Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1867-08-15

The sobbing had ceased as the child
caught her fathers hand eagerly.
Not now, Lizzie-not now. I'll
think of it,"
Sobbing again, the child moved on to-
ward her home, dragging the old hoop
after her.
Presently Albert Lsndman met some
OF his friends.
"Hallo, Albert; what's up?"
Nothing particular"
What dye say to q game OF bill
liards ?"
Good I'm in for that"
And away Albert went to the billiard
room, where he had glorious time with
his friends. He liked billiards 1t was
a healthy, pretty game; and the keeper
of the place allowed no nonsense upon
his premises.
They had played four games. Albert
had won two, and his opponent had also
won two.
That's two and two" cried Tom
Piper.
"What dye say to one more z"
"All right-go on" replied Albert,
full of animation.
So they played the fifth game, and he
who lost was to pay the five games. 1t
was an exciting contest; both made capt.
tai strokes; but in the end Albert was
beaten by three points; and, with a
laugh he went up to settle the bill. Five
games-twenty five cents a game-a dol,
lar and quarter. Not much for such
sport; and he paid the money with a
good grace, never once seeming to feel
| that he couldn't afford it.
"Have cigar?" said Tom.
Yes"
They lighted their cigars, and then
sauntered to another room to watch
other players.
By-and-by Albert found himself seated
over against table at which some of
his friends were playing; and close by
him stood two gentlemen-both strang
ers to him-one Of whom was explain.
ing to the other the mysteries of the
| game.
at is a healthy pastime," said he who
had been making the explanation and
certainly it Is one which can have no
evil tendency.
| Albert heard the remarks very plainly,
and he had a curiosity to hear what the
other, who seemed unacquainted with
| billiards would have to say.
II cannot of course assert that any
game which calls for skill and Judge
ment, and which is from the attendant
course of gaming, is of itself an evil,
| remarked the second gentleman. "SuCh
things are only evils in so far as they eX-
cite and stimulate men beyond the
bounds of healthful recreation"
"The result can hardly follow such a
game" said the first speaker.
But the other shook his head.
"You are wrong there. The result
can follow In two ways. First, it car
lead men away from their business and
second it can lead men to spend money
who have not that money to spare. You
will understand me. | would not cry
down the game of billiards ; for if
understood it, should certainly try you
game now but whenever | visit 6
place of this kind, | am led to reflect
upon a most strange and prOminent
weakness of human nature as developed
in our sex. For instance, observe thai
young man who is just now settling his
score He looks like a clerk and
should say from his manner, and from
the fact that he feels it his duty to &C
home at this hour, that he has wifi
and children. | see by his face that ht
is kind hearted and generous, and
should Judge that he meant to do about
as uear right as he can. He has beer
beaten, and he pays dollar or so fol
the recreation of some two hours dura
ton. If you observe, you will see tina
he pays it freely, and pockets the loss
with smile. Happy faculty But how
do you suppose it is in that young man:
home? Suppose his wife had come tC
him this morning and asked him for {
few dimes to spend for some trifii ns
thlng-some household ornaments Of
some bit of jewelry for the adornmen
of her person-and suppose his little
child had put 10 plea for dime or two
to buy dolls and picture books with
what would have been the result Wha
do YOU think he would have answered
OF fifty men just Ike him, would no
five and forty have declared that they
had not the money to spare for any suct
purposes And, moreover, they would
have said SO, feeling that they were tell
ing the truth. Am not right?"
upon my SOUL" responded the mar
who understood billiards, you speat
to the point. All it is well for such
wives and children that they do no
know where all the money goes"
The game was finished the two gen
tlemen moved on; and Albert Landmar
arose from his seat and left the place