Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1883-01-18
A FORTUNATE JEST.

don, had at the age of Onc-and-twcnty
come into the possession of a large for
tune
Immediately thereupon the fair
weather friends assembled about him,
and sought to make him believe that
they could make life pleasant for
him. He was fond of company; fun
of life; with no restraint save his own
conscience; and he was easily led on
into the glare and glitter of conyiyial
enjoyment.
His mother had died when he was n
youth of sixteen. and his father had
lived but year longer. And he had
no near relative to guide him,
Once he had loved beautiful young
girl, but his dissipated course had
frightened her parents. and they had
forbidden him their house until he
could truly mend. This had so an
gered him that he had torn the image
out from his heart, resolving that he
would never be a slave
And he was living a brilliant. glor-
ious life. he knew-or, at least. he told
himself so. lie drank deeper; and.
anon, he came to the gaming-table. In
short, every vice that a wealthy spend
thrift might find ilecting pleasure in,
he INDUCED in.
And the circle of friends clung
closely. They swore by him; declared
him trump. They drank his wine,
And robbed him Of his money; and if
ma source of pleasure could be found.
thev Al, went in for the enjoyment aud
he paid the /, ,'n'
ops 90 :s.Ar n,'' eye had become
bIears. SAy' "4'~- ~--.., he met
- y1e' d and his step uncer,a.n, =
girl he had once loved, in the stree.
lie read pity in her sweet face. and
saw tears in her eyes; and he tried to
steel his heart; yet he thought of her
until his wild friends were again a
round him.
One day he went to the bank and
drew out a thousand pounds.
That night he sat down in his own
apartments, with his own wine upon
the sideboard, and his own cards upon
the table and played With his dear
friends The wine flowed freely, he
drank deeply, and the game went on
recklessly. They played for high stakes,
and played fast and late.
On the following morning the young
man awoke with a bursting head and
aching eyes. By-and-by he called to
mind the events Of the night. lie
looked into his pocketbook and into
his purse. Empty, both! And he re-
membered that he had given his checks
to various members of the party for
large amounts. lie found the counter
foils, and they told him he had drawn
his checks to the amount of over two
thousand pounds
But what of that2 Before night he
had drank brandy enough to steady his
nerves and make him once more happy
Another evening came, and again
his friends were assembled round hii
board. lie had got up grand suppe
for them this timel and after the var
!ous courses of food had passed in or
der. came the wine and the toasts.
And one of the friends, 10 whom
large check had been given, got up I
offer a sentiment.
"FiI up fill upl" he cried; "while
give you the toast of the evening
Here's TO our sober and thrifty host
May he be ever as sensible as he is a
this momenti'
II was drank with cheers-thre
time three.
II was observed that from that mi
ment the spirits Of their host SCENE
10 fail him. He became moody an
distracted. By-and-by some one bal
tered him upon IL, and asked him VIII
was the matter.
lie answered:
II was thinking, did Tom tell q
truth when he said / was sober al
thriftyP"
And thereupon they all excleimed:
"Of course he did ! Oh was ev
man soberer or more thriftyT
because" pursued the host, paths