Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1876-06-03

All TiSiit- ius iSPhCu <AiDert, 1ul
of animation.
So they played the fifth game. and h,
who lost was to pay for the five games
II was an exciting contest; both mad
capital runs; but in the end Albert wa
beaten by just three points, and with ;
light laugh, he went up to settle the bill
Five games-twenty cents a game-ius
one dollar. Not much that for sucl
sport; and he paid out the money with
good grace, never once seeming to fee
that he couldn't afford it.
Have cigar p said Tom.
They lighred their cigars, and ther
satlntered down the hall to watch othe
players.
By-and-by Albert found himself seatet
over against table at which some of hi:
friends were paying. and close by him
stood two gentiemen-both st, Anglers t.
hiin-One Of whom was explaining to thu
ether the mysteries of the game.
at is a healthy paslim.." said he who
had been making the explanation "ant
certainly it is one which can have no evi
tendency"
Albert heard the remarks very plainly
anu TIC Ildu d cuItOSity W h"i Niid0 wv
other. who seemed unacQuainted with
billiards, would say.
IL cannot, of course, assert that any
game which calls for skill and Judgment
and which is free from the attendant
curse OF gaming, is of itself an evil" re-
marked The second gentleman. s.Sucf
things are only evils in so tar as they ex.
cite and stimulate men beyond the
bounds of healthful recreation"
THAT result can hardly follow such q
game" said the first speaker.
"You are wrong there. The result
can follow i'm two ways. First, it can
lead men away from their business; and.
second, it can lead men to spend money
who have not that money to spare. You
will understand me. l would not cry
down the game IF billiards; for, if un-
derstood it, should certainly try you a
game now; but whenever visit place
of this kind am led to reflect upon a
most strange and prominent weakness of
human nature as developed in our sex
For istance. observe that young man
who is just now settling his bill at the
desk. He looks like mechanic; and
hould say, from his manner. and from
the fact that he feels it his duty 10 90
home at this hour, thai he has wife and
children. l see by his face hat he is
kind hearted and generous, and | should
Judge that he meant to do Us lie ,r right
as lie en-. He has been beaten, and he
pays one dollar and forty cents for the
/ creation of some two hours durs ton.
LII You observe, YOU will see that he pays
il freely. and pockets the loss with a
smile. Happy faculty! But how do
you suppose it is i'm that young mans
home? Suppose his wife had come to
him this morning and asked him for u
dollar to spend tor some tritilng thing
some household ORR 'ment, or some bit of
Jewelry for the alOrnment of her pc, son
and suppose his little child had put i'm
a plea for forty cents to buy paper dolls
and picture books with. what wOuld have
been the result? What do you think he
would have answered? Of fifty men
just like him would not five-and-foriy
have declared that they had not the
money TO spare for any such purpose
And, moreover, they would have saitl so
feeling that they were telling the truth
Am not right"
Upon my soul" responded the mai
who understood billiards, 'syOu speak tC
the point. L know that young man who
has just paid bis bill, aud YOU have moi
misjudged him i'm single particular
And, what is more, happen 10 have I,
fact at hand to illustrate your charge
We have Il club for an excellent literary
paper i'm our village, and last year that
young man was one of the subscriber
This year he felt Obliged TO disco itinue
ii. Ills wife was very anxious to take it,
for IL had become u genial companion To
her in her leisure moments but he could
not afford il. The club-rate was one do
lar and fifty cents per year."
"Aye-and so it goes" said the other
gentleman. while that mans wife
may at this very moment be wishing thai
she had her paper to read, he is paying
almost its full price for year-fOr what:
Almost for nothing. And vet see how
smilngly he does it. All! these poor. sym.
PAL HIKING wives! How many cloud;
darken upon them from The brows o.
their husbands when they ask for trifiins
sums of money, and how grldgingly the
mite is handed out when it is given
What perfect floods OF joy might tina,
dollar and forty cents poured upon the
children OF the unsuccessful billiard play
er. All it is we'll tor such wives an,
the money goes!"
The game was finished at the neares
table; the two gentlemen moved OH; an(
Albert I4andman arose from his seat anC
left the hall. Never before had he hat
just such thoughts us now possessed him
He had never dwelt upon the same group
ing of ideas. That very morning his owl
true, faithful, loving wife had been sac
and heart->ick because he had harshly
and unkindlv met her request for a small
sum OF money. And his sweet Lizzie liat
crept away to her home almost broken
hearted for the want of simple toy such
as her mates possessed. And yet the sun
OF both of their wants amounted not t.
so much as he had paid away that even
ing for billiard playing.
Albert Landman wanted to be an hon
est husband and father, and the lessor
was not lost upon him. On his way home
he stopped at Mr.. Grants, and purchased
the best and prettiest hoop to be found
with driving stick painted red and white
and blue, and in the morning, when ht
beheld his child's delight, and had re.
ceived her grateful. happy kiss, the ques.
ton came to his mind-which WAS The
best and happiest result-this, or the
five games at billiards? The hoop baC
cost thirty cents. He could play two
games less at billiards. and be the abso-
lutte gamer of ten cents by the operation
A few mornings after this, as Albell
arose from the breakfast table. he detected
an uneasy, wlstful look upon his wife.
face.
'Kate, what is it?''
"Albeit, if you could spare me half /;
dollar this morning"
Certainly. my love. Anything in rca
son to make you happy" And out cam.
the wallet, and the money was handle.
over with warm, genial smile.
What! Tears at that? Was it posi-