the dignity and worth of
the poorest animal.
See how patiently yon little Quadruped
submits to the harness How cheerfully he
bends forward to the plough, heaving the
deep black burrows behind him! See how
quietly stands yon Cow, chewing her cud
at the pale of the Cottager's wife, whose
little haif-naked children, lowering around
with noisy delight await their wanted break
fast of milk and cakes. Sweet little favo-
rites of Heaven! You may look to the no
bier brutes for assistance, but not to your
brother man, if he be Gambler. Your an.
gel faces touch not him, awaken no pity in
his savage breast,-Without regret he can
take away your Fathers horse, and drive
your Mothers COW to auction and, provid-
ed he can but swallow your substance, and
Chuckle over his accursed gains, he cares
not though you should mourn your loss o.
milk, and cry every morning for scantines:
of bread--he cares not though your poor
bankrupt Father, returning home. should
feel a hell within him at sight of you, once
his dearest delight, and after cruelty re-
pulsing your caresses, and abusing your beg
CARED mother, should then, torn with an.
guish intoIerable, rush for relief 70 a razor
or to pistol.
Poor Gilmore! Never shall think O
thee without mingling with thy memory my
bitterest execration against Gambling
Gilmore was young man of as noble sou
as ever inhabited the manifest form. Hi
countenance, at sight of his friends, was al
ways frightened with joy which they car
never forget. Too much elased by an es
tate left him by his Father, and counting
largely on the generosity of widowed Mo
Their, he ran into excesses.-His excesse
created debts; debts begat duns; and dun
begat sorrow. To rid himself at once of hi
wretchcdness, he went to gambling-table
which quickly swallowed up his estate. anc
reduced his young Wife and little son to DO
verify. An Uncle appointed him collector
of his debts, which, being numerous, threw
large sums of money into his hauds.A-Th
welcome piece fnews soon reached the ear
of his gambling acquaintance, who Instant,
formed plan TO fleece him once more.
Near hiss Uncle's house was one of those
sinks of sin. where whiskey is sold by tho
half pint, and where the worthless and J.
die meet to drink, and swear, and hatct
mischief Twas here that they watched
for him returning from a collection tour
with sadde-bags well lined with cash anc
as he passed, with looks of brothers the,
ran out ard seized him by the hand, insist
ing that he should alight. He begged hare
to be excused, saying he most positivel
must sec his uncle that night. They repli
cd. that they had no objection to that nei
her, but still insisted, that he would TAX
me bowl with them g surely you non
ir.f4se one 6o1yL to our old /1ieitdslih. IS
after much intreaty, they at length got hin
Town. One bowl prepared the way for an
'ther, that for a third, and 50 on, till get
ing him haltdrunk, they easily fixed hin
down, like young bullock, to the ring-bol
Of their gaming table, where they 500
sf1ltfed him 10 the skin--he, during grea
part OF the time, nearly Insensible Of wha
vas passing, often let his cards fall, and a
last, overcome with vine, fell himself unde
the table
Il Wretched Young man WHY couidst tho