Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-05-02

Albert heard the remarks very plainly
and had curiosity to hear what the
other, who seemed unacquainted with
billiards, would say.
Il cannot, OF course, assert Chat any
game which calls for skill and iudgment
and which is free from The attendant
curse OF gaming is OF itself an evil" re.
marked tho second gentleman. "Such
things are only evil so far as they excite
and stimulate men beyond tho bounds
OF healthy recreation"
THAT result Gan scarcely follow.such
a game, said the first speaker
But the other shook his head.
You are wrong there. The result can
follow IN two WAYS First ii can lead
men away IRON their business it can
lead men to spend money who have not
money to spend. Whenever / visit a
place of this kind 1 am led TO reflect
upon most strange and prominent
weakness OF humanity as developed in
our sex. For instance, observe that
yeung man who is just settling his bill
at the desk. He looks like a mechanic,
and | should say from his manner, and
from the fact that lie feels ii his duty to
go home at this hour, that he has wife
and children. i see by his face that he
Is kindhearted and generous, and ]
should Judge that he means to do rs
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 it freely, and peck
cts the loss with smile. Happy facul.
~ ! But how do You suppose it is in
that young mans homo Suppose his
wife had come to him this morning, and
asked him for q dollar to spend for some
tritiing thing some household orna-
ment or some bit of jewelry TO adorn
her person-and suppose his little child
put in a plea for forty cents to buy a
paper and picture-book with, what DO
YOU think he would have answered ?
OF fifty men just like him. would noi
forty and five men have declared that
they had not the money to spare for any
such purpose And. moreover. they
would have said so, feeling that they
were telling the truth. Am not
right q
Upon my worl." said the man who
understood billiards, "You speak to the
point. l know that young man who has
paid his bill, and Won have not misjuig-
ed him in a single particular. And what
is more, / happen TO have fact at hand
to illustrate your charge. We have a
club for an excellent literary paper 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, for it had
become genial companion in leisure
moments, but he could not afford II.
The club rate WIS one dollar and fifty
year"
"Ay, aud so it goes" said the other
gentleman. "Well, that mans wife NAV
be wishing Mt this very moment that she
had her paper TO read, while he is pay
ing almost its full price for year-for
what And vet how smilingly he does
it. All those poor, symPathizing
wives How many clouds often darken
upon them from the brows Of their hus-
bands when they ask for trifling sum
OF money. and how grudgingly the mite
is handed over when it is given What
perfect floods of JOY that dollar and
forty cents might have poured upon the
children of that unsuccessful billiard
PLAYER. All il is well for such wives
and children that they do not know
where the money ali goes"
They had finished at the nearest table.
The two gentlemen moved on and Albert
Landman arose from his seat and lett
tie house. Never before had he srch
thoughts as now possessed him he had
never dwelt upon the same grouping Of
ideas. That very morning his own true,
faithful, loving wife had been sad and
heart-sick because he had hGrshly and
unkindly met her request for small sum
of money. And his sweet Lizzie was
almost broken hearted for the want OF a
simple toy, such as her mates possessed,
and vet the sum OF both their wants
amounted TO not as much as he had paid
away that evening for billiard. playing.
Albert Iandman 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 toop to
be found, with driving stick painted red,
white and blue, and in tle morning,
when he beheld his child's delight, and
had received her grateful, happy kiss,
the question came TO his mind which
WIS the best and Eappiest result-this
or the FIVE games OF billiards ? The
hoop cost thirty cents. He could play
two games of billiards less and be the
absolute gamer of ten cents by the
pleasant operation.
A few mornings after this, IS Albert
arose from the breakfast table, he de-
tected an uneasy. wistiul look upon his
wife's face.
Kate, what is il -
albert could YOU spare me half
dollar this morning? -
And ont came the wallet and the
money Was handed over with warm,
genial smile. What Tears at that ?
Was it possible she had been so little
used TO such scenes on his part, that so
simple an act of loving kindness thus
affected her? How many games of bill
lisrds wonld be required TO secure such
satisfaction as Albert carried with him
that morning TO the shop?
A very simple lesson, is it not?