The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-08-07
For the National Era.
SCENE IN A GAMBLERS LIFE.


attention. The wife wore that peculiar melan-
choly expression Of cOuntenance that tells of a
hfe-consuming heart sorrow which lies too deem
TO be alleyiated by sympathy. Her features were
sharpened by suffering, and her face, which might
once have been fair, had lost its round propor-
nons, and the thin cheek and sunken, mournful
eye, revealed tale Of unspoken grief A young
babe slept quietly in her arms She looked Low.
ingy upon it and well she might, for IL was very
Ov~-tsEh One little dimpled hand rested unon
the soft cheek aud the half-paTted rs and
shut eyelids showed how gently it slumbered
Now and then little girl, sitting close beside her
on low stool, peeped under the light shawl that
half covered the ohilds face, looked smilingly up
to her mother, and again nestled closer to her
side, TILL as the evening advanced, WEAKNESS made
her own lids droop, aud she nodded herself into
as sound sleep as the little dreamer in her moth
ers lap. The father sat nearly opposite the
group, upon an old chest that contained their all
lie looked haggard, pale aud 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 as though he had
something upon his lips to say, yet dared not
inter. At length, in quick, harsh tone, in which
there was more Of desperation than unkindness
he said
Mary, the captain says he shall put us
ashore! ~
;'-1l::~7at'7 % was her astouisheos, roS4ering
reply
"a "1'ye no money, A1ssE AhsrJ brought vnu
oROoard, went bacRto ti-'s 10 tfJmslucx
once more, and the sooundrels won every dollar.
The knaves ! they've cheated me If | could only
have had time to try my luck again, I'D soon have
shown them could win as roundly as theyD
In giving vent to his excitement, he forgot, for
the moment, the consequences which his gratifed
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 tidings Of her
new misfortune with suppressed groan, but
now her emotion was only visible in the silent
tears that fell thick and fast while she enoiroed
her unconscious children more closely In her
arms She remembered the many days and nights
Of weary toll she had endured to gather portion
Of the little sum that was TO convey them away
from the scenes Of her suffering, and with which
they were to secure an humble home farther west
But now all was gone The bright anticipations
Of home Of their own, in some quiet spot had
long been her strength, and many an hour Of sor-
row had been lightened with the thought that one
day they should till their own land, that she
should see the bright grain waving and the
prairie flowers sprnging luxuriantly around their
dwelling; and her heart beat with joy as, in i'm.
agination she saw her children bounding upon
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 earn
ings TO the gaming tables with such magnetic
witchery, despite all his resolutions and promises
But poor Mary's imagination had travelled too
fast, and her happy dreams were all crushed now
No xsn~a ef -~~-~~-A4.-~ -A-.''-~ ~sss.sas
shelter. Her accomplishing sorrow touched the
heart Of the gambler, and again he threw himself
Anwu fha MI oh nat and haN % faao
in his hands, awaited the summons he moment
ariy expected from the captain
There they sat till midnight approached
Quiet had taken the place Of the noisy confusion
of the evening, as one after another dropped away
in slumber. The heavy rumbling sound Of the
machinery fell painfully upon the nervous ear Of
the gambler, as he listened 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 cap
tain, accompanied by a man bearing lantern,
appeared, and ordered the unwelcome passengers
forward They arose, and without word Obeyed
the summons.
The boat was already lowered, and two men at
the cars awaited orders Mary prepared to de-
soend, and placing the babe in her young
daughters arms, with a word Of caution 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 10 the boats edge She reached forward TO
secure them, but Anna tottered and in a moment
was plunged into the rolling waters. A shrill
Shrek rent the air and rang through the boat
with such wild agony as awoke every sleeper.
"My child! My Annan cried the frantic
mother she gszed vainly In the dark waters that
had closed over her loved ones
Save than save them aha aiill ahriaked
while she struggled to throw herself after them
though firmly held by one Of the oarsmen. The
other plunged into the river, while half dozen
lights flung broad CLEAN upon the water and
enabled him TO discern any object that appeared
The father peered into the distance with a keen,
quick gaze, and then gave loud shout, as dark
mass rose TO the surface With few expert
strokes the swimmer reached Anna, as she was
sinking beneath the waves again. and with q
strong hold he grasped and bore her safely to the
arms Of the distracted mother who folded the
dripping, exhausted child TO her bosom. Still she
shrieked-
any child my babe is gone oh, save him
tool" And with wild gestures she entreated
them TO find It.
"What does she mean 2 y asked the astonished
oarsman.
Gamma had the babe in her arms when lifted
her down to you" replied the excited and be-
wildered father.
Without another word, the generous boatman
plunged into the water again. and glided here
and there In search Of the lost In vain the lights
flashed hither and thither, throwing long streak
Of brightness TO the shore Nothing was visible,
and hope sank in the hearts Of the lookers-On who
had gathered upon deck, and even the harsh cap
tain pitied the mother, as he heard her agonized
sobs when the search was abandoned, and the
boatman returned chilled and wearied, from his
fruitless efforts No one spoke, and many eyes
still an xiously watched the rufIled waters. Amid
the silence save the half-stihed grief Of the be-
reaved mother the boat glided slowly away, the
oars dipping lightly into the waters that had en-
bosomed the sleeping babe. On and on they
softly moved I'LL the boat-lights glimmered In the
distance and they could see the wavy lines Of the
shore, and the dark, dresry wood that bordered IT,
Close upon the shore stood few hamlets and
here, In the midnight darkness, they left the
moneyless gambler, his stricken wife, and the
half.drowned Anna. Poor Mary sat moaning
upon the river bank, clasping her only remain
log child, and straining her gaze afar upon the
water In search Of the lost one. The conscience
stricken father FASTENED 10 the nearest cottage
for relief, while the skf pushed from the shore,
and returned 10 the steamboat, which In little
time was noisily pushing and putting along the
river, and leaving far behind the broken group
that had been despciied Of their treasure.
Quiet was again restored among the passen-
gers and each returned TO his dreams, or his wax.
Ing thoughts Of the unhappy midnight scene
some 10 sympathize-some 10 censure-all soon
10 forget, In the busy whir OF life the sad lesson
that however man may err, woman Is the greatest
sufferer thereby, and few, II any, 10 profit by the
warning Of the gamblers misfortunes.
AubuvH, Mem York
FREE LABoR AT THE SoUrK.-A Convention Of
Free Mechanics Is TO be held at AtalAnta, Georgia