Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1868-07-15

got one left-oh, such pretty ONE
The sobbing had ceased as the child caught
her fathers hand eagerly.
''Not now, Lizzie-not now. TlF shink
of it,
Sobbing again, the child moved on to-
wards home, dragging the old hoop after
her.
At one of the stores Albert Landman met
some of his friends.
''Halloo, Albert ~
what do you say to game of billiards?''
Good | am in for that
And Albert went to the billiard hall, where
he had glorious time with his friends. He
liked billiards; twas healthy pretty game
and the keeper of the hall allowed no rough
scuffs on his premises.
They had played four games. Albert had
won two and his opponent had won two.
That's two and two,'' cried Tom Piper
What do you say to playing them off?
''All right, go in,' said Albert, full of an
imatiOn.
So they played the fifth game. and he who
lost was to pay for the five games. 1t was
|
runs, but in the end Albert was beaten by
three points; and with little laugh he
went up to settle the bill. Five games, 20
cents game just 81. Not much for such
| sport, and he paid out the money with grace,
and never once seeming to feel that he could
not afford it. The two then lighted their
| cigars and sauntered down the hall to watch
| others play. Albert soon found himself
seated by a table at which some of his
friends were playing, and close by stood two
gentlemen, strangers to him, one of whom
was explaining to the other the mysteries of
the game.
''It is healthy pastime," said he who
had been making the explanation, ''and GER
tainly it is one which has no evil tendency.
Albert heard the remarks very plainly,
and he had a curiosity 10 hear what the 9TH
er, who seemed unacquainted with billiards,
would say
81 cannot, of course, assert that any game
which calls for skill and judgment, and is
free from the attendant curse of gaming. is
of itself an evil remarked the second gen.
tleman. Such things are only evil so far
ti4uy Us1vfse ana sJIinulaUe rieu pryuIr uiiU
bounds of healthful recreation"
That result can scarcely follow such
game" said the first speaker.
But the other shook his head.
''You are wrong there. The result can
follow in two ways First, it can lead men
away from their business second, it can
lead men to spend money, who have not
money to spend You will understand me,
| would not cry down the game of billiards,
for if | understood it | should certainly try
you a game now; but whenever visit a
place of this kind am led to reflect upon
most strange and promineno weakness of
humanity Is developed in our sex. For in
stance, observe that young man who is just
settling his bill at the desk. He looks like
a mechanic, and should say from his man
ner, 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 l shonld
Judge that he means to do about as near
right as he can. He has been beaten an d
he pays Sl40 for the recreation of some two
hours duration. If you would observe you
would see that he pays it freely and pockets
the loss with smile. Happy faculty! How
do you suppose it is in that young man S
home? Suppose his wife had come to him
! this morning and asked for dollar to
spend tor some tr1aing thing-some house
hold ornament, or some bit of jewelry to
ador1 her person; and suppose his little
chill had put in plea for forty cents to buy
paper and picture books with, what do you
think he would have answered? Of fifty
men Just like him, would forty five have de-
clared that they had no money to spare for
any such purpose? And moreover, they
would have said SO feeling that they were
! telling the truth. Am | not right p
Upon my SOUL" responded the man who
understood billiards, ''you speak to the point.
| know that young man who has paid his
bill, and you have not misjudged him In
single particular. And, what Is more, L
happen to have fact at hand to illustrate
your charge. We have club for an excel
lent paper in our village, and last year that
man was one of our subscribers. This year
he felt obliged to discontinue it. His wife
was very anxious to take it, for it had be-
come genial companion in leisure moments,
but he could not afford it. The club rate
was one dollar and fifty cents year.
They had finished at the nearest table.
The two gentlemen moved on, and Albert
Landman arose from his seat and left the
house. Never before had he such thoughts
as now possessed him; he had never dwelt
upon the same grouping of ideas. That
very morning his own true, faithful, loving
wife had been sad and heart-sick because he
had harshly and unkindly met her request
for small sum of money. And his sweet
Lizzie had crept away to her home almost
broken hearted for the want of single toy,
such as her mates possessed.
Albert Landman wanted to be an honest
husband and father, and the lesson was not
lost upon him. On his way home he stop
ped at Mr.. Grants and purchased the best
and prettiest hoop to be found, with riding
l knA L