The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-03-02
Playing Cards.
AN AFFECTING NARRATIVE.

In tne winter or 1871, L had occasion
to go from Green Bay to Chicago on the
Northwestern Railway. At Oshkosh we
were joined by delegation of LAWYERS,
on their way to Madison, the capital, to
attend the Legislature then in session
They were all men of more than usual
intellect, and of unexceptionable charac-
ter. Two were ex-Judges of the Circuit
Court, and one 1 had seen chairman of
the Young Mems Christian Association
The party found seats near together, and
after the first salutation was over, they be-
gan to look about for means to while
away their time. After a while some one
proposed a game of cards. No sooner
said than done. Two seats were turned
apart as to face each other, cushion i'm
provised to serve as a table, and three of
the lawyers, including the chairman of
the Y. M. G. A, and Chicago runner
on good terms with them, were soon deep
in the mysteries of game of euchre.
was surprised to see the Christian
gentlemen-judges of the law and equity
leaders of society, makers of public SEN
timent, lawgivers of a great State direc-
tors of public morals, supposed to be pub
lie exemplars of all that is good, and
guides to the young-thus setting public
ly their seal of approval to most evil
and dangerous practice. To be sure, they
played for stakes no higher than the
cigars for the party; but it seems to me
that in the eyes of all discreet persons
this does not change the act nor lessen
the danger of its example, but rather
hightens it, as from the less to the greater
Is the invariable course of crime. | did
not intend to moralize on paper; 1 was
about to say that while | was filled with
such thoughts as these, one of the party
grew tired of the game, and our remain
ing judge was invited to take his place.
L saw the blood mount to his manly face
in an honest blush of disapproval, and he
hesitated and drew back. But the game
had become interesting, and his excited
companions urged him on:
Come, Judge take hand; we can't
go on without it"
The Judge rose slowly from his seat,
inwardly condemning the act, as I evil
IDENTIFY saw, and stepping forward, took
seat among the players, and the game
went on.
had noticed an old lady in a seat to
the rear of the players who had got on
board at Menasha, | believe. Gray, and
bent with age, she sat abashed, and with
eyes closed. seeming asleep most of the
time, until the train stopped at Oshkosh,
and took on board the company of law
yers. She then underwent change, and
became greatly interested in the company,
looking from one to another, as if she
recognized them all, or was trying to re-
call their faces. When the game Of cards
was started, she became restless, would
hitch about uneasily in her seat, and take
up the hem of her faded apron and nerv-
ously bite the threads. Once or twice I
thought she wiped her eyes under her
shaker bonnet" but could not tell.
She acted SO strangely that I became
more interested in her than in the play
ers, and l watched her very closely.
She got up after time, and tottered
forward, holding on the seats as she pass
ed. She brushed against Judge-in
passing, but chad become interested in
the game, and did not notice her. Reach
ing the water tank at last, she drank a
cup of water and took seat near the
door with her back to the players. But
she did not remain there. Rising with
difficulty, she tottered back to her form
er seat, but reaching the players she
paused directly in front of them, and ex-
citedly threw back her long bonnet and
looked around at the company Her
actions at once arrested their attention
and pausing in their play, they all looked
up inquiringly. Gazing directly in the
face Of Judge, she said in trem-
ulous voice.
"Do you know me, judge"
No, mother, don't remember you,
said the Judge, pleasantly; where have
we metz"
My name is Smith, said she, and [
was with my poor boy three days off and
on, in the court room in Oshkosh, when
he was tried for-for for robbing some
body, and you are the same man who
sent him to prison for ten years; and he
died there last June"
All faces were now sobered, and pas
sengers began to gather around and stand
over them to listen and see what was
going on. She did not give the Judge
time to answer her, but becoming more
excited, she went on:
He was a good boy, if you did send
him to Jail. He helped us clear the
farm, and when father was taken sick
and died, he did all the work, and was
getting along right smart till he took to