The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1858-11-03

superintend us, and managers to grow rich
on what we took in VIC ourselves Il mean
the firm) not by any means losing money,
to Judge from the balance sheets. A very
profitable investment is the lottery, provi-
ded one is behind the scenes. II does not
pay so well to outside spectators, how
ever, l should say, to Judge frem the great
disproportion between our receipts and
disbursements. But this a is secret of the
trade, and I must not blow upon them,
albeit l am out
As did not commence this paper with
any purpose of moralizing about lotteries,
but simply to relate something which is
included in my experiences, | will proceed
with my narrative without further pre-
face:
1t was bitter cold day in winter, and
l was keeping shop all to myself, the rest
Of the firm being out on business. Very
sharp and cutting was the wind, as it
hurled down the streets and around the
corners, swinging sign.boards and slam.
ming shutters in very vicious manner.
People rushed by, wrapped up warm. but
with extremely blue noses and watery
eyes. l was cosy by the stove, rumina-
ting over a seigar, when the door opened
suddenly, and King Lear came in. If he
was not King Lear, he was certainly his
best possible representative among created
beings. He had Lear's brow, so lofty, so
pale, 80 wrinkled, with the grizzled hair
laying back from it in reckless confusion.
He had Lear's eye-but no-Lears eye
was faded, and this was black as midnight
and piercing beyond metaphor. but blood
shot withal, and speaking Of infinite anx-
iety and infinite wretchedness. His lip
had once been finely marked but was now
twisted and hung little, as if its muscles
had ceased to control it. He was dressed
in that painful style Of thresdbare gentil-
ity so eloquent of adversely, and his whole
manner bespoke him character, man
of eventful life-one who had had harsh
experiences, who had abused himself, who
hated himself for it, and hated the whole
world because he had lost caste of it.
He uttered only word. glancing over
the scheme which l handed him, Tickets,
quarters and he took out a well-worn
purse from his pocket, and paid me for
one. His voice was hoarse, harsh, and in
the highest degree unpleasant. Securing
his ticket, he buttoned his thread-bare
coat over his breast with his long meager
trembling fingers, and left the Office. !
watched him go out, and saw him seize
upon little boy, who seemed hesitatine
whether or not to come in and try hii
luck, seized him by both shoulders, ant
bent his worn, anxious features close dowr
to the boys face.
Anxious to hear what hs would say,
opened the door, and stood there. II,
was talking in his harsh tones, the word
coming out dry, sharp, angular, yet forci
BILE, from the vehemence of his accent ant
expression.
boy! do you hearf Never 60 int
lottery office. Its worse than hell. D.
you hear 7 Then mind what I say :" an,
be shook the trembling little fellow. as i
to make his words more impressive. 'Rul
away from one always. Cross the stree
from them. They'll poison you. If 20,
have money, spend it, give it away, thrO,
it into the gutter, but let lottery ticket
alone. Do you see mel l was rich,
was happy. am poor, am wrstched
and the cursed lottery alone has made m
so. Now go--go-and remember what
tell you
The boy. released, ran away in prod
gious fight, and the old man marched in
petuOusly up the street against the wind
He did not make his appearance agai
for some days, but when he did, com
bursting in in the same impetuous manner
As he came towards the counter, be sale
apparently to himself;
~ dreamed it again-so, once more.
What did you say, sir 2"
"Show me some whole tickets in tn
large lottery" answered he imperativsly
l laid about thirty out upon the cour
ter. He looked them over hastily-too
one in his 6ngsrs-read it with tremblin
lips-grew alarming pale, and, putting hi
hand to his forehead, leaned heavil
against the desk. | thought he was abor
to faint, and asked him if be wonld hay
glass Of water.
No, no; nothing but passing sicl
nass atn hattar pnu uara raaI ~,