The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-08-16
"wen, ruppo.. should" said Uncle Bunce,

well, fuppo.s should" said Uncle Bunce,
"No, you don't; you are sure you would; you'd
have goLs ike shot. Wen. that being granted,
You and your ne phew are in the same boat. The
government gave holiday on the Derby day TO
the clerks in the Sword and Gun Office upon the
condition have mentioned, and all those who
avsied themselves Of the offer pledged their words
10 use the opportunity as it was intended t. be
used. If Chspey. having obtained his day leave,
had not gone TO Epson Downs, he would have be-
hsved unlike a gentleman. That's clear, hope.'
The government ought to be ashamed Of
themselves" observed Uncle Bunce.
VERY likely; but your nephe " il not the govern
ment, and although hesrfrom the chief of his de
partmen most excellent account of the young fel.
low, it is not likely he ever will be. Thus, you
see TO begin with. so far from Sinking his duties
to go TO the Derby, Charley only obeyed orders
aDd, have no doubt with great cheerfdiness
This is certainly excellent wine"
Didth government make him bet 6fiy pounds
to ten against Pslmyra?' inquired the old gentle
man RrimIy, srter long silence.
The government didn't, but the office did, -
said ], in this way: There was Derby sweep
got up among the Sword and Gun clerks, as is
always the case at every government office, and
Charley put in his sovereign like the rest. Per
hsps that was wrong of him; but II you never
did worse, friend Nicholas, when you were
young man, all ! can say is, you were too good
to live, and shouldn't fancy you ever likely
To die of that complaint | rose, and going 20
threw itup to let in the summer air. "COme,
come, you'll forgive his putting into the sweep"
said !. /" don't ask you to be generous, but to
be just"
i will not forgive him. Bow is it possible that
the Office could have had anything 10 do with his
making bet which, if he had lost, he could
never psygh
"HeWon it," said l. quietly, and it would have
been a most unbusiness-hke transaction if he had
not laid the money. Yes, Mr. Bunce; you have
been wrong throughout this matter hitherto, and
you are wrong now. | say that Charley would
have shown himself unworthy OF being your rea-
tive If be had not laid the odds against Palmyra
and I'll prove it. The was simply this +:
Charley drew Palmyra in this sovereign sweep, so
that II the mare had won, he would have received
(snce all the clerks subscribed toit) at least one
hundred pounds. HIS obvious duty, then, as q
man Of business-and not q merely gambling
spectator-was 10 make some portion Of the
money safe. He therefore betted fifty pounds TO
ten pounds against the mare; if she had won, he
would have cleared fifty pounds by the transaction;
end as It was although she lost, the astute young
fellow managed to secure ten pounds, minus the
sovereign originally invested"
"Ah that was twas it," said Uncle Bunce,
| locking, must say, most uncommOnly foolish.
However, yon must confess that appearances
we're much against the lad
| "NOt bit" said /. ION the contrary, they
| are very much in his favor. Come to the window
| here, and Judge for yourself; there he is at the
corner yOnder, waiting for me to whistle for him.
| Does he look like any of your cunning hsngdOg
turftes-such o. you have pictured him, or likely
| 10 grow into any such hOrrid shape? Unless be
| happens to draw favOrite in sweep a second
| time-wbch is not very likely-I will answer for
him that he will never bet in his life again. Come,
| sir, you whistle for him." And Uncle Bunce did
| whistle, as cheerfully as any backbird and as
| the young fellow ran up, he held his hand out
| through the open window, to let him know at
once that all was explained and forgiven. And
| then he came indoors, and something which had
caused TO he privately kept hot for him down
| stairs-for Uncle Bunce's cook loved the lad
| was brought up by way Of dinner, and Uncle
Bunce ard aud Charley had merry evening to-
gether after all.