The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1852-01-29

under tone.
Pa, what is that pretty present yo,
just said you brought for me :" asked
lovely child of eleven, as she leaned agains
him with one arm resting upon his shoulde
and her sweet face looking upward int
his.
" 1t was,a pack of geographical cards
Ellen"
Oh, those will be delightful ~
l should have liked them better il
they had been a pack like George Paync's, y
said young Master Henry Hawley, a lad
Of fourteen
I" And what kind has George Payne %
asked his father, smiling.
" They are complete playing cards
father, with Jack and King and Queen and
all, only they are tinty bits o. things, not
bigger than the visiting cards ladies leave
here when mother isn't at home. They
are so pretty too ! and George says his
mother has taught him to play whist, and
his father taught him high -low-Jack Oh,
L wish | had such pack"
" l am very much grieved to hear you
say SO" said Mr.. Hawley gravely. "Mr.
and Mrs. Payne, who | believe play whist
themselves, should have been more
thoughtful Of the future happiness and
habits of their children than to initiate
them thus into the most dangerous amuse-
ment than can possibly be devised either
for the old or young. I hope you have
not been taught to play with those mina-
ture C .rds, George;' -
I" No, sir; | have only seen them"
" [ trust that is all you will ever know
OF them, or Of any other cards. The in
ventor OF such playing cards for children
can be looked upon only in the light Of
those Eastern sorceresses who give noxious
drinks to the children Of those they hate,
to destroy their growth, distort their limbs,
and make of them, when they have arrived
at maturity, monsters in form and visace.
These infant card inventors as they poison
the mind, are as much worse in proportion
as the mind is of more worth than the body.
There is the bell. 1t must be Frederick"
Mr.. Proctor, sir"
"Show him to my private room," said
he merchlnt, taking up trunk and pass
ng out of the drawing room by a door at |
he farther extremity and entering small
'ut tastefully furnished library At the
anne moment, by door leading fiom the
all, the servant ushered in the young
nan.
"Well, Frederick, I am glad to see you,"
aid Mr.. Hawly, extending his hand with
II air Of pleasure at seeing him returned
8 l have been very we'll, thank you,
frederick. l am something fa,iyu d, how
yer, after so long a journey. Everything
as gone well, l believe :" ;
Yes, sir, answered the young man,
! slightly faltering tone. Mr.. Hawley {
oticed it, and looked at him with a quick !
lquiring glance. {
* L have sent to you for the key Of MY
rivate desk. Did you bring it with you -
g Yes, sir, here it is" he responded, c
king it from his pocket and handing it L
} him. G2 f
"Sit down, Frederick 1 wish you to S
lss the evening with the family in the t
arlor. | wish to deposit first some
oney il the desk that | have brought :
lth me, and then we will 60 in and have fl
,me music"
Frederick Proctor made no answer Il
1T with a colorless cheek and restless
amer he began to walk up and down the
'om just as he had been doing in his own
lamber. His mind was tortured between h
'nfession and falsehood. He knew that Il
was on the eve of ruin. Falschood Il
ight save him-contession he believed b
ould. The latter was humiiating to y
m-the former would degrade him in his W
vn estimation as low as he would fall in tt
r. Hawley's by the acknowledgment of y
S guilt. lie was yet undecided what ii
urse to take. The merchant had placed it
c key in the lock and tur led it. lie 81
'ened the leaf of the glass door to the ii
cretary and then laid his hand upon the o
lob of the side drawer to open it. q
At this moment Proctor paused and 81