The Van Buren press., 1867-06-07
{" PLAYING for Keeps" /"

klaylnS IoI AeepS.
"Why my son." said Mrs. Fielding,
"where did you get so many marbles p
She had been looking for string in Paul'S
drawer, and had picked up lag full of
marbles. "Iou said You only had fifty,
the other day, where did these come from -
Won en-" said Paul briefly.
"How so?'
4" Playing for keeps
"Aad wa, that what kept you out so
late last night, when mother had tod you
to come in early p " .
Paul's handsome face sobcred little,
and he said, "Well, l can't help it, the
other fellows make me-
How can they make you, il you don't
want to!'
'"rhey'll kick me causc | got their mar.
bles, and say it's mean not to give them
chance to win back, and then thereIl be
two folks kicked Paul added, emphat.
ically.
But is it right, Paul /?
81 don't know as it is,' said he, out
I'm in for it, SO here goes" and off he ran
TO school.
Mrs. Fielding carefully thought over the
matter. She had aimed to train Paul to a
thorough self-conrol, rather than mere SUBJ
mission to authority. So that evening,
when Paul had laid aside his books, and
sat beside her for his "good- might talk"
as he called it, she said Paul, what
would you think Of drinking man who
wanted to reform, and yet kept his cups
and well6lled bottles constantly in sight?'
81 should think it would take him a
good while, besides making it much harder
for him."
"And the only way in which he could
reasonably expect to be delivered from the
evil of sin would be by giving up what was
constantly temptation p
Yes, Of course"
"Coald you do it ?"
Paul lifted his head proudly, and said,
'' should rather think I could"
"Could you give up playing for keeps ,"
"But where's the harm ~
"Do you Pay for them ~ asked his moth
Course not, / uin EN-
$50 does the gambler win the money
staked on the game. Can you tell ne any
difference in the prtncipie of playing for
money or playing for marbles -
Paul tried his best to think Of some diff
ference, but could not. AT length his
mother said, You have admitted that you
did not think it right, and that alone is
enough to make it wrong to you. Then it
has become passion beyond your control,
Unght you not to give it up - '
This was a hard question. Paul was a
skilled player, always winning, rarely los
ing and the game had become so iasruat.
ing as to keep him late after school. " But
mother he said, Fired Kingsley is nay
partner, and he and all The other boys wall
say am mean sneak to stop playing
now, when I've got their marbles" ..
1T would be rather mean, too," said
she. "What can you do about it Can
you not give up the thing that leads you
into temptation = ... HEs
" What give up my marbles. The
boys would all augh at me-"
Z" Hasn't my son the courage to do righ,
when the boys laugh -
Paul isl, ashamed for he had learned
that true courage lies in the heat, and not
in the fist. :" Can you truly pray, De.
liver me from this evil and keep the
temptation in your hands ? | wish that
yon would decide that question before you
lie down tonight be assured it will be a
great gain if you can make up your mind
to control yourself in this, even though it
should seem to you very much like losing
q right hand"
Paul thought it did seem very much like
that, and remarked that it was "tough
business"
The struggle was severe. For one min.
ute he thought he could, and then the
thought Of tamcly playing marbles "just
for play" seemed more than he could sub.
nit to, besides knowing how the boys
would look upon it. s. t0...
Mrs. Fielding said nothing for a time,
but at length spoke softly, " Our Lord
taught us to pray Lead us not into tempta.
tion' Doyou not need that prayer now 2"
Paul sprang up, walked up and down
quickly, then came and knelt beside his
mother while she in few earnest words.
besought the strength and help he SO much
needed. TI
Afterward, as they sat by the fire, he
said quietly, "I'll do it MOTHER
The boys did laugh some, but paul's con.
seriousness !ha. he was doing right carried
h'm through, and his manly example did
more to check this growing evil than all
the teachers had said, and no boy really
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