The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1904-09-30


thought we'll of by his neighbOrS. He
had built himself a house, and there
still remained upon it mortgage Of
$500; but this sum lie hoped TO pay in
n few years. if he only had his health
He had calculated exactly how long
it would take him TO clear off this in
cumbrance, and he went to work with
his eyes open.
One evening James came home to his
supper more thoughtful than usual.
His young wife noticed his manner,
and she inquired its cause.
what is it. james, she kindly
asked. why. never saw you look so
sober before"
Well, I'll tell you, Hannah" re-
turned the young man, with slight
hesitation in his manner. Il have just
been thinking that | would buy a lot
terry ticket"
Hannah Lanning did not answer i'm
mediately. She looked down and
smOOthed the silken hair of her babe,
which was chirping like a little robin
in her arms, and the shades of her
handsome features showed that she
was taking time to think.
How much will it COST" she asked.
at length, looking half timidly up into
her husbands face
Twenty dolIars,' returned James,
trying TO assume confidence which
he did not feel
And have you made up your mind
to buy it,"
well, think shall. What do you
think about it,"
If you should ask my advice, l
should say do not buy it."
But why sO?'
For many reasons" returned his
wife, in trembling tone.
She would not offend her husband.
and she Shrank from giving him ad-
vice which he might not follow.
I'm the first place." she said, Il think
the whole science of lotteries is a bad
one; and then you have no money to
risk"
'BW just look at the prizes" said |
James, drawing scheme from his |
pocket Here is one prize of $4,000, |
another of $4,000 another $4,000. and |
SO on. Something tells me that if | |
buy ticket shall draw q large prize. |
And then just think, Hannah, how cas-
lily | could pay all up for my house.
and perhaps have a good handsome
sum left"
The young man spoke with much
earnestneSS and assurance, but he saw
that there was cloud upon his wife's
brow.
1T seems to me that the chance of
drawing prize is very doubtful" said
Hannah, as she took the scheme
Here are many thousand tickets to be
sold"
The babe tried hard to snatch the
paper, and Hannah laid it aside.
Il think | shall run the risk" re-
sumed James, glancing once more over
the paper, and resting with nervous
longing upon the figures which repre-
scented the higher prizes. There's
Barney; he drew about $500 a year
ago"
Yes, know it," said Hannah. with
more warmth than she had before
manifested, land what has become of
the money? You know he has
squandered it all away. All. James,
money is of no use unless we come
honestly by 1t. ,
Honestly" repeated the young man.
surely, there is nothing dishonest in ,
drawing a prize in a lottery"
1 think there is" kindly, but EN-
phatically, replied the wife. GAN ;
games Of hazard. where money is ot
stake, are dishonest. Were YOU to
draw a prize of $4,000, you would
ROB a thousand men of $50 each. or
at least you would take from them
money for which you returned them no i
equivalent. Is it not gambling in every !
sense of the wOrd?"
oh, no! You look upon the matter !
IN too strong light"
Perhaps do; but yet so if looks to I
me- What you may draw some onp
else must lose; and perhaps it may be. I
solle one who can afford the loss no 8
netter than you can. [ wouldn't buy g
Tue tlcket, James. Let us live on the
products of our honest gains. and we Y
shall be happier"
James Lanning was uneasy. Hn bod q
no answer for his wife's arguments.
at least, no answer that could snrInr +
from his moral convictions, and .hn lot
Inc matter drop. But the young ran
could not drop the siren from his
neStf'' All the next day his head was s
Inii OF prizes and while he was ot i
ms work he kept muttering to himself
twenty thousand dollars" "Tan tbnr :
sand dollars" Five thousand dollars, 9
and so OH.
When he went home the next niyh+ h
he was almost unhappy with the ner.
'ous anxiety into which he had thrown h