The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1891-03-04

brow and famed him. He had only
tainted. / wish he had been dead, for
what is life worth TO a father after his son
is destroyed? When things 90 wrong at a
gaming table they shout Foul foul"
Over all the gaming tables of the wor /
cry out: "Foul foul Infinitely foul"
Shall sketrh the history OF the gambler?
Lured by bad company he finds his way
into place where honestmen oughtnever
to 90. He sits down to his first game, but
only for pastime and the desire OF being
thought sociable. The players deal out
the cards. They unconsciously play into
Saian's hands, who takes all the tricks
and both the players souls for trumps-
he being sharper at any game. slight
stake is put mp just to add interest to the
play. Game after game is paved. Larger
stakes and still larger. They begin TO
move norviously on their chairs. Their
brows lower and eyes flash, until now
they who win and they who lose, fired
alike with passion, sit with set Jaws and
compressed lips and clinched fists, and
eyes like fire-balls that seem starting from
their sockets. TO see the final turn before
1t comes; If losing, pale with envy and
tremulous with unuttered oaths cast back
red-hot upon the heart; or, winning. with
hysteric laugh-"Hal ha! l have it, /
have It,"
A few years have PISSED end he is only
the wreck OF a man. Seating himself at
the game, ere he throws the first card he
stakes the last relic of his wife, the mar
rage ring which sealed the solemn VOWS
between them. The game is lost, and
staggering back in exhaustion he dreams.
The bright hours of the past mock his
agony, and in his dreams fiends with eyes
OF fire ami tongue of flame circle about
him with joined hands. to dance and sing
their orgies with hel.ish chorus, chanting
"Hail brother" kissing his clammy fore
head until their lOathsome locks, flowing
with serpents, crawl into his bosom and
sink their sharp fangs aud suck his lifes
blood, and coiling around his heart pinch
it with ILLS and shudders unuiterable.
Take warning, You are no stronger
than tens of thousands who have by this
practice been overthrown. No young man
il our cities can escape being tempted.
Beware Of the first beginnings. This road
is a down grade, aud every instant in
creases the momentum. Launch not upon
this treacherous sea. Split bulks strew
the beach. Everlasting storms howl up
and down tossing unwarY crafts
into the hell-gate. l speak OF what l have
seen with my own eyes. L have looked
off into the abyss and / have seen the
fOaming and the Kissing and the vhirling
Of the horrid deep in which the mangled
victims writhed. one upon another, and
struggled. strangled, blasphemed and
died-the death-stare OF eternal despair
upon their countenances as the waters
gurgled over them.
To gambler'e death-bed there comes
no hope. He will probably die alone.
His former associates come not nigh his
dwelling. When the hour comes his mis-
crab soul will go out of miserable life
into a miserable eternity. As his poor re-
mains pass the house where lie was
ruined, old companions may look out
moment ana say: There goes the old
carcass-dead at last" but they will not
get up from the table. Let him down now
into his grave. Plant no tree to cast its
shade there, for the long, deep, eternal
gloom that settles there is shadow enough.
Plant no "foryet-me-nots" or eg antines
around the spot, for flowers were not made
TO grow on such blasted heath. Visit it
not in the sunshine, for that would be
mockery, but in the dismal night when
the stars are out. and the spirits OF dark
ness come down horsed on the wind, then
visit the grave OF the gambler.