Orangeburg news and times. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1875-1877, 1877-07-21
A Gamblers Sermon.

His clothes were good, Of The latest
pattern and most fashionable cut.
His watch chain was the heaviest OF
the heavy, and rs fine as the gold Of
Ophir. 1T surpassed in richness The
gold Chain thai the King hung about
the neck Of the young prophet Dan
iel. His boots were highly polishcd d, ,
and shonc like The exterior Of fine
black walnut collins. His dia mond
pin twinklcd like the evening star in
summer sky. His shirt bosom was
as white us al infants soul, but his
eyes were sad and his voice was us
sorrowlul and sorrowing us the vail
ing Of the winds in the droopins
branches Of the weeping willow. lie
tapped his boot with his natty ivory
headed cane, slipped down in his
chair, to give the base Of his spinal
column q rest, pulled his hat over his
eyes, and Ianguidly said which pain
fully indicated .nat the gambler had
struck loser, had coppcrcl i'll the
wrong place: "Faro is IL fascinating
game In all the games for gamb-
ling it has no equal. A mans fool
to play it, but it catches the oldest Of
en-. The chances, on the closest
calculations arc three to one on each
play Ut the outset against the player;
occasionally VIC strikca winner, but
VIC only win to lose. The most pros
porous Of lis die in the guttcr-un
known, forgotten and deserted. Luck
only smiles OH us for IL brief season,
and when tcklc fortune deserts MS +.
she never roosis above our door S
again Few OF las are wise enough
to save iii luck, in order 10 live in i,
rainy day. Bat while We live, VIC
live, and after all, that is all there is
OF life The hereafter is Il chance.
and The old man has pui up the card S
so well that nobody has ever called
the turn. lisa cat hop al the best.
We are not utterly hcartlcss. It
makes NY heart ache to see now
many young men are drawn into the
vortex anal down to ruin. They be
g'n on Il game of baseball. They
lose on horse race, get caught 1T !,
friendly game Of draw; anu in an evil
hour try to get even OH faro. They
often win Oh The first venture, but il
Is Il terrible success. They always
pay 1000 per cent, on the first win
nlng and often they p lay life and
blood on the investment. The first
winning opens the fascinating roa.!
to hell; builds up Il barrier behind
thtm which few ever climb to rcfor-
nation. a little sentimental, amt
|? Have somc:hing? You don,
drink? Good. Barkccpcr, give me
q whiskcy punch light! I'm blue to-
day. Gambling and its attending
cXcitcmcnts burn all the stamina out
OF q man, but, thank God! it can not,
docs not, blot out his sympathics. |
wish | had never touched Il card but
an, Il born gambler. It's iumc; il
always was; and Pm in for il until The
deal is out. | hate to sec young men
OF promise ut a gaming table. They
have mothers and sisters who love
them; they have good situations and
employers who trust them; but the
day they set foot inside IL gambling
room their fate is scaled. I have u
case in mind now. "A fine fellow, who
Il short time since va, agent for Il
New York varnish house and com
mandcd salary Of $4,000 Il year, in
travelling got lonely. lie yambcd
for amusement when his business was
over. lie fooled with the tiger, put
his hands through the bars, pcttcd
the beast, and suddenly found himself
torn to pieces. To-day he is an out
cast-drunkcn, broken, deserted.
would advise every young man who
has n business never TO cross the
threshold Of q gambling-housc. [
have made big winnings and l have