The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1849-01-06
The Charm of C Gambling.

w ,. H. MhtlNs
i have sfiaa heard persons speak Of their
first game nj cnrds-how they were led from
A,ni TO Il second, aud tlIlrd, mud 80 on, from
gnn,e To game, TN the Nlco of gambling lie,
came Il conhSnicd habit, aud almost nn cs-
srnlal passion Of their existence.
Truly, their il fascination mud n charm ia
gaming which noue bHl dovoices ofih0 cards
nny uubly appreciate. runt which but few,
with tongue or pen, Cnin adequately portray,
Experienced rs nm, aud lmto been ~ all
the ramiiiculions Of gamhling il mny be
rightly S,lrrred TINT uln able TO speak adj
pIEa,itt concerning lis soul destroying ullu-
rtrru on rTrut1kttrt At-s, lrHrt. st't.+t-tlte
father and soii--nny, whole ianlies--Swept
to ruin aud tByror Ivy thr demon virr, III
whose deadly trnsp they had uhInppily ial-
leu, mcu of fine talents and virtues, even
moral aud uprglI individuals, III NIL other
I,raiassnrs also TIIn surry to affirm
of the religiorn of Jesus. have gone down to
inflnly and destruction through the cnticc.
mcnis and destinations of the cnr,l table.
Mcihiuks Icould whisper into tie ear OF
those whu play cards solely for utnusetnertis
sake, tales of woe aud terror that would
make The hlond run cold mud the hear, beat
in widest pulsutiun, from their"more recital
How much worse would the scene have beon
aid the heart strings torn, 10y the witnessing
invctUrnlc gambler --7-----. -
care not neither n mHi. plays for pleas
urc or luT-pruft, FROM the very FIRST game tire
is ant Ia become cuvelOpcd in the folds of n
master hN dra; aud when 30 cnslnrcd, III vain
viii be tbs Topping of Of any of It's lhideous
hunds Tint serve ta s,laTe the l'arloss vlrliin.
y % the viro should md uIIBt TIC crushed III
ts inception. or there cnii bo no salvation
from denlh mud dnuuatrun hereafter. Fenr-
A.. .nI Aluf a1l might
realize the truth OF the evil effects Arising
from care, playing, in Whatever aspect pre-
scnIed Ms n source of pnsiIne merely, or
when pursued for elnoumeni. Fathers
good Worthy citizens, wo,iid he spared it's
rrnce and crime, aud widows aud children
might l,o spared from poverty mud woe and
the Seedlings of n heur'less world.
knew II happy mud worthy inmily, whose
Subsequent MISERY aud sorrow arose rom The
social nrd.!ahIc, source 81 entertainment
mad amusement for themselves aud friends.
Tins Guliiy consisted Of, beside the .areninl
twain, tiiFro soiis and n dnughler,ali u1 whom
give promise Of life of usefulness and fipn~
or -tlic-insidions vice Of gnDipg crepi INTO
1.-THE beloved family circle, aud brought sorrow
and desnlulion in,its wake.
l Tie daughter bad reached her thirteenth
ycathn,I gave Developments OF benuteous
yunIanly maturity nnon, Wien sue was selz-
ed with consumption, which pa'hiul disease
coon lcit It's whitening power an her fragile
frame. Though rapidly sinking INTO tho
grave. she for some .ine retained her seat at
,hc card table; ut length, however, her n'nln-
div incrensing. she retired from the iascina,-
in, n,nuse,nent, aud sought preparation for
drntl,lond Immortality. Sho nov. requested
lha, cards might not no longer ho the Hasi ;
nm, ohio evening beneath tlSoir rnQl aud
I,.r Gather laving hnr ienieflY. readily com.
nlIsdw her request, aud the card-inble