Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1846-03-07
SNUFF OR, THE LAST PINCH OF THE
i GAME. E-- at.. t...1
BY CHARLES r. lLsLEY.


Take pinch. sir y ls y od
The queris. was hale, hearty old man, with
whom time had dealt very lenienty, confining
his ravages TO the silvering Of the hair, leaving
the ruddy cheeks without a furrow to betray
his footsteps. We found ourself travelling
companion with the old gentleman some years
since in stage coach, and rarely have we fal.
len in with more agreeable one He was
very communicative-had an inexhaustible
fund of anecdotes TO draw upon-was keen
observes of man and things, and had experienc.
ed largely Of the vicissitudes of life.
Take pinch, sr!' and he tapped the highly
FURNISHED lid of his golden snuff box with the
peculiarly graceful touch ola veteran snuff.
tsker. Ni
Prime Maccaboy-a choice article'
al thank you, sir, do not use snuff"
"No! Well, some call it a bad habit. but
must confess strong love for it'-and to prove
the assertion the old gentleman took bounti-
fu pinch of the ti,lating dust. 4 love it,
SIR i@n
SOL perceive 'a."
you do not understand me, sir; my regard
for it springs not merely from its mnistering to
my sensual qualification
could not repress a smile at the enthusias.
tic tone in which he spoke of his favorte luxury.
You smile, sir, at the strong regard mani
fest for it. What will you think sir whcn'l
| tell you that to this much abused article am
indebted for my iDe' Yes, sir, l should have
been dead man long ago had it not been for
snuff--and such death and he tapped his box
in most emphatic manner.
'You have good reason, then, for regarding
| it avorsbly. What was the nature of the COM
plant, ir!'
Wrong again, my dear sir-never was sick
in my life--do look like an siling man! No,
sir though owe my lite to snuff here he
took large pinch, 4 am not in the least indebt.
ed to it's medical properties.
This is singular
Not so singular as you may suppose Blu,
You shall hear my story and judge for your
SELF
Settling down costly in our seats 1--WE were
the only passengers, by the way.) the old gen
tleman, fondIing the richly chased though some.
what smoothly worn box, and iortifying himself
with capacious thumb and finger full of his
greatly priced maccaboy, commenced his story
Some thirty years ago ! was travelling ir
the upper part of Vermont, near the Canada
lines. 1t was in the early spring, and wa:
on horseback. Just at dusk one evening | ar
rived at small cabin in an out ofthe-way place
where concluded TO stop 10 get something II
eat, if possible, for ! was sharp set, having ira
yelled a pretty good spell that day Well,
dismounted the door, and taking my saddle
bags on my arm, entered the house. The ap
pearance of things was not very prepossessin.
assure you. However, asked the man o
the house, a dark browed fellow with suller
aspect. if he could furnish me with supper
He very freely offered TO give me what 'h'
house afforded, and ere long his wife, conside
rsble tidy looking woman, invited me to par
take of her hospitality.
Alter ! had done justice to her really eoo'
fare and paid my scot, which the man of th'
house first refused, made preparation to con
,inue my journey. Tie man advised me TO re
main all night, stating that the road was yer.
lonesome, and that patch of woods through
which it run for some eight or nine miles, wa
infested with wolves. They were very fero
cous, he told me, and but short time befor
had attacked man, who owed his escape sole
ly to the fleetness of his horse. was perfec,
ly welcome TO remain if | chose, as he coul
accommodate me with spare bed.-He press
ed me strongly, and painted the danger to- whic
shop ID be exposed in my journey through tn
woods in such vivid colors, that ] was NOR
than halfdisposed to accept of his offer. i
Stepping out of the door found that tn
moon had arisen, her beams resting on recen
fall of snow made it as light as day, which sery
ed, in a. great measure, to dispel the feeling
) of gloom which had begun to creep over me
The atmosphere was calm and b,scing, and q
. was some ewhst in hurry 10 reach the nea
4 village, declined the urgent solicitations {
the man, which were seconded by his wife, an
mounting my horse, proceeded on my way.
0 To tell the truth, did not fancy the appeal
. ance Of the couple. The man was'mighty il
qoisitive about my business--no more, perhap
J. than Yankees generally sre--and then theI
2 was cast to his featuresl did not like. b
: sides these. he seemed to eye my saddle.bsl
ina very suspicious manner, and msgined