Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1842-12-08
ooNsEeUENc rs OF GAMBLING.

( CONSEQUENCES OF GAMBLING.
The following tale Of a gambler is tcld
by the editor of the Philadelphia Eve
ming Courier:
| In the year 194-, number OF lndl-
viduaIs were arrested for keeping gam
| bling-house on Chestnut street. near In
dependence Hall. The counsel for the
prosecution was sitting in his office one
day, when-a young man of genteel exte-
rior and good address entered, and the
| following dialogue ensued:
Il have been summoned to appear to-
morrow as witness against - -,
for keeping a gamblng-house Unless
liz is absolutely necessary said he, as his
agitation increased, 4 wish, sir, you
would rot urge my Attendance
i don't know said the counsel, that
the conviction will depend upon your
testimony; but as you are an important
witness, it may be necessary to bring
you upon the stand
MY reasons for asking this favor are
urgent said he. 'and the consequence oil
a refusal may be fatal to my prosperity
and the happiness of Others He be-
came more asitated, and, at the request
! of the gentleman, he continued: In a
few days. am to be married to Mr..
IS daughter, residing on Chestnut
street. The preparations are made,
and the day is fixed. If am called up
on as a witness in this case, | shall crim-
mate myself, and be exposed to the eyes
of my friends ard the public gaze as a
gambler. My character will be lost. my
prospects in life blishted, and, of course,
my domestic happiness destroyed
/ 'You shall not be called, young man,
said the counsel, unless it is absolutely
necessarily and with this assurance,
they separated-not without some pain
full misgivings on the part of the Legal
gentleman that he was about to be &C.
cessary to q wrong, which might result
in the utter ruin of a confding yet I'm
suspecting girl. The trial came on, bu
conviction was obtained without sum
moning the young man; and he went OF
in his course of duplicity and crime I'm
exposed. In afew days, he was mar
ried!
Two yerrs passed, and a young but
heart-broken wife appears before the le
gal tribunal. seeking a divorce! Hel
counsel was startled, when the husband
came forward, at discovering, confron
ting the wife, the identical young maj
who had pleaded not to be exposed as /
gambler! The interview with the wit
ness instantly occurred to the counsel's
mind. 'Fhe painful incidents Of de
serted house, neglected wife. and TIT
cruelties which had followed his gam
bling habits, then came up in fearful ar
ray before the individual who saved hln
from bis merited exposure.
The trial proceeded. and gradua
succession of acts of injuctice, neglect
GOODNESS, alienation, domestic discord
and cruelties, on the part of the HUSBAND
against confding and atfectionate youn:
wife, were disclosed, which melted tn,
heart of the coolest spectator. His de
fence was feeble, and her cause tri
umphed. Happily she was Liberated
from the monster who had wounded he
heart, destroyed her peace, and deprived
her of that happiness which beamed up
on her ojoyously during the morning o
,, her bridal day.
His fate hardly need even briefly b
told. He soon lost the esteem of hi
friends, (if the gambler has friends ant
bis credit followed with his reputation
His fashionable and elegant establish
ment on Chestnut street was closed b,
the sheriff few weeks since; and mor
recently, he has been arrested for forge
: ry! What BRIEF but melanehol y de
tail Of the fruits reaped from the pur
suits of the gamester.
| -s-eeAe-..