g, he went to see the tragedy. Don't ask
about his resolve of the night before; just ask how you yourself have
done scores of times, under similar circumstances, when you have sworn
off, but when the trial came, have concluded not to count that time!

"Dodd" enjoyed "Othello" as much as he did "London Assurance." But
that night he pledged himself again not to pursue the pleasure further,
as he had now seen it all. The next day, however, he found "Uncle
Tom's Cabin" billed. Now even "ministers went to see this play," the
bills said. "Dodd" saw "Topsy," "Eva," "Marks," and "Uncle Tom" that
night!

Thursday he found "Ten Nights in a Bar-Room" billed. He knew the
story, and was anxious to see the characters in it upon the stage. He
saw them.

Friday, his friend John Oller, from Emburg, was in town, and "Dodd"
confessed to him that he had been four times to the theatre. John said:

"Well, 'Dodd,' I never went, and I want to go. Come and go with me
to-night." The boys followed "Marble Heart" through to the end that
evening.

Saturday they went down town together, and "Zoe, the Octoroon Girl,"
was on for matinee. They took it in. Saturday night was set for
"Hamlet," and that melancholy Dane died in their presence before the
city clock rang in the Sabbath morning.

Here is the story for you, good people. Seven times to the theatre in
one week, for a boy who had been to such a place but seven times in all
his life. It is the way of human nature. I suppose that when Adam and
Eve really got to eating the forbidden apples, they ate, and ate, and
ate. At least, this quality has been transmitted to their descendants.

Now, the bad thing about this affair, was not that "Dodd" had been to
the play-house seven times, but that he had been there clandestinely.
When a person begins to sneak about anything, he is on the down grade
to perdition, and the brakes are all off.

The result of this excess of "Dodd's" was a still further dissipation.
It is usually that way. The theatre soon had a fascination for him
that he could not withstand. He went whenever he could get money
enough to buy a ticket. After awhile he began to frequent places of
amusement of a low grade. The "variety" performance attracted him, and
he became an habitual attendant at such places. Here he formed
acquaintances and made friendships that were not to his advantage, to
say the best thing that can be said of them; and with these companions
h