American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1869-03-20

ed? Of fifty men just like him, would
not forty -and-fve have declared that
they had not money to spend for any
such purpose? And moreover they
would have said so feeling that they
were telling the truth. Am | not
right ?
Upon my souI,' responded the
man who understood billiards, you
speak to the point. / know that
young man who has just paid his
bill, and you have not misjudged
him in a single particular. And
what's more, | happen to have a fact
at hand to illustrate your charge.
We have club for an excellent lite
rary paper in our village, and last
year that man was one of our sub
scribers. This year he felt obliged
to discontinue it. His wife was very
anxious to take it, for it had become
a genial companion in leisure mo-
but he could not afford it.
The club rate was one dollar and fiji
ty cents year
AYE, and so it goes,' said the
other gentleman. Well, that mans
wife may be wishing at this moment
that she had her paper TO read, while
he is paying almost its full price for
a year-for what? And yet how
smilingly he does it. All, these poor
sympathizing wives! How many
clouds often darllen upon them from
the brows of their husbands when
they ask for trifiing sums of money.
and how grudgingly the mite is
handed over when it is given! What
perfect floods Of JOY might that dol
lar and forty cents have poured upon
the children Of the unsuccessful bill
lard player! All, it is well for such
wives and children that they do not
know where the money all goes
They had finished at the nearest
table. The two gentlemen moved
on, and Albert Landman arose from
his seat and left the hall. Never be
! fore had he such thoughts as now
possessed him; he had never dwelt
upon the same grouping ideas. That
very morning his own true, faithful
loving wife had been sad and heart
sick because he had harshly and un
kindly 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 a
simple toy, such as her mates pos
sessed. And yet the sum of botl
their wants amounted to not as much
as he had paid away that evening
for billiard playing.
Albert Landman wanted to be al
honest husband and father, and the
lesson was not lost upon him. On
his way home he stopped at Mr.
Grants, and purchased the best anf
prettiest hoop to be found, with dri
wing stick painted red, white anC
blue, and in the morning when h'
beheld the child'S delight, and haC
received her grateful, happy kiss
the question came to his mind
Which was the best and happiest re
suit, this or the five games of bil
liards ? The hoop had cost thirty
cents. He could play two games %
billiards less, and be the absolut;
gamer of ten cents by the pleasan
operation.
A few mornings after this, as Al
bert arose from the breakfast table
he detected an uneasy, wistful lool
upon his wife'S face.
Kate, what is itP
ALBERT, could you spare me hal
a dollar this morning ?
Certainly, my love. Anything il
reason to make you happy
And out came the wallet. and tn
money was handed over with warm
genial smile.
What! Tears at that Was i
possible that she had been so littl
used to such scenes on his part tina
so simple an act of loving kindncs
thus affected her ?
How many games of billiard
: would be required to give such SAT
: isfaction as Albert IIandman carrie
with him that morning to the shop
A very simple lesson, is it not
Bnt how many may gain lasting pre-
: fit by giving heed to the lesson !