Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1843-06-03
THR LAST sEGAR-OR THE RESOLVE.
BY J. A. B0SYAs-
s.Tobaeco 'tis = filthy weed,
i, drains the pocket. scents the clothes,
And MAKES a chimney OF the noss.o

induce you, by relating my own sad experience s
hough not eighteen years OF age-to qni'' II Il
my of YOU have fallen victim 10 a haott "hicn, Y
when once formed, can only be broken by The :
strongest perseverance,, and most rgd seIidenIal! Il
When you read this story. you have the SAUSAGE b
lion IT, satisfaction IT be, OF knowing 1t Is true. III
/, was cold rainy evening in the month Of f
NJ arch as was hurrying up Broadway, with my 5
eve. inten,ly fixed on a brilliant light cleaning f
from tho window of a moi far distant Segar Store,
that was thus accosted by poor, hut neatly clad
% irI abou, nine years old, who asked ~ ptiifu
bu, commanding tone, for some bread. had
often been called upon by unworthy looking per
sons for aid. and had often turned deaf ear 10
their wants-excusng my self by saying There h
are go many unworthy ones calling upon our char
ity that were we disposed to be charitable, we
know not upon whom we bestow our CUTS
Bu, could not think in the case of this lit
tie girl She stood W Nh her bare feet on the cold,
wet pavement, her dress-as could SEQ from
the light shining from the shop window though 4
somewhat tho worse Tor wear was clean and
her whole pc son dispaye that unassumed, nat
ural appearance uncharacterIstic Of that uniortu-
nate class Of which she was member.
DESTROYS Of knowing more OF her history,
commenced conversation by asking her which
she would rather have bread or money!
She looked at me hesitatingiy and SAID, 'S,r,
want bread; have a sick mother and two SINAI!
sistsrs'--
Here she stopped, choked with emotion, and
the tears came to her eyes
.Have you fa,herr SAID |.
Il have she said heslta,,ngIy, 'bu, no drinks;
he does not live at home
The story was told was satisfied. put my
hand ia my pocket, but-alasl a solitary sixpence
was ITS only occupant. I hesitated. and thought
of the expected luxury from the segar store. l
thought. 100, that tho sispence would get ioat
OF bread, and thus arnelorate the wants OF sui
fering family; but tho strong propensity OF still
stronger segar got the better OF my good inten-
ton and told her Il was sorry, but had no mon
ev to spare; if | had, would willingly give 1t to
her.
She lef, mo with look Of sadness, and turn
my eyes from her, Disguised with my own act,
and pursued my way to the segar store would
have directed her TO my home, bu, the distance
rendered it impracticable.
purchased my segars and went home smoking
hu. could no, help thinking of tho poor little
girl. Strange thoughts ran through my mird. l
would ask myself from which would derive the
most pleasure, seeing myseit making use OF an
unnatural substance, tobacco or IN seeing the
suffering poor use the natural staff oil iie' oreaas
Then l would wonder if tho little gel mot ~'th
nnv one more liberal than myself hoping that
she did I finally reached my home, and as
entered the roou The clock struck nine.
The family had retired; took a soat near the
fire and sat in quie, mood while the smoke as
cended from my lighted segar. The only noise
that disturbed my ears wos the ticking OF 'ht
clock and the occasiona! swapping of The halt
burned embers in the fire.--rhe lamp had growt
dim for tho want # re trimming.
Thus sat- half inclined TO sleep, till the tr'
had reached that part of my segar that vas We
by tho moisture of my lips of which was warn
ed By the continual Kissing IT occasioned, iooNe'
no tho room was blue with smoke; cast m
ewes upon the clock il was half past nine. dnoh
er half hour had gone-soNE FOREVER! An
what had accomplished! This started ne'
train of IDEAS laid the segar on the table too
from my pocket pencil and MADE Inc io'o"'"i
notes and calculations:
Commenced smoking when nine years Ole
Through the influence Of other boys-under IN
mistaken idea OF making man Of nyseJD q
the age of ten, could smoke the strongest seea
without feeling that dizziness 1T first produce
and a, the early age of eleven, found myself
confirmed votary to that odious, VICIOUS habit
SMOKING!
From eleven wears TO my present age (sevei
teen wears and four months) knosc two segsrs
day would be- moderate est'mate--many WI
,he day for the last two years, that SIX wodio n
excuse me.
Counting two dav from my eleventh We
and not including all thatI smoked the two yea
previous, four thousand SIX hundred and TWEEN
segars!
Allowing each segar 10 be, on an average ,hr'
aud a half inches IN length. would be one mo
sand three hundred and forty nino feet Two nc
es. Of AN emetic that | consumed, which had
swallowed a piece the SIZE Of a pea, would Ia
thrown me into horfid CONVERSIONS!
Each scgar cost me at least one cent, and son
cost more this would amount to forty SIX doia
and twenty cents, without interest
never smoked segar IN less than hall
hour--and never did any thing else while ST
king. This would be two thousand three hu
drsd and ten hours or about three months
My ,ine worth at moderate estimn
three cents an hour. This would amount 10 s
ty.nine dollars thirty cents.
When looked over the result, and found tt
had spent ninety five dollars and fifty cen
took three months IN consuming that which d
troved my health, ruined my breath and VIII
in time would have destroyed my nervous $,
tenn and all this at the age Of serenteen--a
then l thought how many loaves OF bread
money would have bought that had worse II
rastaA md how naeflal learnIny /