The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1875-11-06
rnE LOTTERY TICKET.

James tanning was a mechanic, 9
young, honest man whose highest ambi
ton was to gain comfortable living fol-
himself and wife and to be thought vel
of by his neighbors. He had built him
self house, and there still remained
upon 1t mortgage of $500 but this sum
he hoped to pay in a very few years If he
only had his health. He had calculated
exactly how long it would take him to
clear of his incumbrance, and he went ia
work with his eyes open.
One evening James came home to his
supper more thoughtful than usual. His
young wife noticed his manner and she
inquired its cause.
"What is it, James ?" she kindly asked
"Why, I never saw you look so sober be.
fore"
"Well, I'll tell you, Hannah" returned
the young man, with slight hesitation
in his manner. II have just been think
ing that I would buy lottery ticket
Hannah. Lanning did not. answer i'm.
mediately. She looked down and
smoothed the siIken hair of her babe,
which was chipping like little robin in
her arms, and the shade of her handsome
features showed that she was taking time
to think.
How much will it cost ?" she asked,
at length. looking half timidly into her
husbands face.
'Twenty dollars" returned James,
trying to assume a confidence which he
did not feel.
"And have you made up your mind
to buy it?'
well, I think I shall. What do you
think about it ?''
aft you should take my Advice, I
should say do not buy it."
"Bdt why so?"
"For many reasons" returned his wife
in a trembling lone.
She would not offend her husband, and
she shrank from giving him advice which
he might not follow.
'In the first place." she said, 81 think
the whole science of lotteries is bad
one; and then you have no money to
risk"
''But just look at the prizes" said
James, drawing a scheme" from his
pocket. "Here is one prize Of $4,000,
another of $4,000, another of s., 900 and
so on. Something tells me that if bug
a ticket shall draw large prize. And
then just think, Hannah, how easily l
should pay all up for my house, and PER
haps have a good, handsome sum left"
the young man spoke with much ear
nestness and assurance; but he saw there
was cloud upon his wife's brow.
at seems to me that the chance of
drawing prize is very doubtful" said
as she took the scheme. "Here
are many thousand tickets to be sold"
The babe tried hard to snatch the paper
and Hannah held it aside.
81 think 1 shall run the risk" resumed
James. glancing once more over the paper
md resting with nervous longing upon
he figures which represented the higher
prizes. "Theres Barney he drew about
800 year ago"
"Yes, 1 know it, said Hannah with
rore warmth than she had before mani
ested, "and what has become ofthe mon.
y? You know he has squandered it all
way. All, James, money is of no use
MESS We come honestly by it."
Honestly" repeated the young man.
Sure there is nothing sdishoncst in
rawing a prize in a lottery"
81 think there is" kindly, but en-
replied his wife. ''All games
f hazard, where money is at stake, are
ishonest. Where you draw a prize o.
wenty thousand dollars you would rob
thousand men of twenty dollars each
r at least you would take from them
honey for which you return them no
luivalent, Is it not gambling in every
snse of the word !''
"Oh, no! You look upon the matter
I too strong light"
perhaps l do; but yet so its looks to
lie. What you may draw, some one else
lust lose and perhaps it may be some I
ne who can afford the loss no better than
on can. ! wouldn't buy the ticket
ames. Let US live on the products of
onest gains and we shall be happier"
James Lanning was uneasy. He had
o answer for his wife's arguments; at
,ast no answer that could spring from
is moral convictions, and he let the s
latter drop. But the young man could
OF drive the siren from his heart. All
lie next day his head was full of {
prizes" and while he was at his work he j
ept muttering to himself, Twenty 1
lousand dollars" "Ten thousand dol q
Irs, "Five thousand dollars" and so on.
When he went home the next night he
as almost unhappy with the nervous
1xiety into which he had thrown him. ,
If The temper had grasped him firm.
:, and whenever he thought of the lot i
'ry he saw nothing but piles of gold I
nd silyes. In short James tanning had j