Wyoming democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Wyoming Co., Pa.) 1867-1940, 1867-10-09

=. "What dive say to one more? 2"
t "AlI right-go OF" replied Albert, fu
- of animation
Y So they payed for the fifth game, an
he who lost was TO pay for the FIVE game
d 1t was an exciting contest both mad
capital strokes; bat in the end Albert W.
v beaten by three points; and with a ligl
laugh lie went up 10 settle the bill. Flp
] games-twenty.t five cents game-a dol
lar and quarter. Not much that ia
| such sport; and he paid the money vii,
f good grace, never once seeming to fee
that he couldn't affHd it.
Have cigar r said Tom.
"Yes."
They lighted their cigars, and thel
sauntered TO another room to watch othe
players.
! By-and-by, Albert fonnd himself seatec
over against table at which some of hi
friends were playing; and close by him
stood two gcntlemen-both strangers tc
him--one Of whom was explaining TO the
other the mysteries of the game.
at is healthy pastime," said he who
had been making the explanations" anG
certainly it is one which can have no EVIL
tendency" nj.
Albert heard the remark very plainly.
and he had curiosity TO hear what the
other, who seemed nnac9uainted with bill.
iards would say
81 cannot, of course, assert hat any
| game which calls for skill and Judgment
and which is free from the attendant curse
OF gaming, is of itself an evil remarked
the second gentleman. "Such thinas are
only evils in so far as they excite aud
stimulate men bel the bounds of
healthful rccreation."
That result can hardly follow such
game, said the frse speaker,
But the other shook his head.
"Ion are wrong there The result can
follow in two ways. First, it can lead
men away from their business and second
1t can lead men tn spend money who have
not that money to spare Gou will under
stand me. | would not cry down the
gam" OF blIIaadS: for if / understood it
| shoul' certainly try You game now;
bat whenever | visit pace of this kind,
am led to ref CT upon a strange and
prominent weakness of human nature a.
developed IN our sex For instance, OBJ
serve the Young man who is Just now SET
ting his score, He looks like a clerk :;
and | should say from his manner, and
from the fact that he feels it his duty to
90 home AT this hour that he has a wife
and children. | see by his frct that he is
klnd-hrarted ane generous, and | should
Jndge he meant TO do abont as near right
a he can, He has been beaten, and he
pays dollar or so for the recreation If
some two hours duration. lfyon observe
yOu will see that he pays it freely, and
pockets the loss with d smile Happy fac
ulty But how do Won suppose it is in
that Young mans home? Snppose his
wifr had come to him this morning and
asked Inn for few dimes TO spend fol
some trlhinG thing--some household orna-
mcnl, or sole bit Of jrwery for The urna-
m ut oil her ptrson--and suppose the little
child should pnt il the plea for dime or
two to buy dolls and picture books with.
what would have been the result? What
do you think he would Gave answered
Oct of fifty men JUS, like him. would not
five and forty bave declared that they had
nst the money Ia spare for any such pur
pose? and, NOR over, they would have
said so. feeling that they were telling the
truth. Am | not right I"
Upon my soul.' responded the man
who understood billiards. "you speak to
the point IA it is we'll for such wives
and children that they do not know where
ali the money goes y uEs
The game was finished; the two gem
tlcmen moved on; and Albert Laudrnan
arose from his seat and left the place
Never before had be had just such Thoughts
as now possessed him. lie had never
dwclt upon the same grouping of idras.--
That very morning his own true, faithful,
loving wife hal been sad aud heart sick
because he had harshIy and unklhdlv luet
her request for small sum of money -
And his sweet Lizzie had crept away 10
her home almost broken hearted for the
want of 3 simple toy such her mates
possessed. And vet the sum of his little
ones wants amounted to not as much as
he had paid away that evening for billiard
playing. #.
Albert Landman wanted to be An hon
Est husband and father, and the lesson
was not lost upon him On his way home
he stopped Mr.. Grants and purchased
the best and prcttiest hoop to DE f6und,
with driving stick painted red and white
and blue; and in the morning when he
beheld his chII's delight and had receiv.
ed her grateful, ,ahappy kiss, the question
camr to his mind (Which was the best ard
happie~t result this, or five gamcs Of bill
iards
A few mornings after this, as Alb"rt
arose from the breakfast table, he detect
an unusually, wistful look rpon his wife's
face. #. I. .n~' 70. '.H.... .'.. .a
"Kate. what is it ?" -'1l i."aI ."'
"Albert, if Won could spare me few
dollars this morning" Il -l .f9 -..
"CertainIy my love. Anything in rea-
scn to make You happy" And out CANT
the purse, and the money was banded over
with warm gentle smile
What! Tears at that! Was it posi-
\ 4