American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1881-05-07
A JOLLY TINE.

FENCE one day, talking about this, tina
and the other, when Lawrence Heatl
rode by. smoking cigar. Lawrence
was home from college. spending hi
vacation, and as he put on good many
airs and told wonderful stories about
his college exploits, he was looked upoI
by the smaller boys as a model of 1
young gentleman.
Most of them were secretly longing
for the time to come when they coult
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.
| ut looks nice to smoke, doesn't it p
said Dick.
"Yes; think So" answered John.
ny. I'D like to try it. wouldn't you?'
Eyes; but I don't dare to-'round
home, any way" answered Dick. 81
don't know what father'd say If he
caught me smoking. You know he
thinks it's such foolish habit"
$50 does my father" said Johnny.
Essays it's foolish, and unhealthy. and
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 boys
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 a 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."
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 all so. Now L m
more liberal then that 1 don't believe
I'm 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 I can't see that they're any
worse off than those who don't use it. !"
"Nor Ir' said Dick. when get to
be man mean to smoke" es-
$50 do l." said Johnny. young
men almost all smoke nowadays. It's
the fashion, and 1 think it looks nice"
'.And think it looks nice to carry q
cane," said Dick. "But my father
says that's foolish, too. What does a
young man need of a cane?' he says.
If fellow dou't know what to do with
his hands unless he has stick to play
with he d better keep EN- in his pocket!
he says"
..rll tell you what let's do, proposed
johnny. saturday we'll buy us
couple of pipes and five cents worth of
tobacco, and we'll go somewhere and
have good time smoking What dye
say?
sI'u do it." said Dick. "You buy
the pipes and I'll furnish the tobacco"
.'Al1 rightr' said Johnny. Lets
see-to-day's Thursday. I'll meet you
in the old barn over in the Creek Mead
ow, Saturday, after dinner. No one IL
see us there, and we'll have just a jolly
timer
So it was decided that on Saturday
afternoon they would take their first
lesson in the manly and fashionable art
of smoking.
Saturday came. In the morning Dick
made some sort of an excuse to go to
the village. His real errand was to
purchase tobacco. On his way home
he met Lawrence Heath, and, as usual,
he had cigar in his mouth. s..,
II know what I'll do" said Dick to
himself. "rll buy two cigars and sur
prise Johnny. Cigars are nicer than
pipes, anyway"
So he went into store where there
was a cigar and tobacco-stand and hung
about until there was nobody but HIM
self and the clerk in.
The truth was he felt a little ashamed
about what he was doing, and he
didn't have courage to ask for his
yhov, nh
was likely to hear him. ..I'll take
couple of cigars. if you please" he said
walking up to the clerk.
What kind'll you haveP" asked the
clerk.
"I-I don't know" answered Dick,
not much used to EN-"
The clerks eyes twinkled at this.
"Wel, here are strong ones and mild
ones," he said. "Do you want a five
center or better grader"
I'm take the best" said Dick, imi-
tating Lawrence Heath's style.
So the clerk, with quizZical smile,
handed him out two.
They're Havanas," he said; :. fif- |
teen cents apiece, or two for quarter. |
If you're Judge of cigars you'll say
they can't be beat"
.'They look like good ones" said
Dick. with an air of being used to the
best.
"Have Light" asked the smiling
clerk, politely.
mo; guess 1 won't smoke until
after dinner" answered Dick, and put
hem in his pocket.
The Creek Meadow was piece of
and about half mile from home, and
lad an old barn on it in which hay was
stored over winter. 1t was about half
nh now.
Johnny was there waiting for Dick.
'.Here' the pipes" he said, display
ng two long stemmed, white-clay ones.
An I've got some matches"
'.And I've got-seer' and Dick dis
played his cigars.
...Oh, hookeyr' exclaimed Johnny.
With sparkling eyes. ~ wish I'd got
ome, too. These won't last half long
.'Real Havanas, toor said Dick, like
n old smoker. Fifteen cents apiece!
-et's light up
He struck match and applied it to
me end of his Havana, sucking at the
ther end as hard as ever he could.
Don't draw worth a cent? he said.
Give me another match"
..Oh. l know what's the matter"
aid Johnny. We've forgot to bite off
he end! OF course they won't draw
ill we do that
81 guess you're right" said Dick.
There. mine goes all right now!' !.