Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1876-10-11
From Once Week.
MY FIRST CIGAR.

I'm almost afraid to say how long it
is ago, but it must be far on toward
forty years, since [ set aside money
that, In an ordinary way, would have
been devoted to the succulent tafee,
the crisp hardbake, the calculated
lemon rock, or the gingerbread parlia-
ment, to the purchase of my first cigar.
Pm afraid that my moral feelings
must have been at a very low ebb just
then, for went to the shop quite pre-
pared for an uncle; but as [ was not
asked any questions by the dealer, who
contented himself with wrapping the
roll of leaf most carefully in paper, I
was spared the untruth, spent three
pence for the coarsely made, dark-hued
Cneroot, and struggled it to the school,
feeling all the while as if [ had COM
mitted some awful crime for the sake
of attaining an unknown joy, which
was to be all beautiful ecstacy, delight,
and dreamy. delicious delirium.
It was.
That half-holiday I went about with
my jacket tightly buttoned up, steal
inc one hand inside every now and then
to feel the end of the roll of paper,
deep down in its seclusion, and make
sure that it was still there. Not a
schoolfellow approached me whom ]
did not mentally accuse of knowing of
it's existence, and harboring designs to
obtain it.
"Lend us your knife, Jones F" said
Tompkins Pr mus, about three o'clock.
Haven't got one,' | said shortly.
ayes, you have" said Tompkins-
IL, bot, af
He made q snatch at ia horrible
snatch; but eluded it by ducking down
under his arna; and running to the 9TH
er end of the playground. But it was
an awful escape, and he nearly broke
my brittle treasure right In half.
I think it must have been about six
O'Clock, when it was growing dusk, that
slipped away, got over the fence into
Barnby's field, and down behind the
big elms, where, after listening for a
few minutes lest [ should have been
seen or heard, I pulled out the cheroot,
and skinned it by taking off the paper
Then I had TO pause for few mo-
ments, In doubt as to whether ought
to put the thin or the thick end into
my mouth, deciding at last in favor of
the thin, and popping it between my
lips.
Ugh But it was simply hor-
rible to my fresh young palate.
But it was manly to smoke, and if it
had been ten times as unsatisfactory of
flavor, should not have finched; SO
took out my box of matches, and
struck several, blowing them out in
turn as tried to puff at the cigar, and
feeling all the time as if it were the
fifth of November, and were about tc
start squib.
managed it, though, at last, and hao
the end well alight, the smoke drawing
through freely. SO that I obtained COCO
mouthfuls, and worked away.
It was rather hot and strong, certain
ly,but-draw-puf-d raw-puf-d
-puf-how old and manly I did feel
How drew myself up, and leaned my
shoulder against the fence, glorying il
the pungent incense, which would
make me choke little now and then
and get into my nose in a rather awk
ward manner.
But then I was smoking, and the ella.
ton felt was delightful.
I have since come to the conclusion
that the elation was due to my natura
excitement, consequent upon this glori
GUS step out of bounds, moral and phys
ical, and not from any great potency i
the tobacco leaf.
The cigar kept well alght, and I wa
about one-third through it. It wa
very dark, and there was sort of fu
rlous JOY III the whole transaction.
felt like one of the old heroes of his
torical romance-a Sir Francis Drak
"a Captain Kidd Paul Jones'
jolly free booter; and, in imagination
clothed myself in buckskins and tights
wore a secret armor, and was ready t
do any deed of daring.
I quailed once; had my name bee
called in the school-room, where tn
boys were learning to-morrow's lessons
Had I been missed or asked for by an