The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-03-25
THE VICTIMS OF CHANCE.
A TRUTHFUL NARRATIVE.
From the New York Sunday Times.
ny JACK BRACE.

From the New York Sunday Times.
There is no nfatuatiOn so fatal to man as the
worship Of chance: it paralyzes his energies
blunts his moral sense and destroys his better
nature. leaving him, even where his pursuits
have been successful. totally unfit tor the
higher duties and enjOyments of life but
when disappOintments and rcverses have been
his portion. SO degraded and abaShed that I'M
less the angel of mercy touches his heart with
repentance. and leads him to a new lite. the
fends themselves might pity him! She among
the deitieS whom The ancicnts called Fortuna.
(chance.) was not only most tickle but most
cruel. stripping her devotees Of everything
worth living for. and crushing them. body and
soul. remorselcsslv as the Car of ,Juggernaut
its blinded victims. Yet. as the bleeding and
mangled forms of the supcrstitious HindOos
seem to impress no warning upon their fellow
worshipers to deter them from an equally stu
pid immolation, 20 neither does precept or ex-
ample prevent mankind from indulgence in
that illuring, but destructive vice. whose pro-
team forms and seductive changes so often dis
guised its deadly nature. The clergyman who
denounces the gambler with all the eloquence
OF just indignation, will visit and cOuntenance
a fair where chance preSides over the distribu-
ton OF prizes. thus showing. perhaps. the first
seed of evil in many youthful nature: the
merchant or banker who would instantly dis
charge his clerk if caught at faro table, will
not scruple to invest his own spare capital in
SUCK lOUblllG,. tuUuSu Hc IL CODSclOuS lIltU IL
is one of the most desperate species of gam
bling. Aud SO. the hope of gain. without an
adequate equivalent which is the special al
lure:nent of chance worslIippers, spreads its
baleful influence over society. leaving the in
nocent and unotfending too often to mourn its
ravages.
Let me point my remarks 10y an example.
sadly true in its prominent features. * 1t
is past midnight, and a young wife turns rest
lessly on her couch and listens to every pass
ing fOotstep. wondering what on earth detains
her husband, who had gone out to attend
political meeting. How the weary and sleep
less hours drag along filing her mind with
apprehension and almost with terror. He had
never done so before: he had always been
punctual to the promised hour; what on earth
could have happened? At length familiar
step is heard it pauses at the door; she hears
the night key turn. and in few moments her
husband comes softly into the room.
"Oh Edward. where hare YOU been ? Sure
" your meeting has no: kept yoU this late.
You promised to be home before twelve, and
it has now struck three o'clock
Her tone was eager, it may be, little re-
proachful at any rate it grated rather harshly
upon the husbands car perhaps conscience
made him more than usually sensitive.
Why. Maggie. have YOU been lying awake
counting the hours to time me ?" said he, al
most unkndly. You can 90 TO sleep now
rs your task is accomplished. | suppose
have right TO sup with friend, sitter making
a speech, without coming home to ask permits
sion"
Margaret was too much hurt to reply Ne
yer had her husband spoken thus to her be-
fore. With a smothered sigh, she turned her
face to the wall For some minutes there was
silence in the room, when the wife, percciving
that her husband had put up the gas, and was
quite busy, sole look at him. He Was
counting a large roll of bank notes. - Six
seven hundred and eighty muttered he.
That's capitaf!'
Then turning around, he said, pleasantly:
Come Maggie. you must forgive my bear
ishness | did not mean to offend you, and
ought to be proud that you think SO much of
me as to keep awake
g am not used to have you disappoint me,
or scold me either, was the reply.
well. let us kiss and be friends, then,
Mag. said'he, sitting on the side of the bed.
Only see what good excuse ] have for
my three hours truancy.
What is it, Edward ~
why, only seven hundred and eighty dol
lars Enough to pay my note tomorrow. and
g 800 YOU hundred dollar shawl besides, re-
piied he gaily.
:. Where did you get it. Edward ?"
inc, mhat catechist you are becom-
NY, got it honestly, Of course, Miss
.vo Oh; l KNOW" said she, Frightening up.
friaUds ooIrowed it of one of Your political
hn, =, anl 30 glad you can nav your note:
9uI saaii not think of spending hundred
ooiI Vs. lor khawl-no indeed"
AGAIN. poor guesser, Maggie; try
" ! cannot" shel replied; "you must tell