Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1883-05-02
Don't Taste.

Sam came out of the corner grocery store
looking very unlike his usual self. He gen
orally held his head up straight, and walked
along with firm, lively step, probably
whistling as he went. Just now he looked
around as If he was afraid of any one seeing
him-as if he were ashamed of himself-iI
short, he wore, in face and figure, what you
might call decidedly sneaky look. H.
felt sneaky. lie wanted to get out of the
way. He began walking faster and faster
not toward his home, where he knew his
mother would have warm welcome fol
him, with perhaps something else warm in
the oven. But he went by the quietest road
toward the woods.
Nest boys like to have company when
they go to the woods, but Sam seemed Ia
prefer his own company. He struck into
the deepest shade he could fud-where the
yellow sun .hine Of the bright October after.
noon could hardly manage 10 get In few
long rays TO touch up the dark green. At
last he came to place where green wild
grapevine dropped a tough branch from
the boughs of the tree far above him, and
clinging TO the trunk below, formed sort OF
half-swing, halfseat. Sam threw himself on
this branch, and took something out of his
pocket. What was it What could this
boy have come out here all alone for He
held in his hand and looked at-a dirty
looking, bad-smelling piece of plug tobacco
He had made up his mind to try it, but he
did not want any one to see him. 1t did
not look very nice, and he began to wonder
why he had wanted it.
In the quiet shade and pure air about
him it seemed to grow uglier and uglier. A
great many good reasons he had heard
against the use Of tobacco crowded them.
selves upon his mind, but he could not re-.
call one in its favor. Some of the boys
thought il very smart to chew or smoke,
but he could not help remembering that
these were the boys he cared least for. He
was cutting off piece Of the stuff, when
he heard voice somewhere near quietly
asking:
"Chew2 Chew2 Chew.w-w 2"
He stared around in great wonder. No
one was to be seen could anybody have
followed him 7 There was rustling in the
branches above him he had heard it ever
since he had shaken them to the very top
as he threw himself on the grape stem.
"Chew Chew Chew |" came again,
and he peered anxiously into the foliage
al owe his head. There was face looking
out at him, sure enough-a face more grave
and solemn than preachers. Sam laughed
aloud as the old hoot-owl again croaked at
him. 1t sounded differently now that his
own imagination did not help to turn the
sound into an accusing word. But just
then there broke on the quiet so sharp a
twitter close beside him that he fairly
jumped from his seat.
"Qait Il Quit il Quit-Quit-Quit "
"Why, haven't begun yet cried Sam,
half startled, half in fn.
"Quit it Quit 1t Quitit"
al will" lie flung the nasty brown
lump as far as he could into the bushes. A
chipmunk gave frightened chirrup and
ran up tree.
"There, I'll leave it for you," said Sam,
as he turned homewsrd "If even the
birds won't give fellow any peace with his
tobacco, ! think he'd better quit it, and
stay quit"
"l'm glad enough, though" he said, in
a softer voice, as he neared home and saw
his mother looking out for him, " that
don't know the taste of it yet
B>ys, how many OF you don't know II
Keep on saying II, and be proud Of being
able to- Euangelist.