The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1860-03-30
Mattle's Smoking Cure.

cry trolic; a favoritc with tho master; yet
the scholar who. oftencr than any OF the
rost, caused q shade to rest upon his brow.
know her when u grown.up young lady;-
sho was first in every party of pleasure; q
favorito with all tho gentlemen. yet co.
quotte. who. Oftcner than any other, caused
a shade to tall upon their hearts. know
her. too, whom n true.hcartcd woman. she
gave her hand with her heart in it. to Rich.
ard Forrest, tho editor of one OF our village
newspapers. Now. Richard was II fine fol.
low, but, like good many other "uico young
men," ho had one habit--he would smoke
This habit annoyed Matte quite as much as
it would most young ladies, but she did not
commence curing him of it as thoy would
havo donc--with prayers and tears cntrcat-
ing him for "the love he bore her, to give up
tho noxious weed" not she Matte tnnk a
plan loss threadbaro and it was this wise:
They were boarding. and had II rice room.
second story front. On n certain evening
Just before dark, Mattio husicd herself with
putting her room in perfect order--pactd
every chair where it belonged, arranged the
books on tho tabo, and the mantle orna-
mcnts in the most tasteful manner. After
taking q careful survey of tho room and sat
isfying herself that every thing was as il shod
~
of tho drawers small package. neatly folded
in tissue paper; some jewel, probably. YOU
will say. with which she intends adorninc
herself to meet her lord" She carefully
unrolled tho paper. and took from il now,
spotlcss tobacco pipes then opening at one
end a roll of carefully scaled silver paper.
sho commenced stufling tho pipe with tho
fuo cut tobacco. How strange her little
white fingers looked, diving into tho hate
full stuff! Tho Pipe well filled. sho laid it
carefully on the table. placed IA match be-
side il, to await tho coming Of her better
half"
Soon she heard the street door opon, and
u well known tootstep in the hall follow
Quickly Lighting tho match. sho applied /, to
tho hcrb in the Pipe, seated herself, and as
her husband entered, sat quietly by tho
stove, with wroaths of bluo smoke curl
ing gracefully over her head, which was
thrown back in that peculiar position OF en-
ioyment which gentlemen assume whilo in
haliug tho weed.
Mr., f. had opened tho door with visions
OF Mattie's SIN ling face looking lovingly on
him floating through his mind How differ
ent tie picture that met his astonished gaze!
On hearing the door open Matte looked up.
and taking tho r'po deliberately from her
mouth. bid her husband good evening" as
though nothing unusual had happeued. then
quietly resumed her smoking. Richard re-
gardcd her with a mixture of surprise and
horror for a few moments. and then gave
vent to his feelings in words:
"Whv, Martha, what am tn think: Have
you suddenly lost your senscs?'
II do not see any strange evidence Of such
being the case. answered the lady addressed;
thon, If just conprehending tho cause of his
astonishmcnt. shc Immediately askcd:-"Is
it possible, Richard, that you aie 40 aston
ished merely because / am enjoying q com
Portable smoker Has no one ever Informed
you that smoked:"
We would here state that one Of Mnrtha's
faults, was that she would not always stick
10 the truth as closely as sho ought to have
done. Like thousands of others, she occa.
sionally would do evil that good might
come"
Each particular hair seemed to stand on
ond, in contemplating tho tale untoldod 10y
that reply. Inc only outward manifests-
lion he mndo of tho state of his feelings, was
an emphatic 'mpossible!" accompanied by
a look of horror.
"Why impossible my dear? II had Ia
ken to smoking only lately, am but follow.
ing in your footsteps, thereby showing
willingness TO be guided, nS dutiful wife
should bo, by tho nclinaions of my hus-
band, and laudabe desire to consult in all
things, his tastes; since il adds to your en-.
jnymcnt, and you hnvo told inc how much
uIl your pleasures are heightened by being
shared by mo, | have concluded it is my
duty to keep you company in this delight
full enloymcnt. instead OF each of us cnoy-
ing it separately. How delightful it will be
to sit together during tho long winter oven
ngs aud thus taste tho thoughts of social
intercourse. Come, sit down; | have here
cigar in readiness for you'll prefer tho
old fashioned pipe"
BY this time Richards brain was well
nigh stupetied.
at cannot be possible tha: you would
so degrade yourself! Am dreaming, or
is this real ! Tell me, Martha, tell me
that you are not in earnest"
"Why, Richard, it seems 10 me that
you arc making a great ado about small
matter. do not think it so dreadful TO
enjoy harmless, innocent pipe, here in
my room, occasionally, where no one can
possibly know it but yourself. Beside, II
there is any degradation in the practice, as
you limited a moment ago, am only
coming down TO a level with my husband.
You expect me TO love you notwilhstand.
ing the habit, why not vice versa? And
if ii makes no change in your feelings
toward me, care not what others think"
and Matte now looked up in his face with
such an expression Of veneralion for him,
and all his actions, that he almost laughed,
annoyed rs he felt.
Come, Matte" said lie, more pleas
anUy than he had yet spoken, "let US
make an agrcement.--If you will leave off
smoking, will use but one cigar day,
for week, aud then give it up entirely.
What do you say ?"
81 do not see why should not have
the same privilege as yourself" said
Matte, prete..ding 10 be offended, ait is
probably quite as difficult for me 10 give
up long established habit )" then, after
a moments consideration, she added.
However, since consider that proviso
in your favor, an acknowledgment Of the
superiority of the strength of woman's
will over that of the stronger sex, l will
accede to your proposition"
II Richard even smoked that "one cigar
day for week." Matte never knew it.
On that evenlful night he had seen him
self as others SAW him. and with the sight