The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-07-15
for the CHILDREN.
What Became of Progressive Eu-
chre" at HubbletOwn.
IN TWO PARTs-PART TWO.

L thlnk might play as well as the
girls; faint more wrong for me than
for them"
81 trust, Rob- that your sisters, in
view of what has TRANSFERRED, will dis
continue the practice. You know,
girls" said he, addressing them, " that
/ did not from the start approve of this
new craze, or furore for gambling-it
deserves no better name--and / make
no doubt that if traced to its source,
you would find that it originated among
the northumberland I'll have no more
of it in my family" said he, sternly, as
he donned his hat to 90 TO his office.
81 heard yesterday" said their
mother, who had hitherto kept silent,
that Fanny Stearns was to be disci-
plined in her church for taking part in
the amusement"
Well, don't WONDER" interrupted
Lou. " She has been completely car
ried away with it-would actually come
when it was her prayer-meeting night,
to the neglect of the meeting"
Just so, my daughters. Satan loves
to entice Christian followers into any
thing that will lower their spirituality.
How any one claiming the grace of
pou III lllClI lltttl 10 Cdll CnION lutSc
worldly amusements and their associa-
tons, is more than ] can understand
| should think that their concern for
their fellow-men would cause them to
desist. jennie said she, earnestly,
9 it is well for you that your church is
more tolerant, not taking upon them
selves the burden of individual con-
sciences, else we might be disgraced
through your disciplinary trial. You
cannot fail to see the fruits of your
example,"
81 know it, mother" said Jennie,
tearfully, L" and give it up at once. I'll
eat no more meat while the world
stands if it causes my brother to Of
fend."
q declare, / think father and you
are all so silly" said Lou to her sister,
when they were again alone. "As if
playing cards would ever hurt me''
Come, come, sister mine! don't be
so selfish; don't place your pleasure
against the possible ruin of others.
Though it did no harm to me, my play
ing led to sad results with my Sunday
school class. One of them, SO good and
bright, almost a murderer, and the i'm
periled one our only brother" said she,
with swimming eyes. How can you,
for moment, regret the giving it all
up? To me it is a great relief, for |
knew, or felt, was doing wrong all the
time; but of course / never dreamed
of such disastrous consequences-and
don't be offended, sister, when / tell
you that l could scarcely sleep last night
from thinking of the evil it was work
ing in you. Your baser nature, through
it, was rapidly developing. Surely you
would scorn to cheat when shopping for
any possible gain to yourself, and |
hold that trickery and cheating at cards
is just as sinful as in anything else.
But there is the door-bell and callers to
attend to-"
That evening Arthur Mead-uncle
of the boy who had so nearly committed
murder while in the heat of passion
over harmless game of cards .
wendell his way to the home of Helen
Ashley. He had scarcely met her since
their enlargement. After so long a
separation, the embarrassment attend
ant upon meeting was hard to over
come. Arthur was, however, in very
humble frame of mind.
Helen" said he, you have doubt
less heard of my nephew's disgraceful
proceedings"
Certainly, I have" replied she,
with slightly triumphant ring in her
tone.
:" have, of course, been forcibly re-
minded of your principal argument
against the games. | now see that the
youth and rising generation have a
claim upon us that we cannot or must
not overlook. Surely example is ever
worth more than precept. My poor
sister has been in a sad condition; we
have feared for her reason. Roy. with
boyish thoughtlessness, rushed into
her sick-room, shouting, Mother, oh,
mother! / most killed a boy, was'so
mad with him. She soon CLEANED the
whole truth from him, and the shock
was terrible to her already weak, ner-
vous system. | have promised her to
refrain from card-playing in future.
And now, dear Helen, l want you to
help me keep that promise. | am so
rash and impulsive | need your calm
nature to hold me in check. Your
steadfastness to your convictions OF
right insures my love the more. Come
at once and preside over my home-a
| home wherein none can come to harm
for no gambling devices of any descrip-
| ton shall find entrance there"
We will now take leave of the lovers,
so happy in their reconciliation. Hub
bletown recognized Mrs. John Lewis
as a great leader, and it was her idol
lied and only child who received the
| flesh wound at that memorable time,
hence her feelings in regard to the
harmless games" underwent a sud-
den change. From a warm defender
of g euchre Indeed her elegant home
had been frequent rendezvous all
winter for lovers of the game-she be-
came bitter enemy. Mr.. Daniels was
a man of great wealth, hence of great
influence. He, also, with many others
that were near the topmost round of the
social ladder of Hubbletown, became
emphatically against it, This fact, to-
gether with the possible tragedy in
their very midst, nipped in the bud this
harmful =" craze" And should you,
my dear reader, visit that locality, do
not risk your popularity by asserting
that f" euchre decks are but " harmless
bits of cardboard. "-Fdnnie L. Fan
vi -