Gaut Gurley

vain to set t

should suffic

e the thing

rom the lips o

ddest in the

the damn'd, most

t a new vice, which, under the name and guise of Pastime, should be best calculated to seduce men from the paths of virtue, pervert their hearts, ruin them for earth and educate them for hell, should be awarded a crown of honor, with rank and prerogative second only to his own. He then, with many a gracious and encouraging word to incite in them a spirit of emulation, and nerve them for exertion in the important enterprise thus set before them, dismissed them, to go forth among men, observe, study, and come again before him on a designated time, to report the results of their respective doings, and submit them to his decision. Eager to do the will of

from earth, had come up in all directions from their dismal abodes, to hear those plans reported, and witness the awarding of the prize for the one judged most worthy of adoption. Lucifer then mounted his throne, commanded silence, and ordered the competitors to advance and present, in succession, such plans as they would lay

ommitted with its sanction; and the disposition is every day growing stronger and stronger, among all classes, to fall in with its behests. Encourage its progress, make its rule absolute with all, and the world's boasted morality would trouble us, devils, no more. This would be the direct and natural result among the most wealthy, who would leave no vice unpracticed, no sin uncommitted, provided they could excuse t

r the speaker had closed; "but is it safe against all contingencies? What if

"That is a contingency about as likely to happen as that your

scheme comes within the rule, on the score of or

eral use of intoxicating drinks, under the plea of taking a social glass; for,

first man I caught with it was the old patriarch himself. Since then it has been my most profitable agent in the earth, bringing more recruits to my kingdom than

music, which I contend would render men effeminate, indolent, voluptuous, and finally vicious and corrupt, so th

methinks I already see, in the dim vista of the earth's future, a cunning Wesley springing up, and exhorting his brethren 'Not to let the Devil have all the good tunes, but appropriate them to the service of the Lord.' Now if the religious world should have wit enough, as I greatly fear me they would, to foll

want of originality, in turn, rejected, till one more only remained to be announced; when its author, an old, dark-eyed demon, who was much noted for his in

roy them, but will insure the exercise and combine the powers of them all. It addresses itself to the intellectual by the implied challenge it holds out to them to make a trial of their skill; it appears to the unfortunate in business as a welcome friend, which is rarely turned away; it presents to pride and vanity the means of gratification that are not to be rejected; it holds out

houted an hundred voices from t

se to christen this new and terrible device of mine, to counteract th

; "and Gambling let it be," shouted Lucifer, as the prize was thu

demons, we pass, by no unnatural tr

ut his remark being received only with jeers by the company, he sank into an abashed silence and played on. Another hour elapsed, and he spoke of it again, but less decidedly. Another passed, and he seemed wholly to have forgotten his purpose; for he, as well as all the rest of the company, had, by this time, become intensely absorbed in the play, allowing themselves no respite or intermission, except to snatch occasionally a glass of liquor from the sideboard, in the entrancing business before them. And, as the sport proceeded, deeper and deeper grew the excitement among the infatuated participants, till every sense and feeling seemed lost to every thing save

n them, in warning them to break up and return to their families, made wretched by their absence. So completely, however, had they abandoned themselves to the fatal witcheries of the play, that they heeded not even this significant

tempts to secure an advantage. Thus far, however, he had signally failed in his purpose; and, at the last game, Elwood had even won of him the largest sum that had as yet been put at stake between them. T

what you absurdly called your money lost at our last sitting; though Heaven knows that what I then won was but a pitiful fraction of the amount you have taken from me, within the last two yea

h. "You shall stay to give me another chance, o

company, in an expostulating tone, "gentl

urley, in a voice trembling with rage.

if unwilling to let the other finish the sent

e the

ubl

, do

with forced composure, taking up and shu

the momentous one thus put at stake, at once turned their eyes on the two players, and watched the result with breathless interest. That result was soon disclosed; when, to the surprise of all,

and suspicious look round the table upon those who had doubtless been, at other sittings, hi

r," said one of the men add

xclaimed Gaut, wi

e best of us, as it appears he has had. And hark ye, Gaut, you look

l bear me out in leavin

ing to make to

not a-going to sneak off with all that

ed Elwood; "why not,

games running,-lost all I have. I demand a fair chance to win it back; and that c

s accursed habit of play, by which you have robbed me of untold thousands yourself, and been the means of my being robbed of thousan

y when you have my last dollar in your pocket? But your pitiful whining shall

such recriminations and threatenings here! I can show Elwood a way to dispose of a part of his money, at least, without bringing on any one the charge of robbing or bein

id another, coming forward and pres

od's folly, in the shape of a gambling note; "and I shall insist on payment with the rest, seein

ng the chances of escaping through it before any one could interpose to prevent him. He then glanced inquiringly at the company for such indications of sympathy or forbearance as might warrant the attempt; but in their coun

et my bills and engagements of to-day,-at least, as much as I brought here. But, as I am not to be

the table, and the holder of each was paid off in turn; the last of

perate calmness, "in this line of deal, at least, my

etting hold of Elwood's money, by fair means or foul, before permitting him to leave the room. "Not with me, sir, till the amount of tha

and fiendish glances of the other, Elwood

sistance he now doubly depended to save him from ruin. He therefore changed his course, and was proceeding towards his store, when he met his confidential clerk, who was out in search of him, and who, in great agitation, informed him that his drafts of yesterday had all been returned dishonored; that bills were pouring in, and the holders clamorous for their pay. Struck dumb by the startling announcement, it was some moments before Elwood could collect his thoughts sufficiently to bid his clerk return, and put off his creditors till the next day, when he would try to satisfy them all. And, having done this, he turned suddenly i

t, and immediately set out for home,-a home which, for the first time in his life, he now dreaded to enter. To