The Nevada journal., 1857-07-24
The way Matte cured her Better Half
of Smoking.

VI OuIUkulS.
A wild girl was Matte Lee I knew
her when she was but fifteen; she was
first in every frolc; favorite with the
master, yet the scholar who, oftener
than any of the rest, caused a shade to
rest upon his brow. | knew her " hen
grown up young lady; she as first in
every party of pleasure; favorite with
all the gentlemen, yet coquette who,
oftener than any other, caused shade
to fall upon their hearts. | knew her,
too, when a true-hearted woman, she
gave her hand. with her heart in it, to
Richard Forrest, the editor of one of
our village papers. Now Richard was
fine fellow but, like a great many
other ''nice young men," had one bad
habit; he would smoke. This same
habit annoyed my friend Matte quite
as much as it would have done most la
dies, but she did not commence curing
him of it as they would have done, with
prayers and tears, entreating him for
1.-The love he once bore her." to give up
the "noisome weed;" not She Matte
took plan less threadbare, and it was
something after TINS wise:
They were boarding, and had nice
room-the second story front. On
cartain evening, just before dark, Matte
busted herself with putting the room in
perfect order-placed every chair where
it belonged, arranged the books on the
table, and the mantel ornaments in
tasteful manner. After taking care
full survey of the room, and satisfying
herself that every thing was as it should
be, she went to bureau and took from
one of its drawers "some new jewel,
probably" you will say, "with which
she intends adjoining herself to meet her
lord" She carefully unrolled the pa
per, and took from it a new spotless to-
bacco pipe; then opening, at one end,
little roll Of carefully sealed silver pa
per, she commenced stut1ing the pipe
with fine cut tobacco. How stnage her
little white fingers looked diving into
the hateful stuff! The pipe well filed,
she laid it carefully on the table, placed
Il match beside it, and seated herself to
await the coming of her ''better half
Soon she heard the street door open,
and a well -known footstep on the hail
below, Quickly lighting the match,
she applied it to the sweet-scented herb
in the pipe, re-seated herself, and when
the husband entered, sat quietly by the
stove, wreaths of blue smoke curling
gracefully above her head, which was
thrown back ia that peculiar position of
enjoyment which gentlemen usually as
sumo while inhaling the weed.
Mr.. F had opened the door with
visions of Mattie's smiling face looking
lovingly upon him, floating through his
mind How different the picture that
met his astonished gaze! On hearing
the door open, Matte looked up, and,
seeing her husband, deliberately took
the pipe from her mouth and wished
him good evening" as though nothing
unusual had happened she quietly re-
sumed her smoking. Richard regarded
her with a mixture of surprise and hor-
ror for few moments, and then gave
went to his feelings in words:
"Why, Martha, what am | to think
Have you suddenly lost your senses 2"
Il do not see any strong evidence Of
such being the case" answered the lady
addressed; then, as if comprehending
the cause of his astonishment, she asked,
is it possible, Richard, that you did
not know of my habit of smoking! Did
did none of cur family ever tell
you"
1t may be well here to state that my
friend Matte was not always as scrupu-
lous in adhering to truth as she might
have been; at least she did not think it
very objectionable, under some circum-
stances, ''to do evil that good might
| come"
Each particular hair Of Richards
head seemed to stand on end, contem-
plating the tale unfolded by that word
habit. The only outward manifestation
he made of the state of his feelings was
an emphatic 'Impossible" accompanied
by a look of pious horror.
"Why impossible, my dear sir! Had
I acquired the habit lately, | should on
" have been treading in your footsteps,
thereby showing my willingness to be
guided, as a dutiful wife should be, by
the inclinations of my husband, and a
laudable desire TO consult, in all things,
I his taste: but have no such commend
able motive to offer. | was influenced
wholly by desire to please myself, l
used to think, before we were married,
that l would give up the practice and
never let you know that it had been;
but since have found how much it adds
to your enjoyment, and you have told
me so often how much your pleasures
are heightened by being shared by me-
I have almost concluded that it is my
duty to continue it. How delightful 1t
will be to sit together during the long
winter evenings, and thus taste the de-
lights of social intercourse. Come, sit
down: | have here cigar in readiness
for you; 1 prefer the old fashioned
Bv this time Richards brain was well
nigh supplied; -
at cannot be possible that my wife
would so degrade herself" he at length
exclaimed