Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1867-07-12
why I gave up Smoking.
BY AN ENGLISH MISSIONARY.

cr. / began to smoke when / began to
preach that is when about twenty years
of age. Most of the preachers of my ac-
quain'ance did the same; thought it
preacherly to initiate them. smoked dur
ing the time j was at college; that was
contrary to the rules of the Institution !;
but then the President was smoker, too.
In after years however, when we were
having friendly chat over our pipes, he
positively and solemnly assured me that,
if he had found me out, he would have
expelled me sastanter. When about to
sail as missionary to distant land, i
recollect having the honor and fecility of
having, in little room, not three miles
from Pate,noster Row, in London, pipe
with a veteran in the service, whose praise
was, and is, in all churches.
s.A fine thing" said he, with little
Scotch accent, is pipe of tobacco in a
hot climate. Let me recommend you, my
young brother, TO take with you good
stock Of pipes and tobacco
You need not ask whether | did so. In
the course of time, however, when labor
ing as missionary, felt compelled for
the sake of example. to become teeto-
taller, and to throw myself, body and soul.
in the total abstinence movement but /
still adhered to the beloved pipe.
In a parcel of temperance tracts kindly
sent me, was one headed, "Dost thou
smoke, Bill?" read it. and it made me
feel uncomfortable. Some copies of it had
got in circulation among my people before
was aware. A fine young black man
came to me one day, and after bowling and
scraping, and bidding me good morning"
said
g Will massa gle me one leetle fract =
Yes, Quamina, and welcome; which
will you have 2"
Dat tract called Dos you smoke, Will
liam p"
my presence to say j" Bill politeness led
him TO say William.'' gave him the
tract; but felt had rather he had
asked for any other tract than that, and
my uneasiness was increased. The tract
was evidently attracting some attention
Itwas condemning among the people theil
pastors habit.
One night after Quamina's visit, having
knocked out the ashes of my las; pipe be.
fore retiring to rest. colloquy took place
between my conscience and myself, OF
which the following ia a faithful report
Conscienee-You have given up all in
intoxicating drinks, and you have done
well. Why not give up that smoking too
Myself-I cannot. 1t is pleasant
habit to which have been addicted for fif-
teen years.
C.-Does it do you any good?
Nj must confess that does not.
C.--Is il not in a variety of ways pos
itively injuriously to you !?
MI is; both my judgment and my
experience are against il.
G-Do you not al temperance meetings
feel that many of the arguments urged
against alcoholic drinks tell with almost
equal power against the use of tobacco? +?
MI cannot deny that | do.
Glow much have you spent on to-
bacco during the fifteen years that you
have been smoker?
NO not much never smoke ci-
gars except when some ship captain makes
me present of few; they are other
wise too expensive; the pipe is much
more economical.
Glow much has the pipe cost you
since you became a preacher Try to
form an estimate.
M-(afIer long pause)-The amount
l find is larger than thought it was;
cannot, however, exactly say how much
it is.
C.-But insist upon knowing. Hon
esty now. caa it have been less, on an av-
erage, than ten dollars year, or one hum
dred and fifteen dollars in the fifteen years
NJ believe that it will be somewhere
about it.
C.-And how much during that same
period, did you contribute directly toward
the spread of the Gospel?
NJ really cannot tell for | try not
TO let my left hand know what my righI
hand doeth.
C.-Come, come, none of that cant and
nonsense. l insist upon knowing. Call
to mind your contributions and give me
some approximating idea.
M-(afier another long pause. IL be-
lieve about fifty dollars.
Gin laundering voice What
only one-third of what you have spen
upon tobacco.
M-Oniy one-third.