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

This was in the morning. AT noon,
when he came home to his dinner,
there was cloud over the house
hold. His wife was sober, and even
little Lizzie, ,usuallysO gay and blithe-
some, was sad and silent.
But these things could not last
long in that household, for the hus-
band and wife really loved each other
devotedly, and were at heart kind and
forbearing. When Albert came to his
supper, Kate greeted him with Kiss,
and in a moment the sunshine came
back and had the lesson ended there
the husband might have fancied that
he had done something wrong, and
that the cloud had been nothing but
the eXhalation of domestic ferment
for which no one was particularly re-
Sponsible, though he might have ban
ished the conviction that women's
fashions were a nuisance and hum
bug, as well as a frightful draft upon
husbands pockets.
After tea Albert did a few chores
about the house, and then lighted
cigar and walked out. He had gone
| but a short distance when he met
Lizzie. In her right hand she was
dragging an old hoop which she had
taken from dilapidated -four barrel,
while with her left she was rubbing
her swollen eyes. She was in grief,
and was sobbing painfully. He stopp-
ed his child and asked what was the
matter
She answered as well as her sobs
would let her that the other girls had
laughed at her, and made fun of her
old hoop. They had nice, pretty
hoops, while hers was ugly and
homely.'
Never mind,' said Albert, patting
the little one on the head (for the
child's grief had touched him); 'per-
haps We'll have a new hoop some
time.'
'Mayn't l have a new one now
Mr.. Grants got one left-oh, such a
pretty one
The sobbing had ceased as the
child caught her fathers hand ca
gerly.
Not now Lizzie-not now. FL
think of it,
Sobbing again the child moved OF
towards home, dragging the hoop af
ter her.
At one cf these stores Albert Land
man met one OF his friends.
A Allp,4 NEThn+1,, ~
Nothing i'm particular
'What doS>you say to a game O.
billiards, Albert (?
Good Pm in for that
And away went Albert to the bill
lard table where he had glorious
time with his friends. He liked bill
liards. 1t was healthy, pretty
game, and Tie keeper of the hall al
lowed no rough scufts upon his prem
ises.
They had played four games. Al
bert had won two and his opponen
had won two.
That's two and two,' cried Ton
Piper, what do you say to playing
them off, Albert 2
All right; go in said Albert, ful
of animation.
So they played the fifth game, ant
he who lost was to pay for the fiv'
games. 1t was an exciting contest
: Both made capital runs, but in til,
end Albert was beaten by tire,
) points and he laughingly went VI
to settle his bill. Five games
twenty cents game-just one dol
: lar. Not much for such sport an'
he paid out the dollar with a grace
: and never seemed for once to fec
that he could not afford it.
Have a cigar said Tom.
Yes
They lighted their cigars, and the
2 Sauntered down the hall to watcl
l others play.
s Albert soon found himself seate
over against one of the tables a
V which some of his friends were play
S ing, and close by stood two gentle
men. strangers to him, one of who1
t was explaining to the other the my
!, teries Of the game.
ITS a healthy pastime,' said b
5 who had been making the explain;
: ton, and certainly it is one that ca
:, have no evil tendency.
= Albert heard the remarks plainl,
= and he had a curiosity to hear whs
the other who was unacquaintedw wit
-, billiards, would say.
Il Il cannot, of course, assert til;
70 any game which calls for skill an
is Judgment and which is free from tt
% attendant curse of gaming is of
n self an evil remarked the other ge
If tleman.
d Such things are only evil so f
If as they excite and stimulate men b
yond the bounds of a healthy recre
& tom
III THAT result can hardly folio
,e such a game,' said the first speakt
But the other shook bis head.
'u You are wrong there. The rest
IL can follow in two ways. First it ci
to lead men away from their busines
lg and second, it can lead men to spel
ad money who have not that moncy
gs spend. You will understand me.
to would not cry down the game Of |
lizards, for if understood it | Shou
be try you a game now bat wheueve
visit a place Of this kind am led
ID re lCct upon a most strange and p
-ot minent weakness Of humanity as {
he veloped in our sex. For instan
observe that young man VINO Is j
en- settling his bill at the desk. He loo
like mechanic, and | should $;
from his manner, and from the ii
that he feels it his duty to 90 ho
DO at this hour, that he has wife d
children. / see by his face that
mt is kind-hearted and generous, an
ool should judge that he means to do
near right as he can. He has bt
len beaten, and he pays one dollar {
lry forty cents for the recreation Of 81
mt two hours duration. If you obse
N L.,