The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1863-05-13
SEVEN UP.

at threshing, Samuel Grey rose from his
chair with sad, weary look, and stood
before the drawer of an old bureau.
Samuel, what is thee doing said his
mother, following him. "The is not 60
ing out tonight, when so tired ?"
Eyes, mother he replied, taking up
with. sigh, small calico bag, which
seemed well filled.
"Why, that is the mortgage money,
Samuel what does thee want with that !?
1t is not due till next spring"
81 know it, mother; but | must have
this money this night" he answered in a
determined tone.
"For what, my son Thee has always
told ue everything. We earned the
money together"
81 know it, mother. All these years
We have toiled to pay off the mortgage
left ou the farm at MY fathers death, and
now it has all come to nothing Sit down
in your CHAIR mother, and will tell you
the truth, as trust | have ever done
| do not lear your blame, as | have al
always loved your praise. This one eyre
gious error has taught me great lessons
ALREADY. They say women can bear trou-
bic better than men."
Sanuei's mother. ,rembled very much,
but she sat quietly down. Her face was
pleasant to look at-healthy and fresh,
with clean Quaker cap crimped about
it.. She conld not believe her son had
done anything SO very wrong, but all was
mystery.
Last evening you know how late |
sfaid away and ] presume you thought
| was with Ellen at the farm, but | was
not, more is the pity. | went on an er-
rand to the tavern to get some oil for our
lame holses leg The bar-room was a
blaze of light, and all the boys there, and
| stepped III to warm. There were two
finely dressed gentlemen from Boston sit
ting around the table, calling for the best
of port wine, and treating the company.
They called ne to join SO cordially that
| consented, and felt rested with the
the good fire and exhilerating glass. Soon
one of the straugers brought out pack
of cards, and played with Joe Lam pson
aud jim " hite sat and smok ed in the
coruer, and did not take much notice Of
tIe gape. They played for cigars and
wine, and then for money, and the game
was Seven Up Now, when l was a
boy | used to have an excellent run of
luck at cards, and beat everybody; and
| suppose | WIS elated at my reputation !;
for when Joe Lampson said, 81 have won
two hundred dollars" I was astonished,
especially when the strangers paid it over
a, quick and easy as they would brush
off fly. | thought, if dull Joe has won
SO quickly such a SUN, why nay not I,
who am SO lucky at oards7 They urged
me to take hand, and the sight of the
new bills on the Merchants Exchange
Bank 30 won upon my better understand,
ing, that | drew right up to the table
| thought only of winning; never
thought Of losing. We played and wen,
aud played and lost, and lost. Oh !!
mother, | lost all this money MS quick as
a fash and they taunted me that | could
not pay; but must pay it, or have nay
honor lost before the whole village l
know how wrong it was, but if hard work
will make it up to you, you shall never
want" Here Sam broke down, and cried
like chlid. ... .,.... -.
"Thee is welcome to take the money,
SAM" said his mother, quietly. 81 wish
thee would promise never to touch card
again"
"Dear mother, soIemnfy-"
"No, Sam DO eaths. Remember thee
will be tempted this very night to try
and win back this very money"
4"No, I havs seen too many wiDks pass
between those Two men, They are gam
blels, who have come down to im pose
upon Us 'greenh0rns' in the country
When think Of how many hard days
work have performed, and how many
chickens and eggs yoa have raised to sell,
all for one good object, and that my
cursed folly has rained all, I am ready to
despair"
II shall! not live long to want money,
Sam ] oply thousht of thee and Ehen,
who is soon TO bseome thy wife" Sam
uel groaued, and left the house with a
heavy heart. lie knew by the twinkling
light across the fields that Ellen sat watch
ing for his visit, but he sped on toward
the village, until, stamping the snow from
bis shees. he entered once mere tbs tay- t
ern- Again, in private parlor, he found
the companions of previous nighs. lie
wen. firmly up 10 the table and deposited
the money. 81 havs eome5 hs said, In
a bold voice, ''to pay you what you WOE
from me last night" The man merely |
waved bis hand, 90 which shone jewel, .
toward him "0h, a mere trife," he saia;
''time enough by and By" -....