The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1863, 1863-04-30
SEVEN UP.

before the drawer OF an old OuraAu
"Samuel, what is thee doiugP' asked
his mother, following him, "Thse is not
going out 10 night. when so tiredf"
Yes. mother" be replied. taking up,
with a sigh. small calico bag. which
seemed well 6lled
"Why, that is the mortgage money.
Samuel; wha. does thee want with that?
It's not due till next eping."
se"I know Il mother; but | must have
this mensy this night he answered in
determined tone.
"For what, my son? Thee has always
told me every thing. We earned the
money together"
.s'I know Il. mother. All these years
we have toilsd to pay OF that mortgage
left on the farm at my fathers dea b, and
now il has all cnme /" nothing. Sit
down in yonr chair. mo'her. and ! will
tell you the truth, as trust | have ever
done. lido not fear your blame. as I
have always luveA your praise. This
one egregious error has taught me great
lessons already. They say women en-
bear trouble better than men "
Samuels mother trembled very much,
but she sat quirtly down Her face
was pleasant To look at,-healtlJ and
fresh. with a clean Quaker cap c'inpoi
'bout il. She could no, believe her son
had done anything SO very wrong; but
all was o mystery.
"LAst evening y,u know how lats |
staid away, aud presume you thought
was with Ellen at the farm bu, was
not; more the pity went on an err.nd
to the tavern 10 get some oil for our lam"
horses log. The bar room was blaz-
oflight, anl all the boys there. and |
stepped in to warm. There were TWO
finely dressed gentlemen from Boston
sitting around a table. calling f,r Il 0
best of port wine. and treating the com
paDy. They o,llod me to join so cudial>
ly that | consented. and IeIt rested with
the good FIRE and e1hilcraliDg glass.
Soon one Of the strangers bronght Gu, a
pack Of cards. and played with joe.
Lampson and jim, White. u set and
smoked in the corner, and did not take
much notice Of the game. They played
for cigars, and wine, AMI then FOR money,
and the lame was Seven Up Now
when | was boy | u.ed TO have an ex.
oellent. run Of luck at cards, and beat ey>
cry body and | suppose | was rlalel
with my reputation for wh n Joe
Lampsun said, i have won two huudrod
dollars, was ss'onisbed. especial whrh
the strangers paid it over as quick an
easy as they would brush of fly |
thought, If dull Joe. has won 80 quickly
such SUN, why may not /. VIII, am %
lucky at cards? They urged me to ke
hand, and the sight the new bill, on .ho
Merchants Exchange Bauk'so won up
my botier understanding. thai | dew
right up to the table, thought only of
winning | nev lhought oi losing. We
played and won, and played and lost, and
lost. and lost. Oil mother, I los, all
this money quick asa fash and they
tainted me that could not pay hut
mus, pay II, or have my honor losl b-forr
the whole village ! know how wrong
II was, but II hard work will ~ Ike it up
10 you, you shah never want Here
Sam broke down, and cried like child.
"Thse 10 welcome 10 take the money,
SAM" said his mother qnslly. II wish
thee would promise never to touch card
again." Dra, mother, so'emDly
ono Sam! no oaths. R,nemb.r thee
will be tempted this very night 10 try and
win back this money"
mo, h've seen 100 many winks pass
between those two men They are gamb
lors, who have come down 10 imp s. up
on Us 'graeRhoVns' ia the country. When
/ think how many bard days work
have performed, and how many ohlckrns
and eggs you have raised to sell. all for
Que good object. and that my cursed fol.
ly has ruined all. l am ready to des-
psir..'
II shall not live long to wnt money,
Sam !, l only thought Of thee and Ellen,
who 10 soon to become Thy WIFE" Sam.
uel groaned. and LETT The house wi h II
heavy heart. He knew by the twinkling
light acrosS the fields that Elm sat
watching for HE viS,r. but he sped ols
toward the village. uatiB, stamping the
snow from his shoes, he cnter,d once
more the tavern" Again, in a private
parlor, he found the companions Of the
previous night. lie went 6rmly up to
the table anil deposited his moucy. al
have come" said he 10 bold voice, ''to
pay you what you won from me last
night" The mao merely waved his
hand, on which shons pwol. toward
him. in . negligent manner, and went
en- with his GENE, '0h. mere iriho,
be said. time enough by ard BY"
Gam turned toward the 6re, with a
groan. Evil thoughts took possession Of
his mind Can some men make mon-y Y
thus easily by the toss Of card or the
turn Of die? and yet, after all my hon.
ett labor, must l be turned from my hum
bio home. and my happy prospects bro
ken up for life by these two desperate
gamblers" Fierce passions seemed at
war with him. as the sweet visions Of for,
msr hopes pissed away. He did not no
tiOe that ihsEe were mut,eriDgs Of wrath
at the table. 40 ons sfier another was
aseced in his turn. Cries OF unfair. u
"uufair play" were met by cOntemptu
Gus snserS from The successful men who
pOcketsd the game.
Samuel's litlle roll Of bills still lay up
on the table, and be could rot bear /,
leave il there. It scanned sacred money
"How little my iathsr thought when Il,
left me the farm, with only this morlvap,