It was, however, agreed that the LOWEST throw should
win. The players threw until one of them turned up two aces.
All but one had thrown, and shouts of applause greeted the lucky
caster, when the last who was to throw exclaimed--'Hold! I'll try
and beat that.' . . .
Rattling the dice, he turned down the box on the table, and on
lifting it up displayed the two dice ONE UPON THE TOP OF THE
OTHER, and both aces! He was therefore declared the winner.[34]
[34] Menageana.
A TENDER MOTHER.
A French lady had an only child, a handsome young man, much
addicted to gaming. He lost at one sitting L40,000, and being
destitute of other resources, he joined a company of strolling
players. They chanced some time afterwards to pass a short time
at Worcester, near which his mother, who was considerably
advanced in years, resided. The lady, though highly displeased
with her son's life, yet, hearing of his performance, could not
resist a wish to see him; and for this purpose she went thither
incog. He supported the principal character in 'The Gamester.'
The feelings of the mother were so excited at the passages which
closely applied to her son's conduct, that she exclaimed aloud,
'Ay, there he is--the--the beggar--the scoundrel! Always the
same--no change in him!' The delusion so increased at the fifth
act, when Beverley lifts his hand to kill the child, that the
lady in a most distressing tone cried out--'Wretch that thou art,
don't kill the child--I'll take it home with me!'
TWO MASTERS OF THE ART.
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