American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1846-04-14

resolved to do this; though when | saw how
| kindly you met me, and remembering your ma
tural goodness of heart was constrained to
confess all TO you. But the dread of acknow-
Lodging to you my guilt, caused me to resort to
miserable falsehood. Sir have mercy on me.
| am sincerely penitent, and if you will spare
me from public exposure, for my fathers and
mothers sake, am ready to bear any punish
ment you may see fit to inhict upon me-"
Thus ending this humilating confession, the
young man again threw himself at the foot of
his employer, and burying his burning face in
his hands, awaited his decision MIR. Hawley
remained a few moments gazing down upon
him in looks in which there were more grief
than anger. He had discovered with pain that
the young man in whom he had placed so
much confidence, and whom he was.about to
elevate to high degree of responsibility, was
unworthy.
"This is a great crime, Proctor, which you
have been guilty Of 1t will send you TO the
States Prison"
'Iknow it, sr-I deserve it--5ut for my
mothers sake!n
"Ifyou did not think of her when you COM
mitted this crime, why do you wish or expect
me to regard her feolings;"
"True sir, true. | have been too guilty to
deserve any clemency at your hands. But if
! am sent to prison, let my father and mother
answer themselves. Let them bear equally
with me, the guilt and degradation" he said,
! with warmth, and in the accents Of bitter re-
| proach."
"Why do you speak thus of your parents'
/ Have you lost all filial respect and love, de-
manded Mr.. Hawey with surprise and dis
| pleasure.
"No, no, but my parents are to blame for
all this guilt have incurred. They taught
me to play cards when a child; and by the en-
ticing wtchery of the play have been led step
step TO gambling, until all has resulted in my
ruin. Do you not see that my parents are tie
! blame?"
81 do" answered Mr.. Hawley; and he re-
membered what his son had little while be-
! fore told him. 81 am surprised that parents
should place cards in their childrens hands.
They had better fed you Oh poisoned bread"
"Iou see now, sir, why | have reflected
upon them From that time became fond of
my little cards, and was taught by my mother
and father the more advantageous points of the
game; and as showed great aptitude, they
were proud Of my skill and readiness, As
grew up became q whist player. Other
games naturally learned, and gay company
after came to this city, opened the way to
gaming. The result is, that am now arraign-
dollars to pay debts to gamblers, lest | should
be exposed to the world. Therefore, sir, did
! | say, let my parents bear equally with me the
guilt and degradation"
81 am sorry for you, Proctor; | pity you
} though blame you, and do not exculpate you
from the full weight of your guilt. Your pa
rents were guilty, and it is in you, they should
see the fruits of their folly and sin. / shall
let the law take its course. Ii you had not re-
sorted to falsehood, but openly and candidly
come to me, without waiting to be sent for,
and acknowledged your guilt, with the miti
eating circumstances you have just stated, |
should have had confidence in your relorma-
ton. The gambler is farther from restoration
even than the drunkard, because what he does
is in the light Of sobrety and reason. | do not
arrest you because of the loss of the money
That am willing to lose for the early knowl-
edge have discovered of your depravity. lg-
norant of what now know, might have lost
me thousands had taken you in partnership.
| shall lock you in this room while go for an
officer,'
The young man made no answer. lie stood
silent and gloomy, as overwhelmed with hor-
ror. The closing door aroused him.
"Thcn ! am to be sent to prison The crisis
has arrived, and I am fclon. BE it so! Here
are pen aud paper" He sat down to write
"To my Father and Mother: | write to you
under arrest for embezzling from Mr.. Hawley,
five hundred dollars! "For what?" you will
ask. | answer to pay gambling debts. Yes, |
} am a gambler! | have been gambler for
!, three years. You first taught me by your eX-
ample to love cards. You first bought me a
miniature pack for myself and brother that we
might not annoy you while you were at whist
r You taught me the game. You praised my
} skill. | learned other games when grew old
err, and sought to excel in these also. | came
to the city skilful home taught card player.
. soon learned to play here for money; the re-
| suit is, have stolen money from my employer,
t and prison and degradation are before me-
; What renders this still more aggravating, is
the knowledge of the fact, that Mr. Hawley
G was about to take me into the firm. Now all
my hopes in life are dashed to the earth
. Your charges with being the author of my fall.
5 | have resolved not to live to witness my own
4 infamy. God forgive you, it IS moro than
: can do! "Your degraded son,
= FREDERICK PRoCROR.'
That night the embeZzler was conveyed to
G prison. The next morning when the keeper
S entered his cell he found him hanging by the
neck-.-Dead! He had strangled himself
: with his pocket handkerchief The feelings OF
c his parents when they received his letter, ac-
@ companied in the same mail with the intell-
= gence of his suicide, I'VE leave to the Imagination
d of our readers, to whom we submit the whole
= subject for serious cosderation, for we fear
# there arc to be found both father and mother
t equally guilty with the parents of Frederick
If Proctor. We have only endeavored to show the
evils of Card playing, under the guise of'Whist,
g being taught under the paternalr roof of the ju-
i venile members of the family,
S RULES TO BE OBSERVED BY VISITORS IN AN
!, EDIroR's OFFICE. Enter softly. Sit down
= urinklu Dnn,t tnnch the nnknr- Saw nothing