The Olneyville tribune. (Providence, R.I.) 1893-189?, 1894-04-28
New Years Day, and you not out of

IL was sOuuk udu VI 30 wiz ldu
gone 10 bed at = O'clock that morn
ing. His face was pinched and pale,
his eyes hollow and bloodshot and
one looking at him might lave taken
him for an old man.
made foo OF yourself again last
night, didn't your" he growled, talk
ing 10 himself as he lay looking
around "Old mau, do you know
that I'm about ready 10 cut your ac-
quaintance? A Young man OF decent
family-plenty OF money, good pros
poets, and yet how are you using
yourself: Champagne, cards, dissi-
patton. Going r.ght 70 the dogs on
the gallop At twenty-five you feel
like man OF fifty. Health, pros
poets and the whole outfit going To
the devil. and what are you getting
in exchange? You are the son Of
your father and nigh roller-that's
down you ere champion fool-noth-
ing else"
He lazily turned over, sat up on the
side of the bed and continued:
''Head as big as house, and your
stomach full OF vitr oil. Nice chap
you are. A decent mule ought TO be
ashamed TO kick you. No sand-no
energy-hardly strength enongh TO
get into your clothes and wash up.
You and are going TO have a talk
after bit Had no idea where the
boys tucked me away this morning
but l guess this is hotel, and I'll
order bite TO eat"
Half an hour later the high roller
sat down 10 his cigar, and as he
smoked he said:
What l want TO know is how
much longer you are going TO con-
tinue this sort OF business You've
had six or seven years Of It, and it
seems TO me that you ought TO be
through. When young man gets
10 that point where he realizes that
he is an ass, he's ready for change.
Suppose we swear off? Suppose we
surprise the old folks 10y dropping
this high-roller business and living a
halfway decent life. Champagne,
cards, songs, cigars and all that last
night till you were drunk as an old
bum. That reminds me. seems TO
me 1 had streak OF luck. Let's
see"
He had money in every pocket
twoS, tlves, and tens The bills
were crumpled and rolled, but he
smoothed them out on bis knee and
counted them over and said:
"A fool for luck. Here's an even
$500, and l must have had luck, Just
about enough 20 pay for wine sup
pei. and just about hundreth part
OF what I've lost at cards. Well,
what are you going TO do about the
other matter-swearing of? Strikes
you as about the correct thing, does
it? Ali right Hold up your right
hand and repeat after me-
Il James Forbush, bNS&g in my
right mind for the first time in sew
eral years. and fully realizing that /
am the biggest idiot in North Amer
lea, do hereby atii N and declare
that l am no longer high-roller on
wheels. In other words l pledge
myself TO eschew cards, drink, and
other rapid transit matters, from and
after this first day OF January, lSy-,
and il l break my word may / be de.
sp sed by men and kicked by ami
mails
That's all right, old man-all
right May come hard, but you'll
wobble through. Now, as to the
money. You don't neec it. II was
won at cards, and there's wine stains
on ever bill. In be NJ high-roller
you've forgotten all about charity.
You've been ready TO nip dollar TO
the waiter who held your overcoat,
but never a nickel TO the beggar on
the street Let's take walk"
"Well, what's the matter with
you?"
Don't arrest me, sir; I'll move
on"
Arrest nothing! What's in the
bunde?"
Toms suit sir"
"And who's TOM"
"My boy, sir, and he's sick with
pneumonia, and I'm trying 10 sell his
clothes To get medicine"
"Come Off! / never heard OF such a
thing"
Here's the prescription, sir and
will you come with me and see for
yourself?"
She led the way and he followed.
When he saw the pinching poverty
and heard her story-when he stood
by the bed and saw how sick poor
Tom was he smiled primly and
said:
Then there are high rollers and
low rollers! Never knew that be-
fore. Never had any idea that peo-
pie really suffered ilom poverty. So
this is poverty, eh?-no money--no
hopes-boy sick-rent due-coal out
and you trying TO sell the boys
clothes for medicine"
At that moment Tom ceased his
Il -