The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1858-11-10

hand over his heart. Il am not very
hopeful-God knows | have but little
reason to bc--but l feel a change l feel
younger, frmer. 1t may appear singular
and suspicious to you that this change
should be contemporary with my accession
to money, but l think that this ticket
would, under any state of affairs have
been my last purchase of the sort. had
resolved to die, if 1 lost, with my child
near me. IF it were not for Mary, |
would not touch cent of the money this
entities me to it should all be bestowed
in charities. But l must provide for my
child and the frosts of years -Hnrf the
storms of passion have left me but mis-.
erable wreck, incapable of any labor.
How have you determined about the
receipt Of the money, Mr.. Oxford 7''
Oh, discount the ticket, and give me
the money. l want to have done with
lotteries with all speed"
Tomorrow, then, / will bring you
check for the amount, and receive the
ticket from you"
THAT will suit me very well. 1t comes
opportunely, this money, does it not p
continued he, looking sorrowfully aronnd
the room.--" There is not much left in
your little locker, is there, Mary 2'
Very little, father. but enough to have
lasted us week or so. We both eat very
little you know"
Yes, yes, child, we learned that under
the discipline Of teacher who always i'm
prints his precepts indelibly upon one.
Young man., said he turning suddenly
towards me, and grasping my arm, let
me conjure you, never gamble. 1t will
ruin you. will tell you something of
myself. Come, sit close by me; | cannot
talk in loud tone
Thirty years ags, l was rich and hap
py, with beautiful bride, who was just
learning tenderly the word husband"
and clinging to me with the fondest love.
This is all l have to remind me of her
this my Mary, for whom thank God
for had she gone, too, L would not have
seen this day, nor have ever felt the new
hope just kindling in my breast. l was
wealthy, and enjoyed every comfort pur-
chasable of wealth. | entertained hand
somely, lived freely and well, but within
my income, which was fully adequate to
my desires,
Well, time passed on. l began to hear
my children lisp around me, when sud-
den desire for change, and the solicitation
of friends, induced me to accept an honor
able and lucrative post under Government,
one which required my removal to the
Federal city. fancied this move would
benefit my family, since my children would
have the advantage Of growing up in an
excellent society, and one well calculated
to teach that free, cosmopolitan manner
which is so desirable.
This move of mine, apparently so reas-
enable, was prolific of those evils which
have hung around me ever since. l
thought myself man, was confident of
my power of self control but no one
knows what he is competent for until he
has been tried. The fascinations of life
30 new to me, led me on imperceptibly in
to dissipation. l became the prey of a
set of scoundrels, who availed themselves
of my yielding disposition, to spoil me of
my wealth. gambled, and lost heavily.
Two yeara had scarce elapsed, when
found myself threatened with almost pov-
erty. In this emergency, / awoke to a
sense of my folly, took up something Of
good resolution, and, urged by my poor
wife's entreaties, gave up my office, and
returned to this city.
opened store, and invested what
capital remained to me in good business
Again I attained to prosperity; not long
however, for the evil spirit that welded
my destiny had not been cast out,
gambled agair, and in very short tim'
was utterly penniless. Sickness came
my two elder children were carried of
and my wife Frustrated. In this china,
of evils, 1 was thrown into utter despair
and sat down, moodily resolving to starve
My wife, however, true to her womanly
instinct, consoled and encouraged me.
commenced business again on a small
amount, which owed to the kindness o
my friends. In six months | had cheer
ing prospects once more of comfort anC
competency. could look my lot in tn,
face with some complacency, while my wifi
and children began to smile, under the in
spiration Of renewed hope, | am not