A little further we saw one with the Wheel of Fortune before him, playing with children for oranges. What do you say? Twenty may play as well as one. Ay, and all may lose I suppose. Go away, sirrah, what, do you teach, children to game!—Gaming is a scandalous practice. The gamester, the liar, the thief, and the pickpocket, are first cousins, and ought all to be turned out of company.
At this instant up came Dick Sadbury, crying. And what do you think he cries for? Why he has been at the gaming table, or in other words at the Wheel of Fortune, and lost all the money that was given him by his father and mother, and the fairings that he received from Mr. Long, Mr. Williams, and Mrs. Goodenough. At first he won an orange, put it into his pocket, and was pleased; and then he won a knife, whipt it up, and was happy; after this he won many other things, till at last Fortune turned against him, as at one time or other she always does against those that come to her wheel and seek her favours, and he was choused out of all his money, and brought nothing away but a half-penny jew’s-harp. Why do you bellow so, you monkey? Go away, and learn more sense for the future.
Would you be wealthy, honest Dick,
Ne’er seek success at Fortune’s Wheel;
For she does all her votaries trick,
And you’ll her disappointment feel.
For wealth, in virtue put your trust,
Be faithful, vigilant, and just.
Never game, or if you do, never play for money. Avoid a gamester as you would a mad dog, or as a wolf that comes to devour you.