Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1867-12-12


Cali right-go on" replied Albert,
full of animation.
SO they played the fifth game, and
he who lost was to pay for the five
games. 1t was an exciting contest;
both made capital strokes, but in the
end Albert was beaten three points,
and with light laugh he went up to
settle the bill. Five games-twenty-
five cents game-a dollar and a
quarter. Not much that for such
sport; and be paid the money with a
good grace, never once seeming to
feel that he couldn't afford it.
"Haye 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 strangers to him-one ofwhom
was explaining to the other the mys-
teries of the game.
ut is healthy pastime." said he
who had been making the explana-
ton, "and certainly it is one which
can have no evil tendency"
Albert heard the remaks very
plainly. and he had curiosity to
hear what the other, who seemed un-
acquainted with billiards, would say
Il cannot, of course, assert that
any game which calls for skill and
Judgment, and which is free from the
attendant curse of gaming, is, of it.
self, an evil" remarked the second
gentleman. "Such things are only
evils in so tar as they stimulate and
excite men beyond the bounds of
healthful recreation"
"Ihat 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 days. First, it can
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 bill
lizards; for if / understood it, l should
certainly try game now; but when
ever l visit place OF this kind, / am
led to reflect upon a strange and
prominent weakness of human nature
as developed in our sex. For in
stance, observe that young man who
is just now settling his score. He
looks like clerk; and should say
from his manner, and from the fact
that he feels it his duty to go home
at this hour, that he has wife and
children. / see by his face that he
is kind hearted and generous, and
should Judge that he meant to ITO
about as near right as he can. He
has been beaten, and he pays a dol
lar or so for the recreation of some
two hours duration. Ifyou observe
you will see that he pays it freely,
and pockets the loss with q smile
Happy faculty But how do you
suppose it is in that young mans
home? Suppose his wife had come
to him this morning and asked him
for few dimes to spend for some
trifling thing-some household orna-
ment, or some bit of jeNelry for the
ornament of her person-and sup
pose the little child should put in a
plea for dime or two to buy dolls
and picture books with, what would
have been the result? What do you
think he would have answered? Of
fifty men just like him, would not
five and forty have declared that they
had not the money to spare for any
such purpose? And, moreover, they
would have said so, feeling that they
were telling the truth. Am ! not
right"
upon my SOUL" responded the
man who understood billiards, "you
speak to the point. All. it is well
for such wives and children that they
do not know where all the money
goes!'
The game was finished; the two
gentlemen moved on; and Albert
Landman arose from his seat and
left the place. Never before had he
had just such thoughts as now pos
sessed him. He had never dwelt up
on the same grouping ofideas. That
very morning his own true, faithful,
loving wife had been sad and heart
sick because he had harshly and I'M
kindly met her request for q small
sum of money. And his sweet Liz
zie had crept away to her home al
most broken hearted for the want of
simple toy such as her mates pos
sessed. And yet the sum Of his lit
tie ones wants amounted to not as
much as he had paid away that even
ing for billiard playing.
Albert Landman wanted to be an
honest husband and father, and the
lesson was not lost upon him. On
his way home he stopped at Mr..
Grants and purchased the best and
prettiest hoop to be found, with a
driving stick painted red, white and
blue; and in the morning when he be-
held his child's delight, and had re-
ceived her grateful happy kiss, the
question came to his mind-which
was the best and happiest result