Frostburg mining journal., 1882-11-25
FROSTBURG MD. SATURDAY MORNING, NOVEMBER 25, 1882
Selett Stony.
77-7-I~7-7"s |-|~E"-17-@7-F@
A FORTUNATE JEST.

thousand miles from London, had, at
the age Of twsnty-one, come into pos
session Of large fortune.
Immediately thsrsnpon the fair
weather friends assembled about him
and sought to make him believe that
they could make life pleasant for him.
Hs was fond of company. full of life,
with no restraint save his own con-
science. and he was easily led on into
the glare and glitter of convi,ial en-
joymsnt.
HIS mother had died when he was
youth ol sixteen, and his father had
lived but year longer. And he had
no near relative to counsel him.
Once he had loved beautiful youne
girl, but his dlssipating course had
frightened her parents, and they had
forbidden him their house until hs
truly reformed. This had SO angered
him that he had torn her image frem
his heart, resolving that he would
never be slave.
And he was living brilliant, glo-
rious life, he kneu-or at least be
told himself so. he drank dep and
deeper, and, anon, came to the gaming
table. In short. every vice that a
wealthy spendthr;ft might find feet
ing pleasure in be INDUCED.
And the circle of friends clung
closely. They swors by him. declar-
ed him a trump. They drank his
wine and robbed him of his money
and if new source of pleasure could
be found they al went in for the en-
joyment and he paid the bill.
One day, after his eye had become
Bile red and his step uncertain, he met
the girl he had once loyed in the
street. He read pity in her sweet
face and saw tears in her eyes. He
tried to stsel his heart, yet he thought
Of her until his wild friends were
again around him.
One day he went TO the bank and
drew out a thousand pounds.
That night he sat down in his own
a. artmentS, with his own wine upon
the sideboard, and his own cards up.
on the table, and played with his dear
friends. The wine flowed freely be
drank deeply, and the game went on
recklsssly. They played for high
stakes, and played fast and late.
On the following morning the young
man awoke with bursting head and
aching eyes. By-snd-by he called to
mind the events of the night. He
looked into his pocket book and hi,
purse. Empty, bOth And he re.
membsred that he had given his
checks 10 various members of the par.
ty for large amounts. He found the
counter-foiis, and they told him that
be had drawn his checks for over two
thousand.
But what of that? Before night b.
had drank brandy enough to steady
his nerves and make him once more
happy.
Another evening came, and agair
his friends were assembled round hil
board. He had got mp = grand sup
per for them this timel And aftel
the various courses of food had passet
in order, came the wine and toasts.
And one of the friends, to whom {
large check lad besn given, got uE
to offer sentiment.
"Fill up fill up u he cried "whil'
I give you the toast of the evening
Here's to our sober and thrifty host
Ma he be ever as sensible as he is a
this moment |"
It was drank with chesrs-thrs,
times thrse
1t was observed that from that mo
ment the spirits of their host sesmec
to fail him. He became moody anc
distracted. By.and-by some one han
tered him upon it, and asked wha
was the matter.
he answered
81 was thinking-did Tom tell thu
truth when he said l was sober snc
thrifty ?"
AID thersnpon they all exclaimed
"Of course he did Was ever {
man soberer or more thrifty ?"
Because" pursued the host pathet
ically, II shouldn't want friend tt
lie on my account i
Sensible to the last Fill up "
But the host would drink no more
1 A.. L ,l,,a