Tickets are sold for prizes, and of course only one person can get the prize, while all the rest must lose their money.
Soon after Peter Cooper reached New York he saw an advertisement of a lottery.
He might draw a prize by buying a ticket.
Each ticket cost ten dollars.
Peter had just that much money.
He thought the matter over carefully.
He wished very much to have some money, for then he could help his mother.
So he bought a ticket, and drew—nothing.
Poor boy! he was now penniless.
But he never touched games of chance again.