The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-09-24
Gnr he Ghilher.
King Tobacco.

is His dominion extends over all the
world, and all his subjects are slaves. He
wears very winning face when he first
aims at conquest, and lures the unwary by
smiling promise, that they find at last,
with "brain enfeebled and will en-
slaved," to be wicked lie. Still they
yield and follow, and no tyrant that ever
lived had 80 many sacrifices made to him
by his dupes or treated them worse.
Boys begin their slavery to tobacco very
secretly. They know the evil of indul-
gence in its use, notwithstanding the ex-
ample of their elders, and slyly sneak
away, at first, and by an occasional nibble
or two, or Whit or two, become accus-
toned to its use, when they come out
fully prepared for King Tobacco's service,
and smoke like young locomotives.
In our schools is this practiced far more
than is known, and parents often are
called to wonder where their sons acquired
such habit. And this leads to the story
of Arthur Grimes, who was not bad boy
by any means, as boys go, but who, in the
sly way described, had become quite
smoker, and had begun to nibble little
at tobacco in its most repulsive form.
There is sort of divided taste among the
subjects of King Tobacco many of those
who smoke are disguised with those who
choose to chew, and those who choose to
chew are MORALLY offended with those who
smoke. So Arthur Grimes was bent on
obtaining both accomplishments, and
He had got so far along that he car
ried his short pipe and cake of to-
bacco in his pocket and was regarded as
boss boy by his younger associates, who
hoped to be able, by and by, to be equally
distinguished.
Arthur was the son of widowed mo-
ther-his father having been killed at
Gettysburgh-and an uncle who owned
large farm in the country offered to take
him and make farmer of him; to which
the mother gladly assented, and the boy,
about fourteen years old, made no objec.
ton. His uncle he knew to be very fine
man, and his aunt and cousins, the latter
all girls, he liked very much, having pre-
viously been many times during vacations
at the farmhouse and had good time.
His little chest was accordingly packed,
and, though the parting with his mother
WAS rather sad-for they were fond of
each other-he mounted the seat with the
driver, who had been sent for him, for the
ride of twenty miles, with a hopeful
heart, as the day was pleasant in the
spring of the year.
The driver was a subject of King To-
bacco. After starting, he took out his
pipe, and, seriously cutting off some to-
bacco from "plug," he rammed it into
the bowl, then lighted match and pro-
ceeded to smoke, paying no attention to
his young companion, who had been copy
ing him by loading up for smoke
"Give us light" said voice by his
side.
The man started and looked around at
his young passenger with much surprise.
Arthur held his pipe hidden by his hand.
"Now said the driver.
"Give us a light" repeated Arthur,
showing his pipe.
What, you smoke ="
eyes, don't you ?"
"Well, l do; but Pm some older than
you"
"Then if it is bad, you ought to do
better than smoke"
eyes i know but-well, here's a
match if you want it."
The man was evidently half ashamed
at what he was doing, and gave the match
as sort of subterfuge, for he knew the
boy could not light it in the morning
breeze, as it requires a peculiar knack,
which old smokers practice, to shield the
flame from the air. He was right, for it
was blown out Immediately, and Arthur
didn't ask for another, and put his pipe
in his pocket. The driver, too, after a
few whiffs, abandoned his, and they rode
on together without further allusion to
the subject. They didn't lack for matters
to talk about, and, after very agreeable
jaunt over the country roads, they arrived
at their destination, where Arthur met
with warm reception. The driver said
something aside to Mr.. Vernon, the
farmer, whereat they both laughed.
Glad you've come, my lad" said his
Uncle Vernon shaking him by the hand.
"Well make man of you. Hope you
haven't brought any bad habits with you,
though. The last boy we had was great
smoker. Bad thing about farm
Arthur felt his face Jingle, and Just
then touching the pipe in his pocket, it
seemed to burn him, but twas conscience
that gave the smart. He said nothing in
reply, but wished the pipe in Jericho.
Yet he did not throw it away, and all the
balance of the day and evening he wished
to indulge, but did not dare to, and went
to bed without smoking.
In the morning he was up early, did
the "chores around the place, and, after
breakfast, went out with his uncle to drive
the horses while blowing. Farmer Yer
non, though very amiable man, that
morning acted strangely. Nothing seemed
to 60 right with him. The morning was
bright, but he was as dark as a London
fog, and his feeling seemed to pervade
everything. The horse and oxen wouldn't
pull, and he belabored them with big
stick the burrows that he managed to
run were crooked the plowshare would
stick in the sod or jump out of it; and at
last he sat down upon his pillow and wiped
his brow with his handkerchief. Then he
turned his pockets inside out, as if in
search of something.
"Arthur," said he at last, "you must
go down to the grocer's and get me a piece
of tobacco"
The grocer was mile away, as Arthur
knew, for he had been there on former
visits; and though he did not refuse, he
didn't very readily assent.
"Uncle," he said, "won't this dor"
taking his own supply from his pocket
and handing it to his uncle.
"Why, of course it will How came you
by it?"