Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1851-12-30
) SCENE IN A GAMBLERS LIFE.

Upon one Of the crowded boats that continu-
ally ply up and down the Mississippi, was a
family group whose detected appearance attrae-
ted general attention. The wife wore that pe-
culiar melancholy expression of couutenance
that tells OF a ife-consuming heart-sorrow,
which lies too deep to be alleviated by sympa-
thy Her features were sharpened by suffering,
and her face, which might once have been fair,
had lost its round proportions, and the thin
cheek and sunken mournful eye, revealed tale
OF unspoken grief. A young babe slept quiet
| ly in her arms. She looked lovingly upon it
and well she might, for it was very beautiful.
One little dimplcd hand rested upon the soft
cheek, and alfparted lips and closely shut eyes
lids told how gently it slumbered.
Now and then little GIRL sitting close be-
side her on q low stool, peeped under the light
shawl that half covered the child's face looked
smngly up to her mother, and again nestled
closer to her side, till as the evening advanced,
WEAKNESS made her own lips droop, and she
nodded herself into as sound sleep as the lit
tie dreamer in her mothers lap. The father
sat nearly opposite the group, upon an old chest
that contained their all. He looked haggard,
pale and distressed He had long time sat
with his head bowed upon his hand, in abstract,
moody silence, now and then looking towards
his young wife rs though he had something up
on his lips to say, yet dared not utter. At
length, in q quick, harsh tone, in which there
was more Of desperation than unkindness, he
said:
MARY, the captain says he shall put us a.
shore %
What for?" was her astonshed, wondering
reply.
IL have no money, Mary. After brought
you on board, / went back to G-'s to try
my luck once more, and the scoundrels won ev-
cry dollar. The knaves. they've cheated me !
If Icould only had time TO try my luck again,
I'd soon have shown them could win as round
ly as they"
In giving vent to his excitement, he forgot,
for the moment, the consequences which his
gratified passion had already brought upon his
helpless family, and, angrily starting up, paced
the narrow space about them with flushed and
scowling face.
Poor Mary had received the tdings of her
new misfortune with Il suppressed groan, but
now her emotion was visible in the silent tears
that fell thick and fast, while she encircled her
unconscious children more closely in her arms.
She remembered the many days and nights of
weary toll she had endured to gather a portion
of the little sum that was to convey them from
were to secure an humble home farther west.
But now all was gone. The bright anticipa-
tons of homo Of their own in some quiet
spot, had long been her strength, and many an
hour of sorrow had been lightened with the
thought that one day they should till their own
land, that she should see the bright grain wav-
ing and the prairie flowers springing luxuriant-
ly around their dwelling; and her heart beat
with JOY as, in imagination, she saw her chill
dren bounding upon the green sward, and
breathing the fresh, pure air, that had thus far
been denied them; and, above all, she would
see her husband freed from the influences that
drew him and his hard earnings to the gaming
tables with such magnetic witchery, despite all
his resolutions and promises. But poor Ma
ry's Imagination had travelled too fast, and her
happy dreams were all crushed now. No word
of reproach escaped her lips, though she shud-
dered as she listened to the night wind, and
thought how soon they would be without shell
ter. Her uncomplaining sorrow touched the
heart Of the gambler, and again he threw him
self down upon the old chest, and burying his
face in his hands, anxiously awaited the sum-
mons he momentarily expected from the cap
tain.
There they sat till midnight approached
Quiet had taken the place of the noisy confu-
sion Of the evening, as one after another drop
ped away in sumber. The heavy, rumbling
sound Of the machinery fell painfully upon the
nervous ear of the gambler, as he listened to
the approach Of every football, till suddenly the
sound ceased, and only the rushing waters and
the dismal whistling Of the wind broke the
stiffness. Presently the captain with man
bearing lantern, appeared, and ordered the un-
welcome passengers forward They arose, and
without word, obeyed the summons.
The boat was already lowered, and two men
at the oars awaited orders. Mary prepared to
descend, and placing the babe in the young
daughters arms, with a word Of caution she
turned from them, and in a moment more was
safely seated in the boat. BY the dim light of
the lamp she watched the coming Of Anna, with
her precious burden and with anxious fear saw
them lifted to the boats edge. She reached for
ward to secure them, but Anna tottered, and
in moment was plunged into the rolling wat
ers.
A shrill shrek rent the air and rang through
the boat with such wild agony, as awoke every
sleeper.
"My child my Annaw cried the frantic mo-
ther, as she gazed vainly on the dark water that
had closed over her loved ones.
"Save them! save them " she still shrieked,
while she struggled to throw herself after them,
though firmly held by one of the oarsmen.-
The other plunged into the river, while half a