Year: 1866

allowed no rougn-scuu upon Dis PREMISES


They had played four games. Albert
had won two, and his opponent had won
two


That's two.aLd.two,' cried Tom Piper.
what dye say to saddling 'em off p


sAll right-go in replied Albert, full of
animation.


So they played the fifth game, and be
who lost was to pay for the five games. 1t
was an exciting contest both made capital
runs but in the end Albert was beaten by
Just three points, and, with light laugh,
he went up to settle the bill Five games
twenty cents game-just one dollar
Not much that for such sport; and he paid
out the money with a good grace, never
once seeming to feel that be couldn't afford
it.


Have a cigar?' said Tom.
yes


They lighted their cigars, and then saun.
tered down the hall to watch other play
ers.


By and by Albert found himself seated
over against table at which some of his
friends were playing, aud close by him
stood two gentlenen-both strangers to him
-oue of whom was explaining to the other
the mysteries of the game.


1T is a healthy pastime,' said he who
had been making the explanation; 'and
certainly it is one which can have no evil
tendency


Albert heard the remarks very plainly,
and he had curiosity to hear what the
other, who seemed unacquainted with bill
lizards, would say.


Il cannot, of course, assert that any
game which calls for skill and judgment,
and which is free from the attendant curse
of gaming, is of itself an evil remarked
the second gentleman. Such things are
only evils in so far as they excite and stim-
ulate men beyond the bounds of healthful
recreation


That result can hardly follow such a
game said the first speaker.


But the other shook his head.


sYou are wrong there. The result can
follow in two ways. First: 1t can lead
men away from their business; and Second:
1t can lead men to spend money who have
not that money to spare. You will under
stand me. I would not cry down the game
of billiards; for, if understood it, I
should certainly try you game now; but
whenever visit place of this kind am
led to reflect upon most strange and prom
inent weakness of human nature as devel
oped in our sex, For instance, observe
that young man who is just now settling his
bill at the desk He looks like mechan-
ic; and l should say, from his manner, aud
from the fact that he feels it his duty 10 60
home at this hour, that be has wife and
children. I see by bis face that he is kind.
hearted and generous, and I should judge
that he meant to do about as near right as
he can. He has been beaten, and be pays
one dollar and forty cents for the recreation
of some two hours duration. If you OBJ.
serve, you will see that be pays it freely,
and pockets the loss with smile. Happy
faculty! But how do you suppose it is in
that young mans home? Suppose his wife
had come to him this morning and asked
him for dollar to spend for some trihiug
thing-some. household ornament, or some
bit of jewelry for the adornment of her
person, n,-and suppose his little child had
put in plea for forty cents to buy paper
dolls and picture. e.books with, what do you
think would have been the result? What
do you think he would have answered
Of fifty men just like him, would not FIVE
aud-forty have declared that they had not
the money to spare for any such purpose?
And, moreover, they would have said so,
feeling that they we're telling the truth.
Am not right? ?


upon my SOUL responded the man who
understood billiards, 'you speak to the
point. 1 know that young man who has
just paid his bill, aud you have not mis-
judged him in single particular. And,
what is more, [ happen to have fact at
hand to illustrate your charge. We have
club for an excellent literary paper in our
village, and last year that young man was
one of the subscribers. This year he felt
obliged to discontinue it, His wife was
very anxious to take it, for it had become
genial companion to her 10 her leisure mo.
ments; but he could not afford it, The
club rate was one dollar and fifty cents per
year.


'Aye-and so it gocs,' said the other
gentleman. well that mans wife may at
this very moment be wishing that she had
her paper to read he is paying almost its
full price for year-for what? And yet
see how smiling he does it, All these
poor, sympathiziug wives! How many
clouds darken upon them from the brows of
their husbands when they ask for trifing
sums of money, and how grudgiugly the
mite is banded over when it is given.
What perfect floods of Joy might that dol
lar and forty cents have poured upon the
children of the unsuccessful billiard player.
All |! it is we'll for such wives and children
that they do not know where all the money
goes?


The game had finished at the nearest ia
BILE; the two gentlemen moved on and
Albert Landman arose from his seat and
left the hall Never before had he such
thoughts as now possessed him. He had