The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1881-06-02
"a JOLLY GOOD TIME.,

GA JOLLY GOOD TIME"
Dick and Johnny were sitting on th
fence one day, talking about this, tha
and the other, when Lawrence Heat
rode by, smoking cigar. Lawrenc
was home from college. spending hi
vacation, and as he put on a good man
airs and told wonderful stories abou
his college exploits, he was look ed upo
by the smaller boys as model of
young gentleman. es
Most of them were secretly longin
for the time to come when they couI
do just as he did. If they ever sue
ceeded in coming up to his standard
they felt as if their highest ambition
would be gratified.
6 1t looks nice to smoke, doesn't itP'
said Dick.
g Yes; l think so." answered John
ny. "Pd like to try it. wouldn't you?'
Yes; but don't dare to-'rount
home, any way answered Dick. g"
don't know what father'd say if h,
caught me smoking. You know h,
thinks it's such foolish habit
$50 does my father" said Johnny
Essays it's foolish, and unhealthy, anC
expensive. and so on-you know how il
is, for your father talks just like him.
heard them once, when they saw Billy
Mason with pipe :
Lawrence Heath SAYS all the bows
in his school smoke, )" said Dick. "They
laugh at them there if they don't. And
he says it's all nonsense about its being
unhealthy. He says he couldn't GET
along without his cigars, and they help
him when he has to study hard, and
suppose he's tip-top scholar. | don't
believe all they say against tobacco.
How does your father and mine know
that it's such awful stuff? They never
used it." ..s
That's just it!'' responded johnny.
They've read about it, and heard some
old fogy's lingo against it, and they take
it for granted that it's all so. Now Pm
more liberal then that. don't believe
in believing anything just because
some one says it, and it happens to be
what you want to believe Now Idon't
think it hurts man to use tobacco
that, is of course, to use it moderately.
know lots of men who've used it for
years, and | can't see that they're any
worse off than those who don't use it,
'Nor ~ said Dick. when | get to-
be man mean to smoke"
$50 do IT, said Johnny. young
men almost all smoke NOWADAYS. It's
the fashion, and | think it looks NICE"
'And think it looks nice to carry a
cane," said Dick. "But my father
says that's foolish, too. what does a
Young man need of a cane?' he saws.
IF fellow don't know what to do with
his hands unless he has stick to rlay
with he d better keep EN- in his pocketh
he saws" , n. 's.,'-.I
I'm tell you what let's do" proposed
Johnny. Saturday we'll buy us a
couple Of pipes and five cents worth of
tobacco, and we'll go somewhere and
have good time smoking. What dive
say?
'I'll do it, said Dick. "You buy
he pipes and I'll furnish the tobacco
'All right!' said Johnny. LETS
'ee-to-day's Thursday. I'll meet you
n the old barn over in the Greek Mead
wv, Saturday, after dinner. No one'll
zee us there, and we'll have Just a Jolly
imer
SO it was decided that on Saturday
Ifternoon they would take their first
essen in the manly and fashionable art
# smoking.
Saturday came. In the morning Dick
made some sort of an excuse to 90 to
he village. His real errand was to
tobacco. On his way home
e met Lawrence Heath, and, as usual.
10 had cigar in his mouth.
81 know what I'll do" said Dick. to
lmself. "rll buy two cigars and sur
rise Johnny. Cigars are nicer than
ipes. anyway"
So he went into a store where there |
yas cigar and tobacco stand and huno !
bout until there was nobody but him, +
elf and the clerk in.
The truth was he felt little ashamed
bout what he was doing, and he
ldn't have courage to ask for his
lgars when any one who knew him
as likely to hear him. ..Pll take a
ouple of cigars, if you please" he said
alking up to the clerk.
=" What kind'll you havea" asked the
IL don't know" answered Dick
I'm not much used to 'em..n
The clerks eyes twinkled at this.
"Welj, here are strong ones and mild
1es," he said. '''Do you want a five
inter or better grader"
- IL take the BEST" said Dick, imi-
ting Lawrence Heath's style.
SO the clerk. with quizzical smile,
anded him out two. '---~~-
They're Havanas, he said: :. fit.
en- cents apiece, or two for a quarter
you re Judge of cigars You'll saw
ey can't be beat"
They look like good ones,'' said
lex with an air of being used to the
=" Have light?" asked the smiling
ERIK, politely.
!" No; guess l won't smoke until
ter dinner" answered Dick, and mt
EN- in his pocket. Sc =
The Creek Meadow was a piece Of
nd about half mile from home. and
"a an old barn on it in which hay was
pred over winter. 1t was about half |
IL now. A'''