Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1881-06-28

And SO they played their fifth gam
and he who lost was to pay for. the fiv
games. 1t was an exciting contest
Both made capital runs, but in the ent
Albert was beaten by three points ant
with little laugh he went up to settl
the bill. Not much for such sport ant
he paid out the money with a grace, ant
never once seemed to feel that he coul(
not afford it.
"Have a cigar ?" said Tom.
| "Yes,n
They lighted their cigars, and ther
sauntered down the hall to watch tn,
other players.
Albert soon found himself seated ovel
against table at which some of hil
friends were playing, and close by stood
two gentlemen, strangers to him, one o1
whom was explaining to the other the
mysteries of the game.
sit is a healthy pastime" said he who
had been making the explanation land
certainly it is one which has no evil
tendency"
Albert heard the remarks very plain.
ly, and he had curiosity to hear what
the other, who seemed unacquainted
| with billiards, would say.
game which calls for skill and Judgment,
curse of gaming, is of itself an evil" re-
things are only evil so far as they excite
and stimulate men beyond the bounds
of healthy recreation.
"That result can scarcely follow such
game" said the first speaker.
"You are wrong here. The result can
follow in two ways: First, it can lead
men away from their business it can
lead men to spend money, who have not
money to spend. Whenever I visit q
place of this kind am led to reflect up.
on most strange and prominent weak
ness of humanity as developed in ouI
sex. For instance, observe that young
man who has just settled his bill at the
desk. He looks like mechanic, and
should say from his manner, and from
the fact that he feels it his duty to be
home at this hour, that he has wife
and children. see by his face that he
is kind-hearted and generous, and ]
should judge that he means to do as
near right as he can. He has been beat.
en-, and he pays one dollar and forty
cents for the recreation of some two
hours duration. If you observe, you
will see that he pays it freely, and pock-
cts the loss with smile. Happy facul-
ty! But how do you suppose that it is
in the young mans home? Suppose his
wife had come to him this morning and
asked him for a dollar to spend for some
trifling thing some household ornament,
or some Bit of jewe)ry to adorn her per-
son-and suppose his little child put in
plea for forty cents to buy a paper and
picture books with, what do you think
he would have answered. OF fifty men
just like him, would not forty and five
men have declared that they had not
money ia spare for any such purpose ?
And moreover, they would have said so,
feeling that they were telling the truth.
Am not rightW
"Upon my word" said the man who
understood billiards, "You speak to the
points. I know that young man who
has paid his bill, and you have not mis-
judged him In single particular. And
what is more, l happen to have fact al
hand to illustrate your charge. We
have club for an excellent literary pa
psr in our village. and last year that
man was one of our subscribers. This
year he felt obliged to discontinue it,
His wife was very anxious to take it, fol
it had become genial companion In
leisure moments, but he could not afford
it. The rate was one dollar and forty
cents year.
AYE, and so it goes" said the other
gentleman. "Well, that mans wife NAV
be wishing at this very moment that she
had her paper to read, while he is paw
ing almost Its full price for a year-fol
what? And yet how smilingly he does
it. All! those poor, sympathizine
wives! How many clouds often dark.
en- upon them from the brows of theil
husbands, when they ask for trifiinp
sums of money, and how grudgingly the
mite is handed over when it is given =
What perfect floods of joy that dolla,
and forty cents might have poured up
on the children of that unsuccessful bill.
lizard player. All! il is well for such
wives and children that they do nol
know where the money all goes"
They had finished at the nearest ia
BILE. The two gentlemen moved on and
Albert Landman arose from his seat and
left the house. Never before had be
such thoughts as now possessed him; he
had never dwelt upon the same group.
ing of ideas. That very morning his
own true, faithful, loving wife had beer
sad, heart sick, because he had harshly
and unkindly met her request for 3
small sum Of money. And his sweet
Lizzie had crept away to her home al.
most broken hearted for the want of 8
simple toy, such as her mates possessed
And yet the sum of both their wants
amounted to not as much as he had paid
away for that evening for billiard play.
ing.
Albert Landman wanted to be an hon
est husband and father, and the lesson
was not lost upon him. On his way
home he stopped at Mr.. Grants and
purchased the best and greatest hoop to
be found, with driving stick painted
red, white and blue. and in the morn.
ing, when he behelj his child's delight
and had received her grateful, happy
kiss, the question came to his mind
Which was the best and happiest result,
this or the five games of billiards? ? The
hoop cost thirty cents. He could pla, !,
two games of billiards less and be thu
absolute gamer of ten cents by the
pleasant operation.
arose from the breakfast table, he detec
ted an uneasy, wistful look upon hi.
wife's face.
"Kate, what Is it?
"Albert, could you spare me half
dollar this morning?"
And out came the wallet, and the
money was handed over with a warm
genial smile.
What! Tears at that? Was it possi
bic she had been SO little used to sucl
scenes on his part, that so simple an ac
of loving kindness thus affected her?
How many games of billiards woulG
be required to secure such satisfaction
as Albert carried with him that morn.
ing to the shop.
A very simple lesson, lit not but how
many may gain lasting profit BY givinl
heed to the lesson