American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1873-06-07
BY JULIA COLMAN.

FRANkIE'S LESSON IN SMOKING
BY JULIA COLMAN.
frankie was nearly nine years old. He
was tall of his age, and growing fast, and
this made him feel as if he were almost 6
man. So he took long strides when he
| walked, and stuck his hands in his peck
cts, and spit a good deal, and wondered
sometimes if he were not old enough tC
learn to smoke He had an idea, however
| that his mother would not be pleased witt
that, and this kept him from it long
while, for he loved his mother dearly.
| But he thought it was no harm to
smoke grapevine and paper cigars, and Sc
he did that l suppose if any one haG
asked him why it was nice to burn stick
or piece of paper under his nose, he could
not have told, only that it was like wha
the men did.
His mother saw it all. She was one Of
those dear, wise mothers, that just look
right into their little boys hearts, and lure
and love them away from everything bad
and so one Saturday morning, when he
was lighting a bit of grapevine, she said
to him, pleasantly, FRANKIE, you would
like to smoke, wouldn't you?"
frankie looked shyly up in his mothers
face, but he saw there only the kindness
that always made his heart open right out
to her like a boys confidence. "Why, yes
mother, l think so sometimes when | see
the other boys smoking"
well, frankie, you may if you wish
to-"
"What, mother really smoke tobacco?"
Eyes, frankie; isn't that what you
would like to smoke? Why not?"
Il don't know. l didn't suppose you
would like to have me do that Then,
after little pause, But when can begin
mother?'
Begin to-day, if you like. l wish you
to help me this morning about my baking
to bring in wood, and pick up chips, and
go of errands; but this afternoon when we
get the work all done up, we will try it,"
frankie was delighted He picked up
basket of chips with unusual alacrity.
But, mother" he said, when he came
in. where will you get the tobacco?"
so, there is some on the shelf in the
cellar-way; some that grandpa left last
winter, and his pipe, too! We will get
them out to see that they are dry"
The afternoon came at last; just such a
quiet afternoon as frankie had often spent
in his little chair reading to his mother
while she sewed. He was rather glad
that his sister Jennie and his father were
both away; and he watched with the
greatest interest while his mother shaved
up the tobacco, and filled the pipe and
lighted it, and then seated him in the
chimney-corner, and placed it in his
hands.
Could he draw the smoke?
@, yes, just as easy as could be! He had
practiced on the grape-vines. So he drew
it in and pulled it out with sublime salts
faction This world seemed perfect.
Everybody was as good as could be, and
his mother was the best of all.
He had not taken more than halfa-dozen
whiffs before neighbor came in, and
down went the pipe out of sight, though
still in Frankie's hand. Why he should
be ashamed of it he did not know, especi-
ally as his mother had given him permits
sion to smoke. He supposed when he
grew up he should smoke right along be
fore anybody. AS the man sat there talk
ing, frankie wondered if the fire in his
pipe would go out; and finally he did not
care if it did He did not feel very well.
When at last the man went, and his
mother told him that now he might smoke
again, he could only gasp that he did not
want to smoke any more; and then he was
worse, till he thought he should die. He
v"mited, and retched, and groaned, till he
felt so weak he could hardly stir
His mother watched over him, and wait
ed on him, as only such a mother can, and
finally got him into bed. He did not sit
up any more that DAY.
The next morning he was better, though
he had miserable, wretched headache.
He could not go to church nor to Sunday
school, and his mother remained at home
with him, read to him, and amused him.
Three or four days after that, when he
began to feel like himself again, his
mother took down the pipe from the man
tel piece, and asked, What shall | do
with this, frankie? When will you want
il again?"
Il guess never" he said, with little
SILVER. WASN'T it that made me so sick,
mother?"
VERY likely it was. There is poison
enough left in the pipe now to kill you if
YOU should swallow it"
"What made you let me take it them"
he asked dolefully.
Because, my son, l saw that you would
surely try ii mt some time, and l knew
that it would make you sick, and wanted
you where could take care of you More
Than that, wanted you to try il for your
self, so that you could know just what it
would do to you"
But it doesn't do so to everybody,
locs it,"
at does, unless they have inherited an
taste for it. 1t is Il terrible
poison and it hurts everybody that takes !
i, though after II while they do not feel il
N the same way that they do at first, and |
80 they fancy that 1t does not hurt them. |
wanted you to try it by yourself, when
here were no bad boys around to tell you
NV lies about it."
well, I've had enough of it, mother
You needn't be afraid for me now. |
lever shall touch it again"
frankie is a man grown now, rs fine n
cooking man as you will see in a days |
walk. He has never used tobacco since |
hat one pipeful, and it is not very likely !
hat he ever will. He says that he can
lever be thankful enough TO his mother
or taking the trouble to give him his first
essen in its use.-Yomh's Companion. !