The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1877-11-03

accord, l knew her too well to imagine
Could inveigle her into faro bank I'm.
der pretext of prayer-meeting, engage
her attention, and then bet in her name,
persuading her afterward that the act
was the effect of her own volition:
Hardly feasible; and, even if practi-
cable, how were the other miracles
to be accomplished? My mother dane
ing! my mother laughing in church!
Unless she joined the Shakers, l could
not see how the first was to be effected.
AS for the last, monkeys might perch on
sounding and angle for clergy
mems wigs, stray dogs might run amuck
up and down the aisles, with sexton and
Sunday school children in full cry after
them, bats might flap and clergymen
blunder, but was quite sure that never
a muscle of my mothers face would
move.
With a sigh gave up the problem at
last, and sailed forth, all unconscious
that fate was working for me in a case
where was utterly helpless.
II.
1t had rained for a week-a driving,
easterly storm, with occasional interludes
OF heavy, foggy weather, low gray skies,
and damp, raw air. My mothers chest
being weak, she was debarred from all
outdoor exercise during its continuance,
and, sooth to say, the time began to hang
very heavily upon her hands. Reading
is all very well for time, but when you
have all your life been bustling nota-
BILE housekeeper, finding your highest
pleasure in new and reconcile recipes, in
scrupulous and frequent cleansings and
purifyings of your domicile from cellar to
garnet, your literary tastes are apt to rust.
In city boarding house there is little out
let for energy in any housewifely direc-
ton. Therefore it was no wonder that
my mother soon began to stray about the
parlors with forlorn and hopeless ex-
preston, wistfully watching the various
groups, each deep in the mysteries of
casino, Sancho Pedro, or such like I'M
wholesome diversion; for cards had then
happened to be mania with all of US.
Suddenly, as watched her on that es-
pecial evening, l saw her whole face
light up as she paused beside group of
four who were collected around a small
stand. Naturally strained my eyes and
ears to learn what could have produced
that look of profound satisfaction; but
my observations were in vain, until one
OF this group, rising with an apology to
the rest, politely offered his chair to my
mother. He, being comparative
stranger among US, knew nothing of her
peculiar ideas, which were no secret to
the rest of the house. | saw the look of
laughing dismay exchanged among those
who were left; then, to my unbounded
saw my mother subside
into the offered chair. In another instant
| understood it..
"Dominoesm l heard her say, in
tone of satisfaction. 81 have never
played them since was a child, but l
was very fond of them then You seem
to be playing some new game of which
do not know the rules; bat if you will
bear with my ignorance for while, |
make no doubt that l shall learn them
soon"
The others with, l fancied, slight
nesitancy began to instruct her in the |
laws of the game. Soon l heard terms |
flying freely-terms curiously familiar,
but strange and uncanny as proceeding
from my mothers lips.
A "flush," "pair," straight flush"
what could it all mean?
81 chip" cried my mothers voice, in
tones of wild excitement; but
TOO late" cries another voice. Chow
many counters have you?"
Twenty-Five" replies my mother,
blandly and unsuspiciously.
tvua TN cta 60
laid upon the table before her. She
starts back, eying it with wild dismay.
A horrible suspicion creeps across her
mind, and, looking around the table, she
gasps, family:
What-sohat have been playing?"
Amidst shout of laughter the answer
reaches her, brokenly, family, but, alas!
only too intelligibly:
Playing? Why, penny ante to be
sure. The cards were all in use, so we
have been playing poker with dominoes
by way of variety"
must pass lightly over the tableau
which followed, or my tale will be too
long; over my mothers apologies, re-
morse, fearful explanations; over her in
dignant refusal of the money; her final
acceptance of it under protest, and its
subsequent dedication to the cause of
missions. All this I must leave to your
and pass to the next scene.
III.
George had succeeded at last in her
efforts of persuasion. George Lenox
was my cousin, and my mothers favorite
niece She was married now-married
year ago to Rudolf Aronach, one of the
best fellows in the world, and they had
taken up their abode In Hoboken, that
most German of American towns. 1t
was to the celebration of their wedding
anniversary that my mother had, after
much hesitation, consented to go.
"It is to be a very quiet dinner"
George had said "but Rudolf has so
many friends who must be invited, that
we have decided to give it at the German
Club instead of our own house, which is
much too small"
I" am afraid it will be very gay and
worldly affair."" sighed my mother; I" but
George makes such point of it that,
for her sake, suppose must go. But
remember, Frederick, if I see any signs
of dancing, / leave at once, for that |
really cannot countenance by my pres
ence. There is APPOINT beyond which 1
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