Bloomington herald. [volume] (Bloomington, I. T. [Iowa]) 1840-1849, 1843-09-15
THE LAST C1GARs
OR, THE RESOLVE.
/" Tobacco, 'tis filth weed,
It drains the pocket, scents the Clothes


-.
It drains the pocket, scents the Clothes
And makes chimney of the nose.
The story am about to relate is one.in.
which have double object The first
10 prove to you the folly Of the expensive,
useless and injurious practice of using to-
bacco. The second, to induce you by re
lating my own sad experlence-though.
not eighteen years Of age-to quit, if any,
Of you have fallen a. victim to habit
which, when once formed, can only be
broken by the strongest perseverance, and
most rigid self denial! When you read
this story. you have the satisfaction,. if
satisfaction it be, Of knowing it is true. 4
II was cold rainy evening in the month
of March, as was hurrying up Broad
way, with my eyes intently fixed on a
brilliant light cleaning from the VIM
dow Of not far distant Cigar Store, thatI
was thus accosled by poor, but neatly
clad girl, about nine years old, who asked
in a piliful but commanding tone, for
some Bread / had often been called ups
on by unworthy looking persons for aid,
and had as often turned deaf ear to their
wants-excusing myself by saying
There are SO many unworthy ones cal
ling upon our charity, that were we dispo-
sed to be charitable, we know not upon
whom we: bestow our gifts Il
But could not think so in the case Of
this iistle girl. She stood with her bare
feet on the cold, wet pavements; her dress
las could see from the light shining
from the shop window-though some
what : the worse for wear was clean, and
her whole person displayed that unassu-
med, natural appearance uncharacterislic
of that unfortunate class of which she was
member.
DESTROYS of knowing more of her histo.1
ry commenced conversation by asking
her which she would rather have, bread Of
money!
She looked at me hesita,ingly and said,
Sir, want bread have sick mother
and two small sisters'-
Here she stopped, choked with emo
ton. and the tears came to her eyes.
Have you no father 2 said l.
Il have,' she said hesita,ingly, but he
drinks She does not live at home.
The story was told was satisfied. |
put my hand in my pocket, but alas
solitary sixpense was its occupant. hes
itated, and thought Of the expected luxury
from the cigar store. thought, too, that
the sixpense would get loaf of bread, and
thus ameliorate the wants of a suffering
family; but tine strong propensity of still
stronger cigar got the better of my good
intention, and told her was sorry, but
| had no money to spare if had would
willingly give it to her.
She left me with look of sadness, and
l turned my eyes from her, disguised with
my own act, and pursued my way to the
cigar store. would have directed her to
my home, but the distance rendered, it
impracticable. ;
purchased my cigars and went hons
smoking but could not help thinking Of
the poor little girl. Strange thoughts ran
through my mind. l would ask myself
from which I would derive the most plea.
sure, seeing myself making use of an un-
natural substance, tobacco, or in seeing
the suffering poor use the natural staff Of
life, bread? Then would wonder if the
little girl met with any more liberal than
myself-hoping that she did. finally
reached my home, and as entered the
room the clock strucl. nine.
The family had retired; I took seat
near the fire and sat in a quiet mood while
the smoke assembled from my lighted CT
gar. The only noise that disturbed my
ears was the ticking Of the clock and the
occasional swapping of the half burned en-
5aSf% 5s foa lie s Essan, oi Pertaining n :''
Thus I sathalf inclined to sleep, till the
fire had reached that part of my cigar that
was wet by the moisture Of my lips. of
which was warned by the continual his
sing it occasioned, looked up, the room
was blue with smoke ; | cast my eyes up
on the clock-it was half pas.-nine, anoth-
er half hour has gone-gone forever And
what had | accomplished This started
new train of ideas. laid the ciar on
the table, took from my pocket 6encil,
and made the following notes and cula-
tons.
| Commenced smoking when nin6eyears
old; (,hrough the influence Of other boys,
| under the mistaken idea of making a
man of myself; at the age of ten | could
smoke the strongest cigar without feeling
that dizziness it first produced, and at the
early age of eleven. found myself con-
irmed votary to that odious, vicious habit
of smoking!
From eleven years to my present age
| seventeen years and four moths) know