Preble County Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1857-1859, 1858-12-23
1HE GAMBLERS.
BY CLARA sfpNER.

attached to each other. Gerard was the
favorite of the whole town in which he
lived. He was so ban's me, go Winning
and so agreeable in his ways. People
really loved him. Even old men be-
came much interested in his fair inno-
cent looking face-what wonder, then,
that he was the idol of the ladies p
Spencer was to Gerard as unlike as could
friends. He had merry, laughing
countenance, and was generally full of
fun. The two made pleasing pair
Who would have thought what they
| were fastening forward to! But they
go into bad company they were bad
company for each ofher-tempting each
other to evil, instead of aiding and en- :
couraging each other to good deeds
By and by the face of Gerard grew rlou-
| dy and anxious. He seemed far from
happy. His friends felt sorry to see
him in trouble, and when he confded
to one and another the ca use of his un-
easiness they readily lent him the means
to remove it. But now a rapid change
came over him. One evening he called
for his friend to go out to walk, and
from that hour poor Spencer was never
again seen in life. Soon after his mur-
dered and mangled body was found in
lonesome pla, e,and as it became known
that Gerard had owed him large sum
of money for a gambling debt, suspi-
fcions fastened upon the wretched young
man, aud he was committed to prison
lie made the most solemn prote: Ia ions
of his innocence, and ignorance of the
cause of his friends death, and the most
passionate appeals to his former associ-
atcs and to the officers who arrested him.
The idea of lonely confinement in
prison had ten thousand terrors for him
there alone and when he was thrust
into his cell, his shrieks of distress and
fear were piteous. The trial went
against him, aud he was condemned to
die. 1t appeared that the young men
had both been guilty of many other
wrong things. From step to step he
had gone on, till now he was condcm:
ned as a murderer.
All this because he did not take heed
to his way accordingto the law of God.
Whether he is really guilty of the
murder of companion we cannot abso-
lutely know, God knoweth; bl he will
suffer for it as if he were guilty. Had
he never gone astray, and become en-
tangled in gambling debts, he would
not at all have been suspected Of the
crime now laid to his charge. But now
his course is ended. and in his youth he
must die a fearful death. His poor
frame is weak and shattered by misery
he is worn and pale from his anguish
of heart. Whether guilty of murder or
not, he is an object of intense pity
Those who go to see him come away with
heavy hearts. So young-so beautiful
so beloved! yet so wickcd-so wretch
ed-so lostl Oh, it is dreadful Will
not the young take warning? Will they
not learn from the fate Of this poor
worm-crushed by the strong arm of
the Law, which he has armed for him
self with whip of scorpions--to beware
of evil company aud evil conduct
Poor. wicked Gerard! ...-.s-
His glossy hair will shine no moro
In the fair light of day:
Oh! never more Der his fair brow
Will the free breozes play.
Damp with the dew of agony
Such as no tongue can tell
That glossy hair, uneared for now,
In the lone murderers cell.
How wan and sunken is his check
Yet once the rose was there;
And his dark eyes are dim and dull,
And clouded by despair.
Oh! the transgressor' way is hard
Harder than words can tell,
God pardon thee for all thy sins;
Poor convict, fare thee well.
DESPERATE WoUND.-A hunter, mar
rating his hair breadth escapes to an
admiring audience, said:
"I once had two balls lodged in my
stomach"
''Pistol balls?' asked one
"No."
."Ah, musket balls, then -
"No,' returned the narrator, 'they
were as large as my fist
"Why you don't mean to say they
were cannon balls !" exclaimed one of
his hearers with distended eyes.
"No, they were not cannon balls"
"Why what were they then ?"
"Cod fish balls" returned the hunter
with grin.
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