Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1860-05-25
MISCELLANY.
Mattie'S Smoking Cure.

'h every iTohci iavorlte with the master;
yet the scholar who oftener than any of
the rest, caused sha,le TO rest upon his
brow. knew her when grown up young
lady; she was the first in every party of
pleasure; favorite with all the gentlemen.
yet coqnette who oftener than any other
caused shade to fall upon their hearts,
knew her too when q true-hearted woman.
she gave her hand, with her heart in it, to
Richard Forrest, the editor of one of our vii
lage newspapers. Now, Richard was a fine
fellow, but, like good many other nice
young men," he had one habit-he would
smoke. This habit annoyed Matte quite
as much as it would most young ladies, bu,
she did not commence curing him of it as
they would have done-with prayers and
tears enireating him for " the love he bore
her, to give up the noxioIs weed : not she.
Matte took plan less threadbare, and it
was this wise:
They were boarding, and had nice
room, second story front. On a certain
evening. just before dark. Matte busted
herself with putting the room in perfect
order-placed ever chair where it belonged,
arranged the books on the table, and the
mantle ornaments in the most tasteful man.
ner. After taking careful survey of the
room and satisfying herself that everything
was as it should be, she went to the bureau,
and took from one of the drawers small
package, neatly wrapped in tissue paper /;
some jewel, probably. you will say, with
which she intends adorning herself to meet
her lord" She carefully unrolled the pa
per, and took from it a new, spotless tobac-
co pipe; then opening at one end a roll of
carefully sealed..silver paper, she commen-
ced stuffing the pipe with the fine cut to-
bacco How strange her little white fingers
looked, diving into the hateful stuff! The
pipe well filled, she laid it carefully on the
table, placed match beside it TO await the
coming of her better half"
Soon she heard the street door open, and
a we'll known footstep in the hall below.
Quickly lighting the match, she applied it
to the herb in the pipe, seated herself, and
when her husband entered, sat quietly by
the stove, with wreaths of blue smoke curl
ing gracefully over her head, which was
thrown back in that peculiar position of en-
ioyment which gentlemen assume while
inhaling the weed.
MIR. +. had opened the door with visIons
of Mattie's smiling face, looking lovingly
on him floating through his mind. How
different the picture that met his astonished
gaze On hearing the door open Matte
looked up, and taking the pipe deliberately
from her mouth. bid her husband good
evening" as though nothing unusual had
happened, then quietly resumed her smok-
ing. Richard regarded her with mixture
of surprise and horror for a few moments,
and then gave vent to his feelings in words !:
"Why, Martha, what am 10 think !?
Have you suddenly lost your sense?"
81 do not see any very strange evidence
of such being the case" answered the lady
addressed; then, as if just comprehending
the cause of his astonishment, she immedi-
ately asked -. Is il possible, Richard, that
YOU are so much aston;shed merely because
/ am enjoying comfortable smoke? Has
no one ever informed you that l smoked !"
| We would here state that one ol Mar
tha's faults, was that she would not always
stick to the truth as closely as she ought to
have done. Like thousands of others, she
would occasionally "do evil that good
might come"
Each particular hair seemed to stand on
end, in contemplating the tale unfolded by
that reply. The only outward manifesto
tion he made of the state of his feelings,
was an emphatic impossible! accompa-
MED by look of horror.
awhy impossible. my dear? If ] had
taken to smoking only lately, l am but fol-
lowing in your footsteps. thereby showing a
willingness TO be guided as dutiful wife
should be, by the inclinations of my hus'
hand. and laudable design TO consult in
all things his tastes since it adds to youl
endowment, and you have told me how muet
all your pleasures are heightened by being
shared by me, / have concluded 1t my dut,
10 keep you company in this delightful en-
e ioyment. instead Of each of us enjoying
Separately. How delightful il viii be e
sit together during the long winter eve
nincs. and thus taste the thoughts OF socla
e intercourse. Come, sit down, have ciga
in readiness for you prefer the old fash
ioned pipe.'
By this time Richards brain was wei
nigh stupeiied.
at cannot be possible that you would s.
degrade yourself Am / dreaming, or i
this real Tell me, Martha that you arr
not in earnest.
aWhy Richard it seems 10 me that yo'
are making great ado about small mat
ter. | do not think it is so dreadful to en-
iov harmless, innocent pipe, here IN m.
own room. occasionally, where no one car
! nossiblv know it but yourself. Besides
Of there is any degradation in the Practice. a
.t binted a moment ago, i am only COMING
Re down to level with my husband. lo'
exneet me to love you, Notwithstanding tn
habit why nst vice versa? And If It make
no change in your feelings towards me,
care not what others think and Ma'ti
i is now looked up in his face with such an ex
nression Of veneration for him, and all HI
actions. that he almost laughed, annoyed a
he felt.
a Come. Matte" said he, more pleasant
- alt a