West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1903-11-19
THE JERICHO POSTOFNCE.
Pap Perkins, Postmaster. Tells About
Lottery.

1t was during the palmy days of
lottery schemes that sleek, slick
stranger arrived in the village of
Jericho one, evening and told the
landlord of the tavern that he had
como out into the country for
couple of weeks to get rid of dys-
pepsia.
He walked around the town next
day and met the people and every
body liked him. He was suave
and soft-spoken, he let it be known
that as soon as he could cure his
dyspepsia he was going TO Patago-
MIA as missionary. He had studied
up on the Patagonians and knew
just how TO tackle them and turn
them from their sinful ways, and
he bad decided to make that his
life work.
Gentle were his ways, and it
seemed eminently proper that his
name should be the same &c.
Gentle" he wrote il, and added the
letters IN. T. p" which stood for
Missionary 20 Patagonia.
Mr.. G. Gentle had been in Jeri-
cho three days when he asked
Deacon Goodhcart to take stroll
with hir down by the milldam.
They strolled, and when they had
reached the pond and taken seats
on saving the stranger announced
that he had secret to confide to
the Deacon.
He wanted to confide a secret
and ask advice at the same time.
He had selected the deacon in pre-
ference to anyone else, and with
considerable anxiety in his face and
emotion in his voice he went on
to say that a reformed gambler.
whose reform might be permanent,
hut who seemed to be much inter-
ested in missionary work, had given
him as donation 40 lottery tickets,
each one of which was certain of
drawing prize. The sum total
would be about Sac, 900, and with
that amount he felt he could con.
vert at least 10000 Patagonians,
but of late his conscience had been
pricking him. Was it right to use
lottery money for such a purposef
He had decided in his own mind
that 1t was not, but he wanted to
hear from others.
Deacon Goodheart had heard of
a case where horse jockey had
donated church bell, and of an
other where gambler had paid off
a church debt, but he didn't ap.
prove Of such thing. If this lot
terry money was used 10 convert Pat
agonians he wouldn't guarantee that
they would stay converted over four
weeks. He wanted them boosted
up. but not at the sacrifice of
principle.
Mr.. G. Gentle agreed with the
deacon and was glad to have the
matter settled, but the look of anxi-
ETY. did not leave bis face. What
should be done with the lottery
ticketsf The reformed gambler
had positively guaranteed that each
and every one would be good for
at least 81, 900, aud what should be
done with the money! 1t could not
be used for churches, asylums,
Sunday School libraries or even
common charities without a sacri-
fee, and, of course, G.. Gentle
would not think of devoting it to any
base cause.
Deacon Goodheart sighed and
hitched around uneasiiy, and after
pursuing up his lips and scratching
his head threw out hint that IL he
had 81, 900 to spare he would know
how to use it for the benefit of his
fellow men. He would fill up the
mudholes in the highways, around
Jericho, cut down the thistle patch
es along the asylum lanes and
build a bridge or two, and il there
was any left it should be used to
paint the schooIhouse.
Exactly, Deacon--exaclly," re.
piled G.. Gentle, as he rubbed his
oily palms together. "If you had
one Of these tickets you would draw
$1,000, and of course the money
would be well expended. Now, it
you were to pay me sro for ticket
l could use the money on the Pat
agonians and not feel AZ all troubled
over it. Il would be money from
Christian man instead Of reformed
gambler, who may not have thor
oughly reformed after all"
The deacon didn't let any grass
grow under his feet IN closing the
deal. II he could aid the physical
welfare Of the Patagonians and the
Jerehoians at the same time, II was
his duty to DO so and he was glad
- a.. 49,.