The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1875-11-24
THE LOTTERY TICKET.

There was a time when lotteries
we're very common things, quite legal,
and by no means disreputable, and
when very worthy people bought tick
cts and made no secret of the matter
1t was good while ago, of course, and
you would have to look for the elderly
gentleman who, one night, about dark,
walked into q lottery Office for the
purpose Of buying a ticket. He had
tight boots ana tight trowsers with
straps. The fur collar of his coat
stood up above his ears; and he wore
that awful thing, stock about his
throat. He was in the height of that
years fashion, and was regarded by
those who met him rather with admir-.
alton than with the stare of astonish-
ment with which we should greet him
now--with which, indeed, we should
greet any Of the ladies or gentlemen
of that year. The gentlemen, habited
as above, with curly, bell-shaped hats
upon their heads, and twisted canes in
their hands. The ladies in coal-scut-
tie hpnnets aud log.of-mutton sleeves;
and two straight breadths and two
cores in their skirts, which were short,
and showed the low slippers and silk
stockings; and with long,stEinged
work bags on their arms, and big par.
asols over the big bonnets, before
which hung curtaics of black or white
lace which they called wells.
Mr.. Rogers-for that was this geu-
tleman's name-stepped up 10 the
counter, and asked to look at tickets.
Perhaps he had the superstition that
there was luck in odd numbers-for,
as soon as they were spread before him,
he decided on number sever hundred
and seventy.seven, paid its price, and
walked off with it in his waistcoat
pocket. As he turned the corner, the
poster on the wall seemed to be writ
ten especially for him-"The capital
prize, two thousand pounds. Tickets,
one pound each. Don't delayr'
81 had dream that mealt luck
last night" said Mr.. Rogers to him
self; "and I've fancy that / shall
draw the great prize. That's splen-
did number" !"
Then he turred another corner, and
spied face peeping out Of the win.
dow of small house-the face OF
Mrs. Rogers, who feared Mr.. RS ia.
vorite dish was spelling.
THAT repinGs me-" said Mr.. Rog
ers, 81 mustn't tell Esmeralda. The
luck is spoilt if one tells of the ticket
And she'd talk SO much Of it-womer
will talk so much" !"
So Mr.. Rogers drank his tea ant
said nothing of his lottery ticket
which he hid at the bottom of hi
trunk--a bulging, hair covered thing
with T. r. on the side in brass nails
But though he said nothing, his minC
was full of it. lie thought of tina
capital prize while he at his breakfast
he dined OF it; he dreamt of it. II,
was school master; and while rulin!
the boys copy-books and setting copie
for them, he was so filled with th
idea that all the boys who had reach
ed "P" had "Prize" written for them
and all the boys who had come to "D
had "Draw, Drawn, Drawing" befor
their ewes, while those in opp copie'
"Tick, Ticket-Tick, Ticket" all th
writiug-hours.
Little Mrs. Rogers, who was muc
younger than her husband, saw tina
something was on his mind, but di
not dare to ask what it was. He toss
} ed and turned in his sleep, and scrit
bled sevens on the newspapers, and o
backs of letters, and even wrote th
magic figure on his nails with n lead
pencil. And once, in a moment {
= excitement, caused by sombodY askin
the day of the month, he said wit
great feryor:
!" "Ahl only wish it was the first
next month";
"Why, dear?" asked Mrs. Roger
"Ohp said Mr.. Rodgers; cts
my birthday you know"
=. "Oh, yes? SO it is, said Mrs. RoI
m ers; "but never knew you cared fC
"a birthdays, my dear"
T. And Mr.. Rogers did not tell hi
r that the lottery-drawing took place c
r the first of September. 1t was brea.
fast-time when this remark was mad
Mrs. Rogers sat over the table lor
after her spouse had left, wonderiI
what sort Of present she could NAL
him for his birthday.
es es She had not a penny Of her ow
nor had she any means of earning Oh
And to send man birthday prese
av for which the bill must come in
him, might not be considered a de
ooto ottant;on ayaD from n Wife