Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1883-05-23
temperance.
A Bit of Experience in Cigar Smoking.

AS HerDeTI Raymond looked up, ne saw
two ragged little fellows, few PAGES il
front of him, one appeared to be about 81,
years Of age, and the other not more thar
two years older.
Ii was the smaller one who had spoken
and he evidently referred to Herbert rs tn,
"big boy"
"Say, won't you give US match? ask
ed the larger boy. rs Herbert drew neal
and stool before them,
''What do you wan with u match?'
asked Herbert.
"Want ter smoke" said the boy.
"What such little fellow as you are
20 you smoke?'
"You bet do. "" smoked for mor'r
IA year. But I'm not lutte. How old dc
you think bep'
"Oh! about eight" said Herbert
"Eight! guess | be m almost ten
But what do you think Of this little feller
not morn half as big as ne lie smoke
and chews too"
"What do you smoke?"
"Why, cigars. of couI Sc" And II,
stretched himself, and thrust his hant
among the patches of his ragged trowsers
After fumbling about for while, he drew
forth three stubs of cigars, about an incl
and half long.
you've been using them already,
scc." said Herbert
mo we hain't, either. That is what w,
want the lighters for
"lIow did you get the stubbs, then? ?'
Herbert inquired.
"Oh! some fellels was passin' and throw
ed EN- at us; but the fire had so nigh gon,
out that VIC couldn't make 'em 90"
LET'S share the cigars with him, if he'll
furnish the matches" broke IN the sinai
er boy
"Of course we'll DO that" said the
other. "There'll be just one apiece"
II am just as much obliged to you.'
said Herbert "But don't care for the
Gig "; and as for matches, havn AN,
with me"
"tlalnt got ma'ch?'
mo.
"What dye do when yer want Il smoke? p
Il don't smoke" said Herbert.
"Wha!a big teller like you don t smoke
What'll yer do wen yer man?"
"Indeed, don't smoke. Do you think
| would be seen with u dirty cigar OF pipe
in my mouth? 1t is n iiIthy, useless
habit at the best; and, if We're you, !
would throw those old stubs away, and
quit while able to do So"
Yes cigars are mean, said the boy
"and we are trying to get some fire so we
can burn these up. But here comes Dick
Jones. He's the boy for us He always car.
rcs matcEes,and he Il he glad TO share with
u.s.
At the mention of Dick Jones name
Herbert started quickly along, for he did
not care for Dick to hear his lecture
against cigars.
Dick had seen him, on one occasion
.rying to smoke, and he might mention il
here, and then they would have COCO
largh at his expense
irue, Herbert had never smoked bu'
twice in all his life; but as he walked
along trying to associate the idea of tn,
manliness Of smoking with the scene he
had just witnessed, he felta keener sense ol
The Righteousness of such thought than
ever before, and he felt heartily ashamed
of himself for having been so foolish as to
try to learn to smoke.
We will let him give an account of his
experience with cigars in his own words,
catch a glimpse of the pleasure they
afford.
ut was about six months ago when
Dick Jones got me to try one of his cigars
Dick is two years older than |, and learn
ed to smoke when small boy. We had
been over to "Meadow brook" fishing 70,
trout. and had set down to rest few min
utes before starting for home. Dick drew
out Il case of cigars and asked me to try
one. refused to do so, when he lighted
one and began to smoke. He said they
were very mild-wouldn't make a baby
sIck-and laughed at me for not being
ible to smoke He continued to urge me,
till. at last, | lighted one and put it into
my mouth.
II can taste it in my mouth now. and it
makes me sick whenever think of it.
II had not smoked NOR, than a minute
before | began to feel Il $ .'ange sickness
at the stomach, and my head seemed to
have converted itself into Il top, and SET
itself to spinning.
''As soon rs felt able, we started 70,
home. The first thing we had to do was
10 cross the brook on Il rather shaky log
that lay across it. l got along very well
until about two-thirds across when the
rocking of the log, the dancing of the
water below, and the whirling OF my head,
were altogether too much for me, AMI
down l went into the stream. The water
was quite shallow, but it managed to ge,
all over me, and made me Just as wet as
though it had been twice as deep. After
effort | succeeded IN getting
home, changed my clothes, ale very
light supper, and went to bed much earlier
han usual. The next morning | felt AS
wise as Solomon on the subject of using
tobacco.
THE next time saw Dick, he offered
me another cigar, but firmly refused j
old him that l had concluded to leave of
smoking before the habit got too firmly
liked, and advised him TO do the same.
"Slill he gave me no peace. Every time
met him be would broach the subject,
md insis, that I must learn. He said il
was boyish to give up in that way, that
ought to have the maniness to stick to il.
He had promised to say nothing about my
smoking affair, but he told one or two of
lis associates, and they joined with him
md laughed ut me for my weak ess.
"Some time after this one oil the boys
yave me a cigar, which he said | could
moke when | was alone, and then there
would be no one to laugh mt me. thought
his would be just the plan. Besides, this
10Y told me that the first cigar always
made one sick, but that there was no
llflculty in smoking the second one.
at was on one Saturday morning.
bout q month after my first attempt, that
thought would try again. | thought
would smoke few times, just to show
he boys could do it, and then would
Iuit.
ain the afternoon of this day there was
o 6e an excursion to lake about five
nils dislan,. Our whole school was to
%, and arrangements had been made for
grand time. had a few chores 10 do
urng the morning, among which was
he splitting of few pieces of wood for
tartng the fires. Just before commen-
ing this work, lighted my cigar and
uiled away rs fast as | could. had
etermined TO not smoke very much, but
bought would do it as quickly rs posi-.
lie and have ii over.
"Soon began to feel dizzy, and throw.
ng aside the cigar, took the AK and
ommenced my task. thought could