Buchanan County bulletin and guardian., 1868-02-28
ny LOTTERY TICKETS.


man who bears my name aud mends my
stockings, was sitting in her low chair BY
the fire, zealously putting . stitch upon the
knee Of little Toms trowsers, turning the
piece Of cloth this way aud that, and hold
ing her head on one side to watch the eff ct.
But the stripes would all run the wrong way
while the colors we're prov okiug bright, com
pared with the faded garment.
Never mind that Mary" said I, "here's 5
. chance to throw away your patches. Hur>
rah for lovely country seat ON the Hudson,
ffty shares of bank stock, house in town
or anything else you wish, and all for a dol>
lsrsw
"Now, Thomss," said she, aud when she
wished to be particularly severe she always
called me Thomas, what are you thinking
abou, 2"
"A gift enterprise, Mollie tickets only a
dollar, and shurc to draw . prise" read
the heading and displayed the long list OF
prizes. What do you think Of that ? shout
ed !. triamphan,ly.
II Think" she said, laughing, ",hat il
you make SO much noise you will wake the
baby Then, seeing that looked annoy
ed: But do not think that lotteries are
just right, especially for church members.
DO you ?"
20, nonsense never saw church Fair
in my life that did not have grab boxes and
lotteries. l shouldn't dare to say how many
dollars | have spent Ga them, and never
drew anything either"
She looked roguishiy at me. Don't you
think, then, you are most too old to be-
gin?''
ut may as well be | as any one, and it is
no great matter-only dollar"
know Tom," aud the wise little woman
looked grave, =" hr' we haven't many dollars
70 throw away a.l she held up the bsby's
socks with . good sized hole in each heel.
Aud little Toms school bill comes due
next week."
laid down my paper and tried to speak
very convincingly. sNow, Nolie, il is sill
very well tojog on day after day, earning
and spending just SO much, but one likes to
venture once in while, just for the excite.
ment Of the thing, it nothing more"
Yes, Tom, don't you remember the
share in the oil well r
"Ys-e-es," said l, slowly, for It was rath-
er An unpleasant topic of conversation to
me. had invested the little sum LEFT me
BY maiden aunt in an oil company, against
Mary's good judgment. Capital q million
dollars more or less. oil wells flowing night
aud day on the land Of the next company,
Just over the fence. was very much elias
ted. And promised Mary, among other
things, a new black silk dress We had seen
displayed in some show window. Well, they
bored and bored, throwing up great deal
Of drift, and great deal Of water, but not .
drop Of oil aud just as they were about to
begin in new spot, the Treasurer, or some
one else, ran away with the funds, aud that
ended the whole affair. Mary like . good
little woman, never reproae he'd me, but when
I came home one day and found her turning
her old merino inside down, l telt-well |
can't tell how but thought Of that black
silk dress that she was to have.
"Aud oh T. she continued "don't you re-
member the patent hour>sittcr?' and she
laughed outright. So did l, when thought
Of the spectacle presented when CHANGED
% turn the crank the wrong way and the
6our 6ev in every direction.
But made up my mind to buy one Of
these tickets, SO invested on my way down
town. Thought might just as well buy
one for Mary and one for little Tom. too.
showed them TO her wheu | went home to
dinner.
"Not three o, Tom, how could your"
aid she looked really agrieved. While !.
thinking it pity it l must account for every
penny / spent, assumed the dignifed air
which the occasion seemed to demand. and
the meal passed in silence. Iwent home at
night to ind her sewing rs usual.
My conscience gave an uncomfortable
twinge as she looked up pleasantly, and then
turned 10 the great basket Of work. If she
only had sewing machine. Perhaps
should draw one, and l grew happy over the
thought, imagining her surprise when l sent
| il home unex pectedly. She would not think
me uuwise then in having bought the tick
cts.
Lite Tom interrupted my revcrie with
"Oh, father, old Susan, who used to work
for US has been here to-day. She has burn.
ed her hand so she can't work. Mrs. Briggs
gave her . dollar Mother said she couldn'l
give her any money, but she put some salvs
on her hand and gave her something to eat.
did not look at Mary, but contrived to turn
Toms thoughts into another channel.
Nor Was any more comfortable, the nexI
day 70 overhcar, when passing through the
hall, her in conversation with . friend
"No' she was saying, shall not subscribe
u the reading clubs this winter. can,
very well spare the two dollars"
Well, the day went BY without our saving
. word more about it. ! grew little ner,'
ous as the time Of drawing the prizes drew
near, and opened my morning paper viii
some trepida,icn. At length my eyes wer'
greeted with long list ofthe fortunate mum
bers which had drawn the latgest prizes.
resd them slI oyer carefully fsosp f-ss Il