New-York tribune., 1842-02-16
From the Utica Magazine and Advocate.
c ARD PLAYIN G..
a SKETCH FOR TRUTH.
Early in LIES young days
Let each nnsued youth,
Scel; VISIONS peaceful ways
And walk the Dafh nj 1rufh
There streams OF purcst pleasure flow
Tncre nnnOrs bloom. and virtues rrnW

"A
There streams OF purcst pleasure flow;
There hoDors bloom, and virtues grow
NIGHT had thrown It's sable pail over, and dark
ness rciencd throughout the beautiful village of
" Not even the faint glimmcring Of one
lone star was allowed to linger on the scene, and
the rain pattcring down heavily upon the stone
paved walks served to render the night one fraugtt
with melancholy gloom. The midnight hour
was there, and from one and only halt-cUr-
taind window a pale light sent out its flckcring
benlnS But WHY this why were not the
inmates of thar abode, like ,ho.c of others, sunk
III the sweet sluynbcrs of rest? Were some of its
unhappy tenants suffering under the raging iniln-
once al dscaSe-lhc father mother, who ior
MANY successive vcars have toilcd for the welfare OF
those dependant upon them for Supporl-was the
spirit of either. enquire, about TO leave Its
earthly tenement, and wing its flight 10 world I'M
known? Ordid ,hcrc;l brother or sister anguish,
while aficcticnarc friends KEEP, night, yvieis around
the bed Of pain! In answer to these inquiries. /
have only 10 say that disease there. and " near
unto death too; but it was not the pllysica! con-
sriln'ion=nPon which il was proving
-Four Young men we're there seated around Il ia
bic, above which was suspended Il lamp, whose
sicklv light bound ,hcm "a with spcl-rhcir
eyes, weary with continual watching, were fa>cn-
ed upon each other with jcalons and Suspcctng
looks; for oh! they engaged PLAYING, and that,
too. with gaming cards No conversations passes
between them, and not sound was heard save.
and anon n halt uttered oath OF the loser, fol-
lowed By the i'll suppressed Civilizations of his more
fortunate companion. \ each game was finished.
another forthwith commenced with full detcrmi-
nation that it should be the last; until nj length.
one Of them stopped and leaning his head forward
rested it upon his hands.
Without, the night-s,orm ragged with increased
violence; but within i mere dreadful tempest,
rolling It's biac!cned wave DER the $ic>cncd soul
the cards were held bu, lightly within his hands,
and with a kind of Indifference. he seemed To hcSi-
tate. Come, sad one of them, deal out, why
do you keep us waiting. AS this question was
asked HIM lie pressed his hand Cor a moment upon
his=ievcriSll brow, where might be traced indica-
mons OF qualities, cnpacita,ing him for u
bic sphere than that Of n gamcStcr; and then
throwing the cards npon the table, he arnseand adj
dressed his companions. Calm, solomnv and stately
he stood before them with the sincerity and rcSo-
luton OF his soul pictured upon his ica,nreS-inS
VOICE, which WAS at first tremulnuS, became
strengthened, The consciousness o the proprctv
Of his course became impressed upon his mind.
. No said Ia. long already have we ,hus
PLAYED, aud for one. am nor determined To sever
the fascinating cham that has bound me. Night
after night has passed like this, and now let us
linus squandcrcd afford us pleasure satisfaction
Have we been benefited either in body OF mind
Let our sunkcn eyes ;,ad throhbng temples answer
Tor the former, and and wandering
thoughts for the latter Arc aucht more cN-
allied IN estimation II 50, why do we
feel abashod and stricken beneath the searching
glance OF virtunu> responsibility Do we honor
~ respect caclo,llerl No! we too well know the
di>honc+, means which attend our course 10 honor
orrcspect those who employ tl.r;:, On the con
trarv, how much might we have .ilncd--what u
valuable fund OF knowledge might VIC have ac-
auiye1 had we nightly cmploycd the time thus
wasted MORSE than wasted IN this. As | long have
Thought whallowed and dcteS,ablc course Nor
Is this all; bn, the practice is one which opens 4
door TO every species OF vice, and are certain
;ha; we shall not enter! Wcar not; and hence,
let MS this night resolve that we will ncrer again
touch those detcsiablc things; for it is by proceed
ing IN this manner. and by this alone that we can
'vo!d those NccesSarv--yeS, | cpcatit-AeceSsory
evils which follow. and shun disgrace ruin and dcs
par
When he had done speaking, two OF the Young
men ur'Se' expressed their appropriations OF his Ian
siiHSe and avowcd their willingness 10 adopt his
resolution. The ioarth kept back-though he saw
truth IN what hlS companion had sud- vet he
wslled not 10 deny himself the privilege OF ss!nc-
tltacS c!lSaS tllise amusement, he
pleased call it; and again, there was something
otoo solemn nature in the vow which his com.
panioas had made in presence of the A-sccins
Eye, for hin, TO join them with im-uni,y.
Years have passed since that night in which those
three Young men sirded an armor to pro,ec,
them from the many temptations and a!lurrmcn,s
ever offered a, Il gaming e.Tncy are nov re-
spec:uble men, holding public Office. and possess
ing the confidence and esteem of the community
in.wlch they reside. But where Is the fourth
Look within the gloomy walls of the State 5 Prison
of Ohio and see tina, cn,aciatcd form and haggard
face, which bcspeak the workings of n mind re-
>embling the troubled sea when it cannot rest,
whose waters Gus, up mirc and dirt I" Ask the
wretch what broish him there. and he will point
you to the gaming stand. twas there, he will
.s,S, that took the AIRS, step in my career OF
vice--it was there frs, learned 10 practice the
arts OF deceit. and it was there too, that three OF
nv companiouS who had become convinced of the
inevitable consequences which would result from,
such a Practice, besought me TO leave il as they
had resolved 10 DO; but their entrcateS una
yailing-I trusted in my own strength TO avert