New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1852-03-15

hour or so, with stranger to whom he was in
troduced f ~s
The person who yields one step to temptaaion,
is not safe. If he yields no more, it is because
the devil is grown careless Of his interests and
forgets to follow mp his advantages.
| Clarence did yield more. In half an hour
he was plunged deeply into the exciteiient of
play. Fortune seemed to favor him. Large
stakes we're played, and every time he swept
the board. His adversary grew desperate; both
we're -emphatically mad
! Suddenly the loser Of immense sums Clarence
| j. ID swept into pile on his side of the table.
sank back in his chair, and wiped the cold
sweat of agony from his brow. His face was
chastity white; his lips colorless.
:: The devil is playing for you" he said to
Clarence, with forced smile. ssYou have won
all--but," he added quickly, a faint ray Of hops
illumining the despair Of his features, sshereis
one more chance-and, perhaps" he muttered
through his closed teeth, 8. the devil viii come
over on my side! ~
He drew from his finger diamong ring
81 paid thirty dollars for this to-day" he
said. &c Examine it, and call it what you like -
/ With trembling fingers Clarence Ellery took
the ring. deathly palor oyerspread his fea-
lures. With cry of horror he started to his
feet and staggered into the arms Of his friend,
exclaiming-
'sGood God my dream my dream''
s'Be cal lm what is the matter'' asked Mr.
Abbott, leading him aside.
g This ring my dream!'' murmured Clar-
ence, hoarsely, SO the hand of God is in it."
! g But compose yourself" said his friend,
Sc remember you are in the midst of strangers
81 WILL" replied Clarence.
And returning to the table, he addressed his
astonished adversary in low, earnest tone:
| 81 wish to know where and how you obtained
this ring
The stranger replied that he had bought it
| that day from a ieweler, whose address he gave
to Clarence.
And this is all you know about it :" asked
the latter, earnestly.
Gall"
i "My friend,' then said Clarence, 81 have
played with you my last game of hazard. But
have not played with you to win your money.
Here,' sweeping his winnings across the table,
! stake all this back again. 1t is yours, and l
would not touch dollar of it for the world.
All ask is that you will sell me this ring. which
/ must possess
! &c Sir replied the astounded player, taking
Clarence Ellery's hand, s. beg that you will do
me the favor to accept it, as token of my re-
F., gard. can afford to give it away, for / have
t been taught lesson which l shall never forget
This is the last of my gaming"
The late antagonists shook hands, and Clar-
ence, hastily leaving the establishment with his
: friend, related to him, as they passed down the
street together, how, twice in the same night he
t had dreamed that, while his family was starv-
; ing, he played high stakes at the gaming table,
and won that same jewel-his otcn betrothaL
i ring!
: Abbott thought him insane, until examining
the ring at their hotel, he read to his astonish-
. ment the lettering on the inner surface
n Sc Clarence to Clarissa.n'
W.-THE MISSION OF THE RING
The poor woman, who occupied with her two
children, the garret in Mr.. SiIling's house, had
: just sufficient money remaining, after sacrificing
q her betrothal ring, and settling with the said
IL Mr.. Silling, to enable her to move to another
y y house in the same street, and pay month 8
rent in advance. E 5&5
She had been nearly week in her new lodg-
Il ings, working hard to earn bread for her chill
. dren. when, happening one day to look over the
: columns of newspaper, in which she had
brought home some sewing, her eyes fell upon an
e advertisement, that filled her with surprise. To
= be brief, the lady who, at a time designated
J. disposed of a diamond ring at shop named in
l. the advertisement, was notified that it would be
greatly to her advantage to send the jeweler her
10 address F5
O. Wondering what could be the meaning of all
-. this, but supposng the jeweler might have con-
in clueled to pay her something more for the ring
y she lost no time in complying with his request
o' The jeweler was very polite to her, but he die
~ no more than to note down her address, promis
/. ing that she should hear more about the matte
=. soon Somewhat disappointed, she returne
lN, home to her children, to make up for the tim
n .nei she had lost by increased exertions.
'a' In less than an hour, however, a servan
M came to her chamber to announce that a gentle
ii" man below wished to see her: and that, as h
appeared to have private business ofimportance
I'll the lady of the house had kindly shown hin
- into her parlor.
CT Leaving her boy to take care of his little sis
I' ~, ter, the young woman. strongly impressed tina
he some great change in her fortune was abou
fot r1n 1aI in arit. I
meet her visitor.
eS She entered the parlor The domestic, VIII
IT, closed the door after her. heard faint cry
surprise, followed by multitude of sobs, and
~ few snatches of wild, half-audible, incoheren
Ia Ia expressions.
Ms The young woman, according to the curiou
III. domestic's calculation, shut up with he
n' visitor half an hour at the end of which tim
III she came out Of the parlor, SO changed one woul
hardly have known her. Her eyes were wei
u but heavenly joy illumined her pale, beautfr
y features She went to her chamber, and REAP
ha peared in few minutes with both her children
whom she led into the parlor, as if to show thel
'n' to the stranger.
ny To the puzzled domestic, this was all my
IL terry. 1t is not so, however, with the reade
-"' Has he not discovered the secret Does he u,
know that the poor Clarissa has found he
N Ciarence-that the reformed husband, the a
~ fectionate generous father is again united wit
his family;
MS 1t was not until the Ellerys. were settled in
u new and happy home, surrounded by comforts
II n forgetting the sorrows and misfortunes of tt
H. past, in the joys and blessings of the present
'or that Clarence once more placed upon Clarissa
- finger the beloved betrothal ring. Her happ
'"s ness in kissing the priceless gem again, was
led port With II whom ruthless Secess;tv tora II fro
Va "a her possession.
III, And thus was the mission of that talisma
'e' fulfilled. All, would that such happiness al
-. virtue might shine at last over every pathwa
81, that sorrow and sin have clouded-would tn
~. such love, and joy, and peace, with fewer tria
IL. lis might always crown the hearts of hands tn
III; give and hands that receive such pledges as th
Nv, sns simple betrothal ring