The Copiah signal. (Hazlehurst, Miss.) 1882-1883, 1883-01-05
A FORTUNATE JEST.


thousand miles from the city OF Lon
don had at the age OF one-and .twent
come toto the possession Of . larg
fortune.
Immediately thereupo, the fair
westher friends assembled about hiu
and sought to mako him believe tha
they could mako life pleasant 10
him. He was fond Of company; iu'
OF lifc; with no restraint 10 save hi
own conscience, and he was easil.
led IN into the glare aud glitter =
convivisl enjoyuent.
His mother had died when he wa
q youth of sixtcep, ard biz fsthe
had lived but year lcnStr. la;hh'
had no n,ar relatives 10 guidM ",
O. CO hs had loved . brOT
yonng gi,l. tu. his dissipated 6oufs'
bad frightened her pareuts, and the,
had forbidden him their house un.i
ho coull truly mend. This had s
augercd him that he had torn the
image ont from his heat, resolving
! that he woI,d Fever b. slave.
AID he was living a brilliant, glo'
rious life, lie knew, or at least. nc
,oll hinscl, SO. He drank dcper;
and, anon, he came to the gam bling.
abe. In short, every vice int q
rccklers spcnl,!riit might find fleet
ing p,ca'uro in, he indu'sed ID
Ard tho circle oi f:iends clurg
closely. Trey swore by him; Rsclar-
I'd him a trump. Tusy drJk his
wine, and robbed him OF his money;
III d iia new s,u.cc Of pleasup could
be found they ali'went in fofthe en-
ioymelt nud ho paid tie bill.
OAc day, after Lis eye hrdbocomc
b., ared and his step uncorhin, h
mct the cir! he had once ] wed, IL
tho street. He read pity in i # sweet
iac., and saw tears in her ees; aad
be t,i,J 20 s,eel his hear, ret lie
hough. Of her until lis wildIfricnds
were again around Lin,
Ons eay ho wcnyto the bank and
drew n thous1udpornds.
Taat night It sa' down in his own
n; attm,u's, with bis own wine upon
The s;deboaril ard lis own cards
n, ou tho tab't, and p'ayel vi h hi.
dear irie.ds The wine tl,wsd free.
,y. hs drank deeply. aud The" s,ae
vent on reckless!y. Taey played
Tor high stakes, and played fast aud
at'.
Oa the ioll,wing morning tho
Young man nwoke with a burstins
head and aching eye. BY md by he
called To mind the events OF t
uiglt. lie looked ito his pocket
oook and into his purse. Enp'E
both (! Aud he remembered he had
2 ven bis checks to various members
Of the rarty for large amonnts He
found tho cuuLtcrfo;la, anil they told
him Lo hsd drawn bis cLocka to
the nm ouut OF over tao thousand
pounds.
But what OF that? Before nigh'
he had drank brandy enough to
steady his nerves and make him onco
mere happy.
Another evening came, and ngaiu
his fricrds were assembled around
bis board. Hs had got mp gram
supper for them this time, aud alter
the ysri us COURSES Of food had pass
ed in order, cams tho vino and the
toasis.
And ono of his friende, to whom q
large check hal boon given, Ct TO
offer s'n!inien'.
"F,ll mp! Gil ur" lie cried; while
I cive you tue toast of the evening!
Here's TO our s,tor and thrifty hest!
May he ever bo az sensible as he Is
At this moment i
It w.s drank with chccrs-three
times three.
Twas observed from lha, moment
tho spirits Of their host seemed to
fail him. HO became moody aud db-
s,,ac.ed. by and by go Q one bali
tered him upon 1t, aud asked Dim
What was The matter.
He answered.:
Il WAS thinking, did Tom tell the
Truth when hs said I wss sober and
thriit.?
Ard thorenpon they all exclaimed
OF fcour.o he die! Oh! wos evs'
n man soberer or more thrift,P
Because pursued the ho.t, p0
tbetic,lly. 4 shouldn't want . iricnt
to lie on my accouut!'
'Oho! Sensible 10 The lastl FL
mp! :. =
N A A. L.ot ~orId dr;nk No moro