National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1871-06-16
TASTE AND PRINCIPLE.

n TASTE AND PRINCIPLE.
n N.ia Fielding was very pretty young
Il Id. who officiated as clerk behind her
y atHer, counter in a confectionery store.
6N with sweet, true face, but whose
qrtenauce developed little cf the earnest
4 thought of wolnanhood. Brought up
mong the most frivolous influences. and
eug Young in years, il was not strange
flat her inner nature lay sleeping, that
m.c the cay impulses OF everyday life had
4, vet been brought into action.
Mr. fieiding's store was favorite resort
n r Young men, for pretty Nora dispensed
81 smile, aad CAV words almost a freely as
Fl e confectionery in which she dealt,
II sweet face served admirably as an attrac-
n ton to draw in customers.
III Nora, let us have some more OF that
N '5bacco,' said young man sauntering into
II tie store one rainy day, when quite com
NJ Ianv Of gentleman was assembled there.
II Have YOU used all the tobacco you
II ight the other dav ;" asked Nora
II "Of course and box of cigars besides" ."
Why Fred Foster, you ought TO be
/ ,,-1med using so much tobacco. Ugh. the
,s,ty stuff. I'll never marry man that
SIS it: see if do"
4 mi, was home thrust, Tor Fred Foster
wa, known to be deeply in love with Nora
i Fielding. whose coquetries had nearly
/ driven hm Wild.
Fred was noble fellow by nature. He
was a member OF the Sons OF Temperance,
and in many respects was model young
man. he was handsome too, ot would
have been if the use of tobacco had not
made him 50 thin, gaunt and sallow. IL
also impaired his health and energies he
wa, often Frustrated by nervous attacks
Il that untitled him tor business ; il affected
j, app tite; injured bis digestive powers,
ui was hunyiug him on to a premature
Il % age or an early grave But for this
4 hablt he would have had no peer among
the Young men of his acquaintance, but the
i've Of tobacco had more effect upon him
II than upon many Others, aud even those
who cared nothing for the habit wondered
Why Fred Foster had grown so poor and
n ,ickly looking, and why he had lost so
much OF his ambition.
Il Fred WINGED at \ora's assertion that she
would not marry man who used tobacco,
and his cheek flushed As low laugh went
around among the young men assembled
there
II Your preaching and practice does not
n correspond, Miss Nora, he answered some
what bitterly. Nv ho did hear saying
II only last week, that she liked to see a
Young man smoke a good cigar, and that
rs aroma was very agreeable to her; and
whose white hand deals out to all Of us
d yo2ne men our supplies of tobacco and cl-
,ai, 2"
n Nora turned away poutng, "lou are
'l1r Fred Foster" she said pettisbly, Il
should think there was some difference in
smoking a nice cigar once in while, and
lNn1 pounds Of tobacco; and chewing is
a fen times more disgusting than smoking
anyhow, unless one smokes a filthy old
PIPE. y tor my selling you tobacco, ! am
hot to blame for that IT you come and
'''l Tor it, it's your own fault, and il you
lldni get II brre YOU would be sure to get
\ somewhere else"
"N cry good indeed, +" and Fred curled his
'EN eomiuIly; "No rumSelel could use a
more iorclblc argument in favor OF his trat-
fe"
omc, Fred, that's carrying matters too
,af' spoke mp one of the young men sitting
N' such language as that is insulting"
hadn't any intention of insulting Miss
eang,' said Fred with freezing polite
'e>' but if she can't bear little plain
Il 'Ieakno she mustn't indulge in it herself, "
''' taking up his parcel of tobacco he left
'-e store
III, state f mind a. he took his depart
' Va far from enviable. He loved Nora
'"lphs with all hIs heart. and he had for
+ ''IIN thought that she cared a little Tor
4 him.
sue had tirted with him numerically,
9Nie lneS smiling upon him sweetly, and
Il 'SaI' treating him with the utmost cool
'5>>' bat through the whole he had detect
Ilttle undercurrent of something that
p' gwen him hope in spite Of himself.
10, lately she had seemed changed and
treated him with uniform coolness,
a1l u. once he overheard her say to friend,
nat ais Fred Foster lately lie amt
''i, !, as interesting a. he used to be-"
ieu had keen ears. and he heard the
.-sNer; MY father says it it is because he
a. 30 much tobacco. He uses an inor-
innate amount.r
II was these things that Fred was think
l'e over a. he left the store of Mr.. Field
wy. lie knew it was true-that tobacco
Ho n, phly injured him bodily. bur mentally.
t.5 ahe" that he was not the same man be
ys.'.n oeen even two years ago, and was de-
rating as rapidly as possible
pu' what could he do7 He was in the
.Tef ., OF habit that held him body and
i,o M and lac ielt that it would be like tear.
us HE away TO leave il now. He wa
sns ssYuig man scarcely Is, with more noble
mani. attributes than usually fall tc