Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1881-04-23

4 Charlie. My only reason for not at
tending will be scarcity of funds"
!" 1t only takes quarter.
"All the money have in the world
I is fifteen cents that earned doing an
GRAND"
"You're a good fellow, any way, =
said, Frank earnestly.
"That's so, every time," chorused
Will and Henry.
60 would just as soon give you ten
cents as not, said Frank, Gas | have all
/ the money / wish, and should not miss
it in the least or we boys might club
together, and raise the money in that
"Tll do my part" said Henry, put
ting his hand in his pocket.
$50 will ]" said Will.
"There is one objection to each of the
plans I have mentioned" continued
Frank. "Either makes the money seem
a sort of charity, and certainly we dc
not consider Charlie an object of char
ity," with smile.
"No, indeed p was the reply from
both boys.
81 have another plan to propose, -
said Frank, reaching down back-gam-
mon board from the top of his book
case. We will put up five cents
apiece, and shake dice to see who has
the whole twenty cents. am sure he
viii win"
"I'm in for it." said Will.
Count me in, too, said Henry.
"Isn't that gambling 2" asked Char
lie.
"It is just the same as rafting for
chickens, turkeys, or anything else, and
the men all do that the night before
Thanksgiving, responded Frank.
81 always supposed that was wrong. "
You simply invest five cents, and
then take your chances to lose or gain.
When people speculate in stocks they do
this thing, only on larger scale. Es-
quire Brown, the richest man in town,
made his money in that way"
81 am afraid it isn't right" said
Charlie.
"No harm in it at ALL" returned
Frank. "Come, boys, put up your
money" he continued, placing a
"nickel" on his table.
Will and Henry did the same, and so
did Charlie, after a moments hesita-
ton.
81 will shake first" said frank, and
taking the dice from the board he gave
them toss. "Six, four and two
twelve. l don't care to try again. Your
turn. Will.
"Will threw the dice and got six, a
a five and two.
"Thirteen Well, I'll risk that" he
said. "Here, Henry"
Henry got six, five and one.
Leaving the six and five, he threw the
one again. 1t came four.
Fifteen That beats you, Will, and
I'll let it remain, passing the dice to
Charlie, who shook them with a trem-
bling hand.
Dropping them on the table, they
turned up two skies and two.
"Throw the two again" said
Frank.
Charlie did so, and it came two the
second time.
"One more chance for you, Charlie, y
said Frank and shaking the dice the
I third time, Charlie got five.
Seventeen !" said Frank. "Good
The money is yours p handing Charlie
the twenty cents.
But" stammered Charlie, with a
blush.
"You won it fairly, and there are no
butts in the case. You can now go to
the show with the rest of MS" said
Frank, placing the dice in the back
CANNON board, which he restored to its
former place ON the bookcase.
''Supposing mother wishes to know
how came by the money?
"Tell her you made it by an invest
ment," laughed Henry.
(Which will be the TRUTH" said
Frank. ''Now, let's tend to re-
/ hearsal."
Charlie had gone over his "part" SO
many times he thought he knew it per-
fectly but somehow the words would
not come to him at the rehearsal, and
he made "mess" of it, as the boys
said.
Truth is, his mind was on the
money which had found its way into his
pocket in a way which he felt was
wrong.
The dialogue was 'gone through
/ WIFI Twice, ana tHeu SIlufue Salu
"It's no use, boys; can't do any
thing at all tonight. Will try and have
it OK. the next time we rehearse.
(Which will be Saturday evening, al
our house" said Henry and the boys
went to their respective homes.
"Have you had pleasant time p
asked Mrs. Bowen, as Charlie entered
the room.
"No, mother l failed most misera.
bly, in my part, "
az thought you had committed it to
memory thoroughly.
$50 did l but l soon learned my
mistake"
perhaps you are not feeling well. II
so, nights rest will do you good"
~ think it will make me feel better,
and getting ready, he went to his sleep
ing-room.
In the morning, the purple rings
about his eyes proved to his mother that
something was wrong, and she asked
him if he was sick.
mo-" he replied; "but lay awake
almost all night"
az will make you some sage tea. 1t il
excellent for nervousness, said Mrs
Bowen.
In his case, the "herb drink" did n,
good. The difficulty was one that herbs
would not remedy.
That day, instead of having perfec
lessons, MS usual, he recited so poorly
that his teacher remarked upon the fact
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