Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1869-12-02
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ger in a strange land Hay
ing some necessary leisure OF
hands, | was employing it in read
ing the county newspaper, tha
had just been placed in the read
ing-room. The first item that met
my eye was something like this
"Fair at tie Chmcb.-Last
Tuesday evening the ladies Of the
Church of x, gave a most
brilliant entertainment. The fail
was the most decided success OF
the season. Many of the most
costly articles we're disposed Of by
taking shares, &c., and there was
evident interest taken in all the
chances. The proceeds netted -
dollars, and will be appropriated
toward redtting their house Of wor-
ship"
Just then a couple of men, whose
calling / could not mistake, seat
ed themselves near me.
"Smith," says the younger of
the two, "what did you make
Tuesday evening, at the religious
lottery? l saw you take chances
in almost everything. The ladies'
seemed to regard you as Of great
assistance to them for once"
eyes, that was just in my line.
'Tisn't often a fellow can gamble
with the approval of the ladies,
and get thanked for it. I didn't
make much; don't know as l came
out even. But then it did fel-
lows soul good all over. Preacher
and me had our names down in
the same spec, time and again
Bye the bye, I think its the best
thing that's happened for our bust
ness for a long time"
"Why, how do you make that
out2"
"You see, it shows that there's
wrong in the thing itself
If there was, those sanctimonious
old fellows wouldn't have been in
it. You see their principle is just
exactly the same. Pay your
money and take your chances"
"Only they had the most Of the
bargain. But then there's this diff
ference, Didn't old Mrs. A, say,
the end sanctilles the means or
something to that effect? You
don't mean to say that we are on
the same footing ?"
"Why not? They want to re
scat the church, It'll take just so
many dollars to do the job. In
stead of taking out their pocket
books and paying for it with mon
ey they have earned, they make q
lottery and win the stamps. 1t is
easier, you know, than the old
fashioned way. Well, don't like
TO work, and pay for my clothes
and hotel bills; so l win money
and pay the tailor and the land
lord. Don't l need coat and din
ner Just as much as their church
needs reseating? Certainly. That's
why say they've made us respect
lble-they've proved that the end
Iustifes the means"
"Well, that's true, and l guess
we'll here none of those people
light of our business any
more"
"Tho only danger is, they'll mo-
nopolize the business. | rather
guess, though, that they will help
US considerably, for we will hunt
down t1e game that is started
Sick at heart by overhearing
these fellows, l tried to put some
bitter thoughts out OF sight and out
Of mind. But the passbrs- by had
here and there a word Of comment
On the fair. l saw it was the latest
sensation and the theme of themes.
| soon came upon very quiet
street, all overhung with the foliage
Of trees-just the place for calm
ing my aroused spirits. A lady
and her son, a lad some sixteen
years old, walked on before me, in
silence, for some time. AT last the
mother broke out abruptly:
"Why, Charley, how can you
think of such a thing? Don't you
know, my son, that is the sure
road to ruin? To buy a lottery
ticket-my child to become a gam
bier p
"Ilother, I don't see how you can
look at it in that way. | bought a
chance in yourcake, Tuesday night,
and saw you going round to lots OF
people, insisting on their investing
with you"
"Why, my child, that was for
the church!"
"Iknow it, and this is for me-
If | make a good thing of it, l
don't mind letting you have some
oft to help out your cake money
Charley, you don't speak re-
of your mother. You
don't think my helping to raise
money for the church was anything
like this conduct of yours in buy
inc a lottery ticket?"
"Whether it was or not, mother,
we boys can't see the difference
We had q jolly time of it for the
benefit of the church, and we pro
pose to have a jolly time of it for
ourselves, from this out. / know
you can't object now, SO l keep in
respectable company
MY boy, you don't talk like the
good child you have been before.
Do you learn such lessons in your
school :"
"No, l learned them ofmy moth
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