Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1858-08-18
Scene in a Gamblers Lifb.
nv INESE.

5eautifGl. One little dlupled Eaho Iesteu
the soft check, and the halfparted
lips ard closciy-skut cye-lids showed how
,ently il slumbered. Now aud then a lit
sc girl sitting close beside her on p low
stool. pceped under The 1ighS shawl that
half covered the chiid's face, looking smi-
Ifnqfy IN to her mother ard again nestled
closer 20 her side, till as the evening adj
yanceG, WEAKNESS madohcTOwn lids droop,
and she nodded herssf Iuto/ as sound a
sleep as the little GrcSacT inlher mothers
Tap. The father SIT yearly opposite the
group upon an old chest that contained
their all Re had aioug time sat with his
head bowed upoG dis band, in abstract
woody s1ence, nov and then looking to-
wards ms young wife as though nc -
something upon hrs 9pslto Say, ~ Nk
-
Harry, Tao captain says he shall put us
on shore
~Wl1st fcv" was her astonished, won
deringTevly.
.%pr 10 money, Mary. After | brought
w. o. coa'd, ! went hack to G-'s to
Umy luck once more, and the scoundrels
+ Won every dollar. The knaves they've
| 9hoStcd me! II could have had time to
I try my luck again, I'd soon have shown
0hem ! could win as roundly as they"
In giving vent to his excitement, lie for
got for the moment, the consequences
which his gratiied passion had already
brought upon bis helpless family, and an
grily starting up, paced the narrow space
about them with flushed and Sowing
face.
Poor Mary had received the tidings of
but now her emotion was onlv v;s;5Io -
inc silent tears that fell thick and fast,
while she encircled her unconscious chill
dren more closely in her arms. She re-
memoered the many days and nights of
weary toll she had endured to gather a
portion OF the little sum that was to convey
them away from the scenes of her suffer-
ing, and with which they were to secure
an humble home farther West. But now
All was gone. The bright anticipations of
a nome OF their own, in some quiet spot,
had long been her strength, and many an
hour OF sorrow had been lightened with
the thought that one day thew sbould Till
their " land, that she should see the
bright grain waving and the praire flowers
sPringlng luxuriantly around their dwell
ing; and her heart beat with ioy, as. in
imagination, she saw her children bound
ing upon the green sward, and breathing
the fresh pure air. that had thus far boon
denied them and above all, she would SEQ
her husband freed from the influences that
arew hun and his hard earnings to the
gambling table with such magnetic witcbe-
", despite all his resolutions and promises.
But poor Mary's imaginations had travelled
100 iast, and her happy dreams were all
crushed now. No word Of reproach esca-
ped her lips, though Sue s~huddered as she
listened to the night wind, and tbouobt
now 500 they should be without shelter.
Tier accomplishing sorrow touched the
heart OF the gambler, aud again he threw
hi.nseii down upon the old chest, and bu-
rylhg ms face in his hands, awaited the
summons he momentarily expected from
mere they sat as midnight approached.
Quiet had taken the place of the noisv
CONFUSION OF the evening, as one after an
oehcr dropped away in slumber. The
neaVy rumbling sound of the machinery
teli painfully upon the nervous ear of the
gambler, as he listened to the approach of
every football, till suddenly the sound cea-
sea-, and only the rushing waters and the
dismal whistling of the wind broke the
stiffness. Presently the captain, accompa-
nice by q man bearing u lantern, appeared.
ana ordered the unwelcome passengers for
ward They arose, and without \ word
obeyed the summons.
Inc boat was already lowered and two
men vt the oars awaited orders. Mary
prepared to descend, aud placing the babe
IN her young daughters arms, with q word
ot caution turned from them and in a mo-
ment more was safely seated in the boat
by the dim light OF the lamp she watched
the coming of Anna, with her precions
burden and with anxious fear saw them
ihted to the boats edge. She reached for
ward TO secure them, but Anna totterad
an1 IN a moment was plunged into the
rollng waters. A shrill shrek rent tho
ar and rang through the boat with sncS
Wild agony as awoke every sleeper
MY child! My Auna p cried The fran
Tic mother, as she gazed vainlv in the dark
waters that had closed over her lovcd
ones. "'ou
"Save them save themp sbo st;u
shrieked, while she struggled to throw bor
sell alter them, though firmly held nv ono
OF the oarsmen. The other PLUNGED into
the river, while half a dozen lights aung >
broad CLEAN upon tue water, and enabled
nun TO discern any object that appeared
Inc father peered into the distance with
Keen quick gaze, and then gave a lond
shout, as a dark mass arose to the snrfsce
with a few expert strokes the sw;,nmor
reached Anna as she was sinking boneatL
the waves again, and with a strong hold he
grasPed and bore her safely to the arms Of
.ae distracted mother, who folded the drip
ping, exhausted child, to her bosom. SIN
she shrieked- ,"
"My child my babe is gone oh. sava
him too And with Wild gestures sbe
entrcated them to find it.
"What does she mean!p asked the as
tonished oarsman
: Anna bad tho babe in her arms when
i HfaA h0r down 70 ~, - -1-f.1