The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1858-12-25
TOBACCO MIGHTIER THAN LOVE.


TOBACCO nIGHTIER THAN LOVE.
The ruddy blaze in his own crate nov
chaered the heart of Frank Storrs, a.
he returned from his evenings labor. Let.
ta had retired, for it was late. p.
Il wonder if she didn't make that ottoman
! like box in the corner on purpose ifor my
slippers,' thought he. 'They are always
there, not three feet from my easy
chair. What has she under that snowy nap
kin? All, a light biscuit and glass Of milk
She knew that my severe labor in the count.
ing.room would exhaust me. How marvel
ousl lymy digest has improved since had
a wife to correct my diet, and to prepare
the delicate, plain dishes that suit me sc
well. And then such sweet bread and but
ter as Letta makes. BY George that board.
ing at a Hotel and living on slops md
grease like to made 'marm's meat of me-
This thought he, planting his feet on
the fender, and rubbing his hands, is a lit
tie pIeasanter than going to bachelors quar-
ters, and pulling at an old bell-rope half an
hour to rouse sleepy servant, who wishes
that you and the water and the coal and
everything else you call for were in the In Don.
Nobody to anticipate your wants there and
when the aching brow and the trembling
limbs forbid your appearance at the table,
and tea and toast come to your room with a
mat'esed esavse. What u fool Iswas to live
bachelor so long.
81 wish Letta had left another biscuit: |
an hungry es wolf still. But | guess
she knew-bless her sensible head that
! ought not to have any more: just enough
before retiring to relieve the fantness. All,
Lctta knows it all. | wonder if she don't
md, t1,a l. L
When got sick last month, didn't her nurs-
( ing act like charm How skillfully she
applied the lamentations and draughts, all
by her own advice, and how much more
good they did me than all the pills anu po-
! tions that ever took.
Il wonder if Letta is as happy in me as
am in her ? | must watch my pritty bird,
and see that her pinions never droop. !
must study her comfort and her happiness
as she does mine, and as my means increase
she shall indu ge in her fine taste. Sho'd
any rude breath of Heaven ever sweep
around Us, will fold her to my bosom,
that she may not feel it. She is perfect
gem her slightest wish shall become lau.'
/ The next evening Frank returned at an
earlier hour. He threw himself upon the
sofa and drew Letta into his arms.
Did you know denrest,' said she, sthat
you have Il habit that is very disagreeable to
me, and one that want you to abandon :?
! 1t is a habit that is highly injurious to the
mind, and perfectly ruinous to the bod "a
habit from which very much Of your bad
health originates.
'Why, no,' said Frank, opening his eyes
in astonishment, what is it ? pray tell.'
/ 'Iour hair. your clothing, your whole
person is now fumigated with an odious
weed, and it is something so offensive that
had not feared that my conduct would be
sunderStood, should have left your pres
cuce.'
Frank hung his head and bit his lip. The
good resolutions Of the evening before fash
ed over him like lightning. 'lIcr slightest
wish shall become to me lGr.' All, Mr..
Frank, you had no idea that your real desire
to serve and to please Letta would be test
ed SO soon. You never expected TO be call
ed upon to perform yo, ,ur promise. You
never thought the strength of your prnci-
pies would be tried.
'If she had asked ought else,' tho't Frank
q could have done it. Why, would do
anything to please her. I'd go round the
world on my hands and knees
Mighty easy to promise, again, when YOU
know full well that such pilgrimage will
never be required. But there is something
you can do, and Lctta is very anxious you
shall do it.
And do you think he die. it, reader: Not
he. lie pinchcd her cheeks, and kissed her
ten times, notwithstanding a richly colored
stream was running from each side of his
mouth. Then he pulled her up on the floor,
and declared she should dance the polka,
which she ahhorrcd, as q penance for pre-
stunning to speak to him about his tobacco.
SO much for the promises and good in
tentionS of men. They are not to he trust
ed. They will indulge their own selfish de-
sres and whims, and they have no sort of
idea Of making any sacrifice, or abandon
ins any wrong habit, to please either wife
or sweet heart. SO. girls. YOU must not in
dulge any false hopes. Marry whom you
choose, but remember that your husband
always will do just rs he pieases. If he
chooses to smoke and chew and convert
your dwelling into one vast spittoon. he'll do
it, Your well scrubbed tloor will he delugcd
with the filthy contents of his mouth: your
carpet will be stained, the shovel and tonGS
all bcspattcred, the stove will receive its
full share, and send forth n stencil more in
tolerable than that of the StyGian Lake.
And YOU need not fret or scold. Twill
be MS fruitless as to ebay the moon You
need not attempt to ridicule or laugh HIM
ont of it. You could as soon laugh a noun
tain into mole hill. Ionr dainty stomach
needn't grow sick, for you've got to get used
20 1t. You needn't to trouble yourself
about Your delicate, embroidered slippers,
or gather up the folds of your white mus
liu as you pass round the pool at bis side,
for they are fated-thcy can't escape the
plnguc-spot. When you watch the poor be-
spotted and enslavcd being before you, his
jaws eternally grinding, looking around as
dIgni6ed as other ruminating animals, you
need not indu &c the slightest feeling Of
contempt for it will only increase your own
unhappness. II you take the man you
must take the tobacco too. He wouldn't
give up the weed for half dozen such girls
rs YOU are. You may seek to render that
dear little sitting room, that is already hal
lowed by blissful associations, neat and
tasteful, the air fresh and pure; you may
fill your vases with flowers, which shall DIFF
fuse their fragrance but the moment your
walking smoke house enters, q poisonous
efluvia will pervade the apartment, which
will render retreat desirable.
Your husband may call you an angel, the
soother of his woes, the consoler in his
sorrows he may liken you to a beautiful
bird, to graceful vine, and to a thousand
other beautiful and graceful things, thay
make very pretty material for poetical four
ishes, and then in the sober sad reality Of
the prose of every day life, you will have to
clean up the apartment he has dcfled with
his vile nauseating habit. Even the words
of love that he breathcs into your ear will
have more Of the color Of tobacco than the
odor of affection.
Now don't get out of huu'or. Twill be of
no use. What can't be cured must be en-
dured. You may think yourself well off if
YOU get as good husband as Letta had, for
he fully appreciated her. lie delighted in
the perfect order that reigned throughout
the house. The clear glass and the bright
silver he never failed to notice. The farina
so nicely prepared, the tomatoes seasoned