Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1880-07-21

hcil NUN tWV o"""'~'s ""s's"P"" Wv
: three companions took each one more
Then three men In the crowd doubled
up
Two more chances, gentlemen
} Clay whispered apart 10 ,he Judge
and then made his way to the table
throwing down two gold eagles.
What name 7
'Give II TO The woman
Ell |! the gal herselff
Yes give her n chance
All right, one chance for Nine'te'
Before the planter could call again
Judge Underwood had placed 500 up
on tho table, saying, as no did so'
This is for the boy.
'Goodv cried the owner OF Tho
property. Here's q chance for Tom
my and that takes the lot. Where's
tho clerk 7
Here,
Have you got blanks for that sort
OF business 7
Yes.
Then won't you I'll up bill Of sale
OF these two Ninctte and Tommy
and leave q place 10 put the name Of
tho winner. Now for tho dice, gentle
men J.
The dice were brought on, and
shaking commenced. There were
three dice, and each player was en-
titled TO three throws. Of the first
ten throws thirty.six was the highest
number cast. The eleventh throw
turned up forty.two. Then the score
fell again till the twenty.tirst throw
when ono Of the gamesters threw
torty.nine.
The crowd was now all excitement -
Forty-nine was hard point to beat
The lowest number that could be
thrown was nine, and the highest
(nine sixes) was fitty-four, making
what is called an average throw about
thirty-one and one-hnlt. OF hun.
dred throws, the majority will fall be-
low thirty.two.
Again the dice ratified in the box as
the second gamestcr took his turn
but his throw was a low one. The
twenty eighth throw belonged to the
clerk of the boat, who had now re-
turned with the bill of sale. He threw
forty-nine-tying the gamester.
Come, Nlnette, it's your turn
The woman started and quivered,
and pressed her hand over head
Only the groanlDg and putting of the
engine broke the stiffness Of the place.
will the gentleman who paid for
the chance throw for me 7 she said,
in low, musical tone, earnest and inn
ploring.
Let your boy throw for yon,' said
Mr.. Clay, who shrunk from the ordeal
His luck should be better than mine.
Tommy came forward and took the
box. His mothers hands were clasp
ed, and her lips moved in prayer
The boy trembled like an aspen.-
What a world of veal or woe hung
upon the tickle chance. He held in
his hand the sealed book in which
was written the fate of his mother
and himself, and it was tU be opened
on the hazard of a die
He shook the box and turned the
dice upon the table. Three aces. A
moment he gazed upon the three
single spots, and then, dropping the
box, he sunk back, pale and trighten-
ed.
Shake again, Tommy, the planter
said.
Its no use, master; can't gel
forty-nine.
But you've got your own chance,
my boy
.Ah,' said the Judge. That was
your mothers chance. Now throw
for yourself-throw tor the chance ]
gave you-brace up, and take heart
and may Heaven help your
This was not an assembly of ,eligi
ously inclined persons ny any means,
but the fervept:: prayer OF the Judge
met with a warm and impulsive re
sponse of amen from nearly all
present.
Again the boy came forward and
lifted the box His lips were tightly
shut, and the old quivering of the
limbs were hushed. The only sound
in the saloon, above the deep breath
ing Of the spectators, was the clicking
of the ivory cubes. Presently the
first throw was made.
.Five-fve-six, arc sixteen ! said
the planter, setting down the figures.
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