Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-06-30

a cigar ana Walkeu out. lie mad gone
but short distance when he met Liz
zie. In her right hand she dragged an
old hoop which she had taken from
dilapidated flour barrel, while with her
left she was rubbing her red, swollen
eyes. She was in deep grief, and was
sobbing painfully. He stopped the
child and asked what was the matter |?
She answered, as well az her sobs
would let her, that the other girls
had laughed at her, and made fun
of her hoop. They had nice, pretty
hoops, while hers was ugly and homely.
"Never mind" said Albert, patting
the little one on the head (for the
childs grief touched him); "perhaps
we'll have a hoop some time"
"Mayn't l have one now? Mr..
Grants got one left-oh, such a pretty
one |"
The sobbing had ceased, as the child
caught her fathers hand, eagerly.
"No, not now, Lizzie-not now. I'll
think of it."
Sobbing again the child moved on
toward home, dragging the old hoop
after her.
At one Of the stores Albert Land
man met some of his friends.
Hello, Albert? What's up?"
Nothing in particular"
What do you say to game of bill
liards, Albert?"
Good I'm in for that"
And away went Albert to the billiard
hail. where he had a glorious time with
his friends. He liked billiards. 1t
was a healthy, pretty game, and the
keeper of the hall allowed no rough
scufls on his premises.
They had playe four games. Albert
had won two and his opponent had won
two.
That's two and two," cried Tom
Piker. "What do you say to playing
them of, Albert ?"
"All right, go in" said Albert, full
OF animation.
And so they played the fifth game,
and he who lost was to pay for the five
games. 1t was an exciting contest.
Both made capital runs, but in the end
Albert was beaten by three points and
with little laugh he went up to settle
the bill. Five games. twenty cents
gamc-iust one dollar. Not much for
such sport and he paid out the money
with q grace, and never once seeming to
feel that he could not afford it.
Have a cigar ?" said Tom.
"Yes."
They lighted their cigars and then
sauntered down the hall to watch the
others play.
Albert soon found himself seated
over against table at which some Of
his friends were playing, and close by
stood two gentlemen, strnngers to him,
one OF whom was explaining to the
other the mysteries OF the game.
1T is a healthy pastime,'' said he
who had been making the explanation:
"and certainly it is one which has no
evil tendency"
Albert heard the remarks very plainly.
and he had a curiosity to hear what the
other, who seemed unacquainted with
billiards, would say.
81 cannot, of course, assert that anv
game which calls for skill and judR-
ment, and which is free from the at
tendant curse Of gaming is Of itself an
evil" remarked the second gentleman.
Such things are only evil so far as
they excite and stimulate men beyond
the bounds of healthy recreation"
:" That result can scarcely follow such
a game" said the first speaker.
But the other shook his head.
"You are wrong here. The result
can follow in two ways First, il can
lead men away from their business; II
can lead men to spend money who have
not money to spend. Whenever visit
a place of this kind am led to reflect
upon a most strange and prominent
weakness OF humanity as developed in
our sex. For instance, observe that young
man who is just settling his bill at the
desk. He looks like mechanic, and l
should say from his manner, and from
the fact that he feels il his duty to 90
bone at this hour. that he has a 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
beaten, and he pays one dollar and
forty cents for the recreation of some
two hours duration. II you observe
you will see that he pays IL freely, and