Columbus Democrat. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-18??, 1839-12-07
For tis Democrat
THE BANKERS LOOKING GLASS.


Oily, ! an glad to see you. Though you have
been a reckless, pild and wicked youth, your
father cannot cease to love you. Did you bu
know the many sleepless nights and unhappy days
you have given me, and tie many anxious pray.
ers Heaven has Witnessed on your behalf, YOU
surely would give oven your wanderngs and wick
ednsss. Where, now where have you been,
my son, all this While
Timothy. Why pa, I've only bin lakin turn
amongst the hoozers and rozum-hsels, and other
greep-horns, down yOnder a, Orleans and Nat
chez and Eicksburg. You know is always good
Poachla amongst sch game. guess its how
I've made some ov'um go home with their peck
els well picked.
Father. You wicked dog, will you break your
fathers heart by thus wickedly and trifIlngly al
ludlog to your ll-gotten and dishonest gains
Your father never set YOU such an example, and
have you SO early forgotten he sound and whole
some moral lessons taught you in childhood.
Timothy. Pa, meant no harm--and hay'nt
forgot them lessons neither. But you know
times has changed since then. These are now
Jlnanss'rin days, as the boys say. Tis'nt hon
orabIe and fashionable now as it u.'d to be. for
young men to Spite their hands and burn their
faces, and camp their genuses by dirty work.
Mind, pa nnd--skeemn and management, and
head works the way for gentlemen % make 4.
Twin now. You Methodists are too strct-too
particular.
Father Financiering. you say, Tim. Call
you hnancletIng to fitch from the ignoran, and
unwary their hard earnings to beggar their wives
and helpless children by your adroltness and Gun.
n'ng at the card table, o. think, my son lust
think OF the wrelchedness and misery you have
created. Do not the speeres of wailing moth.
ers' hearI.broken wives and. shIlering, starving
tabes, haunt continually your nightly dreams
The curses of the Almighty are upon you--anC
even your fathers prayers cannot save YOU from
eternal ruin, unless you change your course Ii
The name oil honesty, morality and religion, nov
enlreat you reform, and lead in future a yr,uou,
and p'ous life. Wicked company has led yot
as'ray; and The love Of money must sink you
soul into perdlon.
Timothy. Pa, as ior ghosts, | amt nue.
aieard ov'um no how. But tis'nt possible, yo
think I'm so bad as that. Why never took an
thIn2 from the women, nor won il from um in al
my lille; and as TO the children, never had an
thlng TO do with um. | hav'nt seen one oy Ut
cryIn nor sufiern for bread.
Father The consequences, my son, spea
OF the consequences Of your course. Thong
you nave not seen the beggary and want YOU hay
induced, they nevertheless exist. You have M
followed the miserable victims Of your nlgbl
gaming to their homes. You have not seen IN
man OF sweat and toll, boated reellns and STAN
merng, encounter his wife and children, bereG O
all, by your skill in gaming, with which they ha,
anXIousIy expected to procure their scanty meal
You have not witnessed the anguish of soul tina
rent the bosoms Of fond and doating parents OF
the return of their pennyless son from his frs
adventure on the Mississippi Think of ,hes
things, my son do think Of them, and desis
from your wicked gaming. Remember not onl
your own good name must be lost, but you dis
honor your lather's msullisd name, For yo
Know you cannot gamble successfully wiihou
lying che2tIng and swndlmg.
Timothy Well, pa, if thought I'd eve
caused half this misery and sufFrn you talk abou
I'd never gamble agin. You know was alway
tender hearted. Why never could stand an
see even old Jower wag his tail and lick hi
chops, without gtvin him somehin. And when
was boy I've given many ninepsncc you CIV
me- to poor old uncle Toby, the blind begnar, ,
buy bread with. As for dshonorn you-why 7
just as soon think Of cuttin my luglars, for "
always thought my pa, was las the boys used I
say like Cesar's wife, ADORE suspicion.
Father These are correct christian eelinr
my son, and DO honor TO the parents who incu
Gated them You know taught you, as hi
grandmother did your lllus,rious namosake. IN
scriptures, from child. In them YOU hay
learned "'ha' II Is more blessed to give than
receWe"--!hat you should "clohe the naked
Iced the hungry, and do unto all men as 70
would have them do unto you" In fact, hav
taught you that honesty strict honesty, is tn
best policy in every thing
! Timothy All these things, pa, | now romeu
Der well--and I've thought about them many
ume wnen I've gone TO bed after high game Q
Ialr luck, And I've thought abou, mas arni
me no" to pray al her knees--and your preachir
and The old bble--and the hymn book YOU use
20 fead 10 me so often. And these thoughts mad
me very sorry. I've many a time like thi
come to determination I'd never throw ano,hs