Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-01-22

ngures winch represented the higher prizes
There is Barney he drew about $500 year
ago"
YES, know it, said Hannah. with more
warmth than she had manifested, 'and what
has become Of the money! You know he
has squandered it all away. All, James,
money is of no use unless we come honestly
by it,
Honestly" repeated the young man.
"Surely. there's nothing dishonest in draw
ing prize In lottery"
IL think there is kindly, but emphatical-
ly, returned the wife. AN games Of haz-
ard where money is ut stake are dishonest
Were you to draw prize of $4,000, you
would rob one thousand men of 500 each;
or ut least you would take from them mon
cy for which you returned them no equva-
lent. Is It not gambling in every sense of
the wordPn
ooh, no! You look upon the matter in too
strong light"
Perhaps do; but just so il looks to me.
What you draw some one else must lose;
and perhaps it may be some ono who can af-
ford the loss no better than you can.
would not buy II ticket, JAN cs. Lot us live
on the product of our honest gains, and we
shall he happier"
James Ianning was uneasy. lie had no
answer for his wiie's argument, at least,
none that could spring from his moral con-
victions, and he let the matter drop. But
the young man could not drive the syren
from his heart. All the next day his head
was full of prizes, and while he was mt his
work he Kept mutterng to himself $50 =
900, $4,000 IS, O0O,n and so on.
When he went home the next night he
was almost unhappy with the nervous ankle
ty into which he had thrown himself Tho
temp;er had grasped him firmly, and when
ever he thought of the lottery he thought Of
nothing but piles of gold and silver. In
short, James tanning had made up his mind
that he would buy tho ticket. lie went to
the little box where he already had Sl2o laid
up toward paying of the mortgage from his
house. The lock clicked with startling
sound. and when he drew back the cover he
hesilated He looked ut his wife aud saw
| that she was sad.
"Oh I'm suro shall draw prize :" he
said, with faint, fading smile.
lie took two eagles from the box, and put
them into his pocket. His wife said nothing.
She played with her babe to hide her sad
ness, for she did not wish to say more on the
subject. She had seen the little pile of gold
gradually accommodating, and both she and
her husband had been happy in anticipating
the day when the pretty cottage would be
their own But when she saw those four
pieces of gold taken away from the store,
she felt forcshadowng OF evil. She might
have spoken again against the movement,
but she saw that her husband was sorely
tender on the subject, and she let the affair
20 to the hands of fate.
A week elapsed from the time that James
bought his ticket to the drawing of the lot
terry, and during that time the young man
had not moment of real enjoyment. He
was alternating between hope and fear. and,
therefore, his mind was constantly ON the
| stretch.
At length the day arrived. James went
to the office, and found that the drawing had
taken place, and that the list of prizes had
been made out. lie seized the list and
turned away, so that those standing around
should not see his face. lie read the list
through, but he searched for his number in
vain. It was not there. lie had drawn II
blank, He left the office an unhappy man.
That $50 which he had lost had been the
savings of two months of hard labor, and he
felt the loss most keenly.
When he returned home that night hS
told his wife he had lost. She found no fault
with him. She only kissed HIM, and told
him that the lesson was good one, even
though it had been dearly bought.
But James tanning was not satisfied. He
brooded over his loss with y bitter spirit
and Mt last the thought came to him that he
might yet draw prize. lie wished that he
had not bought the first ticket, and hC
thought if he could only get back his $50 he
would buy no more, but he could not res
under the loss lIc was determined to make
one more trial, and he did so. This time III
purchased the ticket without his wife,
knowledge. The result was the same rs be
fore. He drew u blank!
Forty dolars" was the sentence thai
dwelt fearlully upon the young mechanic''
lips.
"Oh, must draw prizcm he exclaimed
to himself. 81 must mako up what have
lost. Let me once do that and I'll buy NJ
more tickets
Another 800 was taken from the it'll
bank, another ticket was bought, anothe
blank was drawn.
, At the end of three months the little banl
| \ hoI . bn lac
ticket in his pocket. All. how earnestly h
prayed that the last ticket might draw
T prize! lie had become pale and careworn
and his wife, poor, confiding soul, though
| he only repined because he had lost $50
When she would try to cheer him, he woulC
laugh, and try to make the matter light.
james" said his wife one day-it wa
$ the day before that on which the lottery wa,
5 to be drawn IN which he held the sixth tick0
= MIR. Rowse has been here to-day ate
his semi-annual interest | told MIN YOU
would see him tomorrow"
YES, wll,n said James, in faint tone
"Yes, tomorrow | shall pay him"
, Young tanning thought OF the lottery an
5 of the prize This was his sixth trial, an,
| he felt sure that no should draw.
The morrow come; and when james Ian
= ming returned to his home that night he wa
Q penniless! All his golden visions had flee
, away, and he was left in darkness and mi:
@ cry.
4 james. have you paid Mr.. Rowse his in
terest YETI asked Hannah
t The young man leaned his head upon hi
| hands and groaned aloud.
"For Heavens sake, james, what has hap
& poned?" cried the startled wife, springng t
t the side of her husband, and twiniug he
arms about his neck.
y The young man looked up with wild
| hn0gord nxnroggion IIia Inns I,vpra hIood