Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1876-02-05
THE NEW CONVERT;

THE NEW CONVERT;
)R THE CAUSE OF THE FINANCIAL DIFFIcUL
TIES OF BETHEL.
Twas the Converted Gambler
Came to the sanctuary
And made profession that he bad
Atjured lniquity.
"Brethering, quotha, 10 voice that came
Through his pose, but from his heart,
$50, | will shuttle the cards again,
And make novel start.
have wallowed in the husks of sin
And fed on prodigal swine,
But now | hope there's change OF suit
In this carnal heart of mine.
Lay by, lay by the taro-box.
The thimbles, and the pea,
The ways Of Logan and Of Schenck
HeDceforth are not for noe.
Then sang the brethren all 1.-The year
Of jubilee has come
And said the pastor meek: Return,
Ye ransomed sinner, home.
Aud Weeping Tom OF Coventry,
One of the Church's piers,
He fell upon that gamblers neck
And shed three pecks oftears.
The gambler coughed husky cough
And 10 his poke felt he;
Thence took and cast upon the board
Before them pastboards three.
''Lie there, lie there, ye tools accurst,
Fell instruments of sin,
That ne er again will | employ
To take the verdaut in. -
"Little know l." said that pastorr meek,
"Ofthe ways of gambling men,
A. hn 0tr "a
blind
Or catch the hapless ten:
We'll we're it if our brother new
Exposed this wicked vile,
And so made wise for their defense
These brethren withcur guile.
The gambler thus: "Hrre are Jack,
A Seven and Three,
And men of sin they wager stamps
WElch so the Jack may be;
Then under, and over, and under again
He threw the three card monte.
Simple the tricks" said that pastor meek,
"Wberewith Satan gulls his slave;
The middle card it is the Jack.
Coed sooth, it was the knave.
Then round the gambler Weeping Tom
Aud the other brethren pressed,
And where the Jack was at each deal
lntallibly they guessed.
IL have dealt in the tents of wickedness
Long time" did that gambler say,
But | never did buck agin such fool luck
As hath been yours this day.
Full we'll wot that betting is not
10 the line of godly men,
But I'll lay my pile on the altar if
Ycu can spot the Jack again"
Ard as he said these words his hands,
Unnerved, the cards did spill,
Aud be did DOT gather the Seven and Three
From off the floor until
Good Weeping rom had marked the back
Of the Jack with his lead pencil.
trow there was excitement
Mopg the brethren at that sight,
And each said to the other:
Lets spoil the Amalekite.
'He is given us for spoil and prey,
Pursue, o'eltake, destroy.
Weeping Tom shed nigh hogshead
OF tears OF pious Joy.
They dived deep 10 their pockets
For their porte -monnaies aud then
They anted up $50 that gambler said)
Like so macy little men.
The treasurer bet the library fund;
The pew-rentS the trustee;
The pastor meek put down the check
For his quarter salary.
Oetogcnarlap brothers wed
With sisters iu their teens,
And bet their subss .nce on the Jack
According to their means.
Y X
Over under, to left, to right,
He threw the threc-card monte,
And Weeping Tom seized the card whose
back
Was marked with his pencil free:
"'Tis the Jack ! ! " all cried with honest
pride.
Aud, 10! it was the THREEl
Like dove, that night at the ferry-house
Weeping Tom be incurred full sore
As he borrowed two cents from that gamb-
Ter good
10 cross the river DER.
And tue pastor meek he mortgaged his
house,
And whenever brothers took ''pards.
sporting for 'par' uers') J for life you saw
IL the marriage notice No Cards"
-Mac lorh; World