The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1829-06-10
From the Boston Philanthropist.
BETTING.
AN ORIGINAL TALE.


We insist that all games of chance have
tendency to moral corruption, and when
engaged in, will deprave the most virtuous
mind. To illustrate this truth, we will re-
late long anecdote, direct to the point.
We shall not, like the writer's of modern
fiction, state that our tale is founded on
fact, but shall relate the facts themselves,
substantially, as received from worthy de-
scendant of the prominent party, long since
deceased. His grandfather, the hero of
our story, was no less parsonage, than the
Hon. Timothy RuggIes, counsellor at law,
of facetious memory, who emigrated from
the sterile sands of Cape Cod, to the
re- 'he ILL SC HArdwick, in the county of
w orcester, about
advocate, ne was respectable and success
full, but that was not his hobby. In agri-
culture he was Il proficient, and the sports
of the field were his favorte amusements,
and his overweening attachment TO dogs, is
an unalienable Inheritance of the family.
He was general of a brigade in his MaieS-
ty'S colonial militia, and the title of Briga-
der is still connected with his memory.
! During his residence in Hardwick, he
was in habits of intimacy with the rcigning
family in the county, the Chambers, and in
token of friendship, presented Col. Gardner
Chandler, sheriff of the county, with fine
! blooded colt. Col. Chandler, no less cour-
teous and liberal, reciprocated the compli-
t-ment, and made the Brigadier a present of
! a bulI-caD the fruit Of a very large import
{ ell COW, he had purchased, with the calf by
her side, having been dropped on the pass
age. Time and good keeping ripened this
calf to a bull of great size and beauty. He
was the pride of the herd, and almost idoliz-
ed by his owner; who was so confident of
| his favorite's inUincibility that he challeng-
ed the whole country to produce match
| for him in the field OF battle, and would
pledge any sum that should be required, up
on the issue of the contest. Weeks and
months passed, before any antagonist APP
peared-at length the challenge reached
the ears of man in Connecticut Pomfret |
believe who owned bull, whose pedigree
was as noble, and his prowess as renowned
in his neighborhood, as was the Brigadier's
in Hardwick. Fired with emulation, and
knowing that his bull would not take a
stump, he started with his champion fol
Hardwick, and arrived on Saturday even
ing, and took up the Brigadier's gage
The battle was appointed for the Monday
following, and fifteen pounds ($50) staked
were settled, and the General had time fol
reflection, he had some qualms of regret fol
: his unpremeditatsI defiance of all competit.
ors with his bull. lie had given the chal-
lenge in exultation at the victories his bull
had gained over all domestic enemies bu
: had not calculated that one Of " the bulls OF
BGShGn" would appear to accept it, for the
size and figure Of his new enemy was evil
dence in his mind that he must have pro
ceeded from that stock.
Notwithstanding his humorous eccen
|, trcties, Gen. Ruggles possessed fair an(
honest mind, and disdaned every dishonor
able subterfuge, that was not PROFESSIONALS
required But the bull bet had reduced
him to the level of the gameSter, and hi.
dignity Of character and pride of virtue fel
with him and low and dshonorable evasion
was summoned'to his aid, in the pressing
dilemma. Under the influence of such i'm
pressions he laid his plan and retired t.
rest. The ensuing day, the Sabbath, tht
General was more rigid in observing thar
was customary, even in those puritanica
days, for not one of his family was permit
ted to stay from meeting the Connection
bull owner, Whom, for the want of anothe
name, we shall call Bullun,) went of course
But at noon the Brigadier pretended il
r health and excused himself from ATTENDING
the afternoon services. But no sooner wal
the coast clear of witnesses, than he pre-
, pared TO execute his desgn-which was
to assist his bull in defeating his enem,
thot day, that he might more certainly prov,