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i ft e l l ancons.
THE CHARM OF GAMBLING. ■* •
m . *. ?*
%'■ BY J. H. .GREEN..,
I hnveoften heard persons speak of their first game!
nt Cards—how they were front that to a second,:
and a third, and so on, from till the vice,:
of gambling i -came u confirmedhabit, and almost an
essential pA-skm of their existence.
Tiuly, th.-m is a fascination and a charm in gambling
“■b:d, none but devotees of the Cards may, folly up.
prcciate, and which but few, with tongue or pen, can'.
lie a lions of gambling, It may rightly be inferred
I am able t</spdak advisedly concerning its soul-des-ij
uejjts—professors also, lam fcorry to affirm, ofthe -
]i<rion of Jesus, have pone dcJwn to infamy and destruc-!
non through the enticements ana iascmatxons ot tne|i
Card -table. . ■... i j,
Methiuks I could whisper into the ears of those who
nlav cards solely for amusement’s sake, tales ot woe;,
and terror that would make the blood run cold and the
heart beat in wildest pulsation, from their mere recital.
How much WOTSe would the scene nave been, and the
heart strings torn, by the witnessing of ninny a pam.ui
scene in the career ; ofthe inveterate gamble*. |J
I care not whether a man plays for pastime or profit,
from the very first game he is apt .)o become enveloped
in the fold of a monster more terrible then the hydra;
and when snared, in vain will be the lopping off of any
of its hideous heads that serve to snare the hapless vic
tim. “No! the vice should and must be crushed m its
inception, or there can be no salvation from death arm
damnation here and hereafter. Fearful though. -
Would to Cod that all might realize the tiutli o. the
evil effects arising from card-plaving, in wliatever as
pect presented, as a source ot pastime merely, or when
pursued for emolument. Fathers, need worthy citi-|
sens would he spared disgrace and crime, and widows
and Children might be saved from poverty and woe
. ■ j I .. Iwi >, i*t 1m o rWz o* in
ana ennuis. - ,•
and the settlings of a heartless wnrirt. |
I know a happy and worthy family, whose subse
quent misery and sorrow arose from the social card
table as a source of entertainment and amusement for:
themselves and friends. This family consisted of, be
sides the parents twain, three sons and a daughter; all
of whom gave promise of a life of usefulness and honor
—the insidious vice of gambling crept into the beloved
family circle, and brought sorrow and desolation in its
wake.
The daughter hod reached her thirteenth year, and
gave developments of beauteous womanly maturity
anon when she was seized with consumption, which
painful disease soon left its withering power on her
fragile frame. Though rapidly sinking into the grave,
she for sometime retained her seat at the card-table,
at length, however, her malady increasing, she retired
from the fascinating amusement and sought prepara
tions for death ayd immortality. She now requested
that cards might no longer be the pastime of the e\ en
ing, beneath their roof, and her father, loving her ten
derly, readily complied with her request, and the card
table was accordingly set aside. It was now tha
parent realised the fascination of the games and found
that a passion for gambling had insensibly become a
rooted principle ol his breast.
Editor,
Fesfsld, Georgia, Thursday, X'lay 24, 1849.
f Ife fought the gaming table abrorid. and spent. Ins
, evenings in the fashionable gatn biin ..’houses of the
place. He continued as usual to plrv'for passtime,
but becoming a wine -bibber, one niglE while merry
W [ns cups, lie was induced to pkaey in a game
aof Faro! H*. lost his money not this occa
sion but on almost every other eyeng £ afterward.—•
fMb: he persisted in his recklessness nod ulayed deep-j
er and deeper in ruin, fill on one I jlh’ evening lie
catrfe into a room where several nls and iny-j
sed wdre seated at a game qf cards* lie offered to
slake five dollars on a game, arid U<-I. hi>
,IVO * U ;.V was won from him. He thel.m
i, which he also-lost. Becoming o::e:B B i vued
. to bet, and as a matter of course, , ■ •;->-
well supplied wi'di .
only of what funds lie bid, Jj v
for money thus won from him'. ‘JfM I-.-
; •’ rem -,i:ciJ v, ,:li t!,e -.
The toUovvmg day t]io check’ll aBB W i
• ! the money used in k.wpj^B
kept away Iron; M
m If!
’ p-'-viug with iiim M’ ‘ ‘‘£2B% R
.i ; -
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M i bl
aaBMBBBIBBBs
j - w M
Jk m
iS
;*'■ VY-Y■?“.Y'-’-yY^”
■■ ,
A short lime again da 1
returned, and composedly rcsnmeilM seat agtfTh at
the table. ! incidentally bow he had
1 1 Aft his 11 i ‘1 ■. * . i
teftfiis dan liter. ; , C<l . , ,i
“Oh, God ! remind me not of that, s. r. .•■me-is oead
—she is dead, and died while I was, seated here at (
‘cards! I could not remain: thelemptei drove me Lack.;
1 could not see her dead! Oh, God ! I could not stay,
and see my child a cold and lileiess c ups;.
While lie raved and wept, bis vvi ie appeared the
second time, and dragged him from tit rt pandemonium
j to his now hapless home.
Four veavs after this affecting ctrc umstnnce, while
I was sojourning in the same city, It cturmg on gam-,
blin'r 1 received a visit from the nus .rtunate man.—
Illis appearance before me. recalled to my mind atonce
the painful incident just detailed, and 1 inquired what
were his feelings when he visited home and iound h:s.
daughter a corpse.
“Oh, Sir, I left your table thinking -t was out a ruse
to bring me home; but I cannot tell the horror that,
tilled my soul, when I realized that my child was dead
I clasped her lifeless form in my arms and implored
her to speak, if but one word, that 1 might know that
had not lost her favor. There came no response,
cast the dead body from me, and rushed out wild and
frantic, yet voiceless myself, determined on self-des-j
(ruction. I felt that 1 was her murderer, and the
terrible thought drove me mad. Scarcely knowing
what I did, but impelled by the foul fiend I found:
myself in the street, hastening away to the wharf with
purpose of fearful consequences—but strange to say,
that bright lamp, at the door of the gambling house,
diverted me from a watery grave and turned my feetj
into the den itself, where I sat abstractedly, I have no,
doubt,for I knew nothing until your inquiry about my ;
; dead child restored me to consciousness. I rovidence
instructed me in an awful lesson, and from that to thej
| present, I have never allowed cards in my house nor|
yriE TRUTH IN t -IVE.
JAMES T. BEAIA', Printer.
i:played any myself abroad, nor touciied tlie intoxica
ting bowl; and God help me, never shall.”
Idas incident is sufficient to show the consequence of
11 indulging in card-playing and gambling. We could
sincerely wish that it might lead every one to serious
reflection, and iiufyce a return to the paths of rectitude
j and honor, ere that terrible desolation follow which
most certainly attends, as we know full well, the course
of the Gambler and Drunkard.
————— *
[From the New York Evangelist.]
CHERISH IT.
That thought of your unprofitableness in the service
:of your Lord. Do not dismiss the thought as soori as
it enters your mind, because it makes you unhappy.—
tlt-is best that we should be unha|ky where we * are
wrong.. If you will call to remembrance your neglects
and omissions of duty, misimproved privileges and op
portunities for usefulness, the waste of time, talents
and possessions; you may have what you need, and
i what is more sweet and salutary—the tear of repen
tance. Your heart may be refreshed by the. Saviour’s
! grace, aud you may be strengthened to servo and hon
or him as you have never yet done. You may, as ye^,
| have done little, in comparison with what you might
have done for Chnst’s Pause. Will you now “redeem
t!\e time?” * ,
T Cherish that thought of speaking a kind word to a
fellow-ujan who is ready to perish. It is such a thought
las ffßnlkiirit puts into the hearts of believers. If you
jlet it pa* away, the may go on unad
lindnisliec[ arid bfe lost forever. Stop not to parley with
juidolence, or procrastination; but keep
until it matures into a purpose,
e is formed, go at once and execute
doing , sucli good arise in the
iresofved or having thought of it, that they
rest tiiere, and in accomplish no more than if
the suggestion for good had never entered fllßir minds.
! Were a thousandth part of the beneficence accom
plished oi which Christians think, imd which (vvitli the
divine blessing) they might accomplish, who can tell
with what.iiceelerated impulse the great work of the
world’s salvation would move forward?
Cherish the spirit of prayer. At times you have
‘unusual freedom in prayer.* Your heart is drawn out.
I You seem to be permitted to come very near to God.
I Your desires are warm, and they flow out in love and
‘submission. Your faith is unusally strong, and you
jscarcely know how to cease from prayer. Well, yo.u
need not cease. The injunction is “pray without oeas
jing.” You cannot be liie whole time in the closet, or
-prayer-room; but you can, while at your daily labor—
: while engaged in conversation, or in whatever duty
engaged, be continually lifting up your heart to God.
His ear will hear the desire, “unuttered or expressed.”
■ if you have lost the spirit of prayer, seek if immediate
jiy. If you have it, cherish it as far more precious than
gold or precious stones.
Cherish a meek and humble frame of mind. Nonb
i. more becoming—none so lull of peace. You may
‘easily lose it. A little pride, hasty and angry words,
or an ambitious desire, may dispel tiiutheavenly temper
and leave your soul in wretchedness. The indulgence
of a little censoriousness, or an unforgiving spirit, will
i peedily empty your heart ol meekness, humility and
i peace.
Cherish love to the Saviour and confidence in him.
Cherish them by silting at his feel to learn, and by
diligence in doing his will. By constant looking, to
him lor strength, and for every grace. By committing
:your soul to his keeping from day to day.
Uo not think that Christian graces can grow without
cultivation. Neglect them, and the sun will scorch
them —thorns will spring up and choke them, or the
I birds of the air will devour them. Cherish them, and
when the showers of grace, and the light and heat of
the “Sun of Righteousness” descends, they will bring
|forth fruit to the Saviour’s praise.
[o=Let not any one say lie cannot govern his pas
• sions, nor hinder them from breaking out and carry
ling him to action; for what he can do before a prince
j or°a great man, lie can do alone or in the presence of
his God, if he will. — Locke.
Number 21*