The Davenport daily gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1869, 1857-08-08
Tue Way Matte Cusd her "Detlsr Half
Of Smekius.


Of Smoking.
4 wild III was Matte Lee. knea her
when she fifteen; she was the first in
every fro favorite with the master
vet the sch' { who, oftener than any Of the
rest, CAUSED i.ade to rest upon his brow
knew her wien grown up young lady
she was FIRST in every party of pleasure a
lavoritc with all the gentlemen, yet o.
luette, who oftcncr than any other caused n
shade to fall upon their hearts. knew her
too when a true hearted woman, she gave
hcr hand, with her heart in il, 10 Richard
Forrest, the editor II one M our village
newspapers. Now, Richard was fine Eel
low. but, like a good many other "nice
young men, had one bad habit--he would
smoke. This line habit annoyed my friend
Matte quite as much as il would have done
most Young ladies. but she did not com
mence curing him Of il a. they would have
done--with prayers and tears, cntreating
him for I" the love he bore her. to si,e %
the "noisomc weed !" not she. Matte took
plan les thrcadbare. and IL was this wise:
They were boarding, and had nice room,
the second story front. On certain even
ing, just before dark, Matte busted herself
With putting the room in perfect order
placed every chair where il belonged. ar
ranged the books on the table and the man
tel ornaments in the most tasteful manner.
After taking careful survey II the r,on.
and satisfying herself that everything was
n IL should he, she went Ia bureau and
took from one II the drawers a small PACK
age. neatly wrapped in tissue paper some
new jewel, probably, you will say, with
which she intends adorning herself 10 meet
licr lord" She carefully unrolled the paper
and took from II new spotle-s tobaeco pipe;
then opening at one cad roll of carefully
scaled silver paper, she commenced siuifing
the pipe with Tine cut tobacco. How siranr,
her little white fingers looked, diving into
the hateful stuff The pipe well filled, she
lail il carefully or thu table, placed a mattel
beside IL, to await the coming IL her abct-
ter half
Soon she heard the street door open. and
we'll known ioot.tcp in the hall below.
Quickly lighting the match, she applied il
e. the swcet-,ccntcd herb IN the pipe, rested
herself, and when her husband entered. sat
quietly by the stove, wrcaths Of blue s,nokr
eurl.ng gracefully over her head, which wa
thrown back ID that peculiar position 81 en-
I"Nmrnt which gentlemen assume While in
halng tie weed
MIR p had opened the door with ,,s-
ion, al Matties smiling face laokng lovingly
IN him. floating through his mind How
different the picture that met has astan-hed
gaze On hearing the door open Matte
locked up, and taking the pipe deliberately
from her mouth, bid her Lusband : good
evening" a. though nothing unusual had
happened, then quietly resumed her smo
king. Richard regarded her with mixture
II surprise ami horror for a few moments.
and then gave vent to his feelings in words !:
why, Martha what am ! "a think
have you suddenly lot your senses p
do not see any very strange evidence
1t such being the case, answered the lady
addressed and then, n IL just comprehend
ing the cause II biz establishment, she immc-
diatel, asked J. il possible, Richard that
YOU did not know Vi my habit IL smoking
Did did none ot our family never tell
you r
1t may be well here Ia state that my
friend Matte was not always A. serupulous
VA adhcring "a truth n she might have been.
Al least, she did not think il very objection
able, under some circumstances, to do evil
that good might come
seemed 20 stand ON end, in contemplating
the tale unloldcd by that word haLa The
only outward manifestation he made of tho
tate IL his feelings, was an emphatic nm
possiblew accompanied by look Of pious
horror
Why impossible, my dear sir Had
acquired the habit lately, ! should only
have been trcading in your footsteps, therby
showing my willingness to be guided, n d
dntlful wife should be, by the inclinationS
II my husband, aud laudable design To
consult, in au things, his tastes but I have
no such eommendablc motives To offer.
was influenced wholly by desire to please
myself ] used 20 think before VIC were
married that ] would give up the practice
and never let you know il had been; but
since ] have found how much IL adds to
your enjoyment, and you have told me so
often how much your pleasures are hightcn-
ed by being shared with me, have almost
concluded II my duty to continue il. How
delightful IL will be 10 sit together during
the long winter evenings, and thus taste
the thoughts of social intercourse. Come.
sit down have here a cigar in readiness
for you; | prefer the old fashioned pipe
By this time Richards brain was well
nigh stupeiied.
1t cannot be possible that my wife
would 10 degrade herselfp' he at length ex-
claimed.
Why, Richard, il seems to me that YOU
make great ado about small matter. I
10 not tank il Is 50 dreadful To enjoy
harmless, innocent pipe. here In my room
occasionally, where no one could possibly
stf 4 l.sst d.. Z
any degradation in the practice, Is you him
ted moment ago, am only coming down
to level with my husband. You expect
me 70 love you, notwithstanding your habit,
why not vice venxa7 And if Il makes NJ
change In your feelings towards me, care
not what others think y and Matte now
looked up in his face with such an expires
-ion Of vcncration Cor him and all his actions.
that be almost laughed, annoyed ~ he felt.
Come, Matte, !" nAid be, more pleasant
" than he had yet spoken, "lct us make IN
agrecncnt. lfyou will leave on smoking,
l will 's.e but one cigar day for \ week,
and then give Il up entirely. What do you
say.
Il do not see why should not have the
came privilege Is younsclr' said Matte, pre-
tending 10 Lc otIsnded; "it Il probably
quite n diiicult Tor me to give up long g.
tablished habit !" then, sfter \ moment,
consideration, she added, However, since
! consider that proviso In your favor, m &C
acknowledgement u the superiority of the
strength % woman's will over thsf &c the
stronger SEX win accedc 70 your propo-
sition"
II Richard ever smoked that Sc one ciesr q
day for week" Matte never knew &C il.
On that sventfal night he had ''seen himself
~ others saw him, and with the sight van
ishsd sorever his love Of smoking.
4 Crying Evil.
hn -