The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1874-03-17
John Ogden's Last Bet

John Ogden had contracted very bad
habit-a dangerous and sinful habit
Had any one suggested to him game Of
cards to be played for money, he would
not have listened and yet he was grow.
ing to be gambler, Notwithstanding
His sin was that of betting, aud it had Sc
grown upon him that he would bet upon
the result Of things most trivial or most
grave. He was young man not more
than eight.and-twenty. with wife and
two children-a wife true and loving, and
children bright and good. And John
was a good, kind husband, and an even.
tempered, indulgent father. IIo was q
book keeper in a mercantile house. upon
salary more than sufficient for all bis
proper wants.
John Ogden's betting had come to be
a matter OF emphasis and determination.
The habit had SO fastened itself upon him
that he could bet off.hand and pay loss
or take a winning, as matter of course.
Susan he said, one evening with rad.
liant face, i have won fifty dollars to.
day
How !? asked tie wife, with shadow
upon her face
j bet fifty dollars that popkins would
be elected over Shrmway, aud Popkins
was elected, Handsomely
Whom did you bet with, John !?
with Charles Ashcroft
And you took his fifty dollars ?
'Certainly,--whJ shouldn't |? lie
fairly lost
And you | suppose, fairly Won
'Of course | did
And do you think Charles Ashcroft
was able to bear the loss?
That isn't my lookout
Il am sorry, John. wish you would
put away that habit. Only evil can
come Of it,
'Pshaw y
Evil has already come, John. Your
heart is growing callous and hard. Time
was when you could not have taken fifty
dollars from poor and needy family
without feeling of shame and compunc'
ton
Hold oil, Susan | don't want an
other lecture. l know what l nm up to
You don't know 80 much Of the world al
l do
And with this, John Ogden took his
hat and went out-went out like COW.
ard, knowing that if he entered into argu
ment with,her she would twist him into 0
labyrinth from which he could only es
cape by an angry bolt,
Haitian hour later Peter Cartwright,
came in, He was year or two Older
than John, aud was Susan's cousin--only
cousin by blood, but as they had beer
brought up from early childhood together
they were like brother and sister in lit
aud love. Peter sat down, and chattec
aw hile, and found his cousin not so cheer
full as usual.
You are not well, Susan 2
i am well in body, Peter. but sore al
heart
What is it p
i fear not to speak to you freely.
am worrying about John. His habit oi
betting is taking deeper and deeper root
To-day he has won fifty dollars iron
Charles Aschroft op the result of al
election. Last week he won forty dollar
on the race.course. know his temper
ament, He is headstrong and impu!sive
Can you not see the danger?'
Yes, Susan, l have seen it this lonl
time, but have not dared to speak Of it
If John were cold.blooded and calculat
ing, he might occasionally bet with dan
ger only OF doing wrong to those iron
whom he won the money, but as it is,witl
his impulsive, mercurial temperament
there is other danger
Il wish you could influence him, Peter
Il wish | could; but fear he woul
not listen
Cartwright took out his watch, an
said he must be going. He had left
friend at the Ashton House, aud must q
back to him.
Il came down. he added. 80 get Joh
to call up with me. You remember Fran
Powcrs?'
Certainly said Susan. with bright
ening eye. i was reading of him in ia
paper last uight. iic has been made
colonel
Yes returned Peter, 'and has CON
home minus an arm, lost at Antietam.'
Il should like to see him.
lie shall call. He will be glad,
know
Peter had arisen, and got as far as II
door, where he stopped aud turned.
Susan he said, Il have an ide
Isn't John saving up money with whic
to pay off the mortgage on his house
Yes. lie has almost enough. II
mortgage is eleven hundred and fifty do
lars. and he has u thousand Of it in Il
bank