The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1868-01-24
BDDEFoRD, Me-, FRIDAY MORNING, JANUARY "a, 1868.


which the occasion seemed to demand, and
the meal passed in silence. ! went home
ut night to find her sewing as usual. My
conscience gave an uncomfortable twinge
as she looked up pleasantly and then turned
to tho great basket Of work. II she only
had sewing machine. Perhaps should
draw one, and I grew happy over the
thought, imagining her surprise when
sent it home Unexpectedly. She would
not think me unwise then in having bonght
the tickets. .... ...
Little Tom interrupted my reverie with
"Oh. father, old Susan, who used to work
for us, has been here to-day. She has
burned her hand so she can't work. Mrs.
Briggs gave her dollar. Mother said she
couldn't give her any money, but she put
some salve on her hand and gave her
something to cat" I did not look at Mary
but con,rived to turn Toms thoughts into
another channel.
Nor wns Iany moro comfortable tho next
day, to overhear, when passing through the
hall, her conversation with friend. "No,"
she WIS saying, III shall not subscribe to
the reading club this winter. ] can't very
well spare the two dollars"
Well, tho days went by without o,ir say
ing a word moro al'out 1t. lgrew little
nervous as tho time OF drawing the prizes
drew near, and opened my morning paper
with somo tropida,ion. At lsngth my eyes
were greeted with a long list Of tho fortu.
nate numbers which had drawn the larger
prizes. read them all over carefully from
first to last. But in vain, my numbers were
not there.
In day or two another list appeared,
which I read with tho same result. At
last, among those which drew prize worth
less than dollar, found my own.
"lom," said my friend, whose office was
next to mine, "don't you think Jones was
fool enough to buy ticket In that enter
prise.
WINGED, but said nothiug, and he went
on. "What do you think ho drew7 A
duuby print Of Washington, anda pair OF
eighteen carat brass buttons |! Tie consoles
himself with the, ,adsgo live and learn,
but I think, "a fool and his money, etc..
more appropriate"
Imado some reply and lea him. ]
thought would not carry home the news
paper that night. was ashamed to have
Mary see il. But as We sat before the fire
after tea ..... .-
aWhy, Tom" said she "whero's your
paper?" had intended to say that for.
got il. but l dolly any ono 10 look Into
AIay's clear brown eyes and tell a lie. So
Just told her the whole truth.
I lelieye if she had scolded, or said, ~
told you so," should have put on my hnt
and left ri,o house. bu, her only reisnrk
was: "Never mind, Tom; we'll know bet.
ter next time." ..
DO you wonder that l think her won.
,lerfll little woman? ! made great re-
solve that night, add ! have not bought a
lunch down town nor smoked cigar for a
month. Even my pipe and paper Of KILL
kinick are laid away on high shelf out
Of the way Of temptation. And when
Mary asks what has become Of my pipe, ]
look sober aud reply that think smoking
tlisagrees with mo but laugh to myself
us think ofthe sewing machine that will
stand in the corner by the window before
many months, and the rest that will come
to those busy fingers leven stepped into
brown & Smiths to enquire the price Of
their best black silks; but that dare not
think OF at present.
It las been, after all, good lesson bnt
I think il will be my last. as Il was my
first, experience in lottery tickets.