The northern tribune. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1847-1855, 1847-12-14
The Gamester's Wife

mean the having wife too good for him
which must be the case with all gamesters
whose wives are good for anything-but the
agreeable surprise which she had prepared for
him against his downfalD is related by Gold
smith, in his life of Beau Nash 1t looks,
say Mr.. Leigh Hunt, like a page out of one of
Fieldngs novels We have only to imagine
Booth grown less civil, and Amelia remaining
what she was and the incident would have
perfectly suited her At Tunbridge, in the
year Ills, Mr.. j. Hedges made a very brilliant
appearance; he had been married about two
years to young lady of great beauty and
| large fortune; they had one child, boy, on
WI ON they bestowed all that affection which
they could spare from each other. He knew
nothing of gaining, nor seemed to have the
least passion for play, but he was unacquaint.
ed with his own heart: he began by degrees
to bet at the table for trhing sums, and his
soul took fire at the prospect of immediate
gain he was soon surrounded with sharpers,
who with camness lay in ambush for his
fortune, and cody took advantage of the
precipitancy of his passions
His lady perceived the ruin of her family
but first, without being able to form any
scheme to prevent it. She advised with his
brother, who at that time was possessed of a
small fellowship at Cambridge. 1t was easily
| seen that whatever passion took the lead in
her husbands mind, seemed to be there fixed
unalterably /; it was determined therefore, to
let him pursue fortune, but previously take
measure to prevent the pursuit being fatal.
Accordingly, every night this gentleman
was constant attendant at the hazard tables;
he understood neither the arts of sharpers, nor
even the allowed strokes of connoisseur,
still he played. The consequence is obvious;
he lost his estate, his equipage, his wife's
Jewels, and every other movable that could
be parted WITH except repeating watch
His agony, upon this occasion, was inexpres-
sible he was even mean enough to ask
gentleman who sat near to lend few pieces,
in order 10 turn his fortune, but this pruden:
gamester, who plainly saw there were no ex-
pectations of being repaid, refused to lend
farthing, alleging former resolution against
lending. Hedges was at last furious with the
continuance of ill.suecess, ana pulling out
his watch, asked if any person in the company
would set him sixty guineas upon it. The
company were silent: he then demanded fifty;
still no answer: he sunk to forty, thirty,
twenty finding the company still without
answering he cried out, " BY heaven, it shall
never 90 for less =" and dashed it against the
floor at the same time attempting to dash
out his brains against the marble chimney
piece,
This last act of desperation Immediately ex-
cited the attention of the whole company
they instantly gathered round, and prevented
the effects of his passion and after he again
became cool, he was permitted to return home,
with sullen discomfort to his wife. Upon his
entering her apartment, she received him with
her usual tenderness and satisfaction; while
he answered her caresses with contempt and
severity, his disposition being quite altered
with his msfortunes. "But my dear Jenny"
says his wife, perhaps you don't know the
news have to tell; my mammals old uncle
is dead, the messenger is now in the house,
and you know his estate is settled upon YOU"
This account seemed to increase his agony,
and looking angrily at her, he cried, There
you are in wrong, my dear: his estate is not
settled upon me-" 81 beg your pardon, says
she, I really thought it was, at least you
always told me So" "No,' returned he,
:" as sure as you and are to be miserable
here, and our children beggars hereafter,