Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1857-08-15

nc turHcu uc IueL stranger, VINO nau
seemed to come for the same purpose.
"Good evening"" said the stranger in q
pleasant tone, as he poured out a tumblcr
Of water from the pitcher and drank it.
Ambrose returned the salutaton.
| came here to take few moments
recreation at cards." said the stranger,
"but find no friends here
"Thcn suppose we take hand or two,
just to pass away the time until some others
come"
"With pleasure"
And accordingly the two sat down and
were soon on tho most friendly terms The
cards were dealt, for awhile the playing
was on q small scale, and the luck was
about even. By and by Ambrose began
to win, and he went on until he had won
hundred dollars. He would have felt
ashamed somewhat had not his antagonist
maintained such good humor, he smiled SO
/ kindly when he lost.
But anon the luck changed Ambrose
lost all he had won, and soon lost over
hundred dollars beside. lie had lust a
hundred doll rs more in his port monnaie,
and took it out. A new hand was dealt,
he cut his cards carefully, and held up four
Jacks. 1t was the best hand by far that
had been out during the game, it being the
first four Of kind he had seen during the
evening. He bet ten dollars. His anita
gonist covered and went ten higher.
d" [ have an excellent hand" said the
stranger, with light laugh. have held
better ones but this is good. I shall bet
high on it,"
Ambrose did not speak. He was excited
He was afraid his antagonist would mis-
trust how good his hand was and stop
betting. But the betting went on until
Ambrose had his fraction on the table.
"Shall 1 60 higherl" inquired the stran
ger.
"As you please"
Then l must say hundred better
BY the trump of trumps you shall have a
chance to make pile this time"
Ambrose hesitated % moment, and then
he placed his hand to his bosom and drew
out package of bank notes. There were
four thousand dollars in the whole. i
was sum he drawn from the bank thai
very day. 1t was the accumulation OF ovel
four years labor and economy, for th(
purpose of paying for his house and store
He drew out a hundred dollar bill ant
covered his antagonists last stake. lie
hcsitated moment moro and drew ou
another hundred and "went that over."-
The stranger covered the hundred anC
went five hundred better, but he dared be
no more, and he called for his companion
hand. The stranger smiled as he showed
it---'our queens
Ambrose uttered deep groan as he
folded his cards and placed them in til,
, pack.
by my soul, lhat's hard, my friend
But better luck next time. Come, II
= deal for you this time"
, a new hand was dealt, and this TIM
= Ambrose won hundred dollars. III
: began to revive. Next he won two hun
! drcd more. He went and got anotho
glass Of wine and returned in better spirits
But at the next hand he lost five hundret
dollars. His spirits were sad again. Bu
he resolved to play carefully to win bacl
what he had lost and stop.
/ But there is 10 need of following til,
0 game step by step. The man who helt
:, those cards was not q professional gambler
= nor did he gamble for his own amusement
i But he had been among gamblers much
i and he could handle cards as he pleased
$ And more still, he could handle nervous
$ excitable man as he pleased. He kop
o Ambrose in good humor, let him have th
occasional flashes Of luck, and finally, jus
O as the clock struck eleven, Ambrose Dear
born staggered up from the table ponniless
!. All was gone! His four thousand dollar
v the sum that was to have cleared hir
:. from debt-the sum which he had see
n steadily growing beneath his efforts 70
IS the last four yearS--was now swept away
C The young merchant staggered from til
1t hall, he tried to borrow first TO borro'
st something to commence again to win bac
,e somethiug-but no one would lend. II
!, made his way to the street, and withor
&c noticing the way, he staggered on. b
and by he came to narrow alley whic
D. led down to the wharf, and sat down upo
y an old spar. lie had been there but fc
10 moments, when he felt q hand upon hi
it shoulder. He looked up, and by moonligl
it he could see the dark face of the man VIII
had ruined him.
10 "Why do you sit here in the snow |!
IN asked the stranger.
"Loayo Inc p cried Ambrose bitterly, -
d "Oh, I never wish to sec you more frol
this time"
"But, perhaps, may help YOU" reptile
the other. "You arc yet young euoug
t to learn"
SC Learnt o, great heaven, and have
not learned this very night what never
never"
'e The young man burst into tears, an
r. his sobs were deep and painful.
1t "Come, come" spoke the strangcl
lie "stand up and trust me, and may hol
<, you"
t, There was something so kind in the voic
rs that Ambrose could not resist, and he roS
d to his feet.
d Ambrose Dearborn" spoke tho strang
le man. have this evening taken trol