St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1884-06-26

| LIS tOuSiu hCHl VIM was bhO SShiI G
his senior, and boy. of much faster
habits than Joe, offered to accompany
him to the depot, and the two were
soon on their way. After reaching the
business portion of the city, Henry
stopped before a small store and said
"Step il here with me a minute
joe"
They entered, and Henry, stepping
up to the counter, purchased half a
dozen cigars, and, with the air of an
experienced smoker, lighted one and
commenced smoking. Then turning to
Joe, he said:
"These are tip-tOp, Joe try one."
"Oh, | have never smoked any," said
Joe, land guess l won't try now"
"Whati never even tried to learn
| You will never be much of a man until
YOU learn to smoke, and am sure you
will never have a better time to begin
than now. Here have one; | want to
see how a cigar becomes you"
Joe was greatly tempted to try one,
'.just for fun" he thought, but remem-
bering his parents opposition to the
practice, he still refused. But Il thought
flashed through his mind, and turning
to Henry he said:
'Do your home folks know that you
smoke ?"
"No, indeed" said Henry. ~ believe
mother would go into fits if she knew
it. | always keep such things to my
self; and if that is all yOu are afraid OF
you may as well have a cigar with me.
You will never learn to smoke unless
vOu make commencement, and you
may he sure | will never give you
away | had been smoking for year
when | was your age, and nOw-why
look forward to my daily smoke as the
pleasantest event of the day"
"But how do you keep them from
finding ont ut home ?" asked Joe.
"Oh before go home | always wash
out my mouth and eat cloves, or some
thing of that kind, and none of them
| there are any the wiser for it. 1t is all
nonsense to try to keep Il boy from en-
inying such harmless practice as
having little smoke and if | can't
have it ut home, | will just enjoy it Oh
the sly. If | were in your place
would do the same. You are just the
kind of fellow to make stunning
appearance at smoking-tall, tine-lOok-
ing, and all that"
Henry continued his urging, and
every word had its influence on hi,
cousin. Many times had Joe beer
tempted to smoke when urged to do Sc
by his hoy companions, but never had
the temptation come with such force
us now. Everything seemed favorabl,
to it.. He was in no danger of seeing
any one who knew him, he knew
Henry would not reveal it, and-wel
before he knew it he had accepted ;
cigar from Henry's hand, and haC
taken his first Whit at smoking.
"By George, Joe !" laughed Henry
''it does become you, for il fact. There
don't hold Your cigar quite so stiff !;
little more careless and easy, us though
YOU were an old hand ut the business
guess we had better be walking on
now"
"Yes,n said Joe, 81 expect it is al
most train time"
The boys, who had been standing il
one side of the store talking in an un
dertone, now stepped out on the street
each with il cigar in his hand. The.
hurried on to the depot and in fey
minutes the train arrived.
Joe had not yet finished his cigar
and was on the point of throwing
away, when Henry exclaimed
Don't throw it away. Go into TIL
smoking-ca and finish it,"
The idea struck Joe us being Il splen
did one Just the act that would com
plete to perfection the appearance of
man. SO following Henry's advice h
entered the smOkingcar, and betor
his destination was reached he ha
finished smoking his cigar.
He remembered what Henry ha
said about preparing himself for home
so after leaving the cars he went int
the gentlemen's room ut the depot, an
carefully washed his mouth, and fur
ther destroyed the scent of tobacco b
: eating some cloves and peppermint
drops which he had in his pocket.
He then started on his way home
But lie had not gone far when he bega
to experience the strangest feelings G
) sickness he had ever known; dizz
ness, nausea, chilliness, and every Otht
mean feeling, until he became great
t alarmed for fear he was going to die.
His sickness came on with such 81
+ verify that he had no time to think {
= the cause that produced it, but hurrie
4 on with all possible speed that /
might reach home as soon as he cOul'
5 The guests for the party had arrive,
e and for several minutes all had bee
1 eagerly looking for Joe. They soc
) heard his footsteps as he entered Il
hall, and every one expected to 81
e him appear before them, but instead
: doing so he proceeded directly to h
If own room.
II Several minutes elapsed, and, as
IS did not return, his mother went
g quest of him, and found him lying {
+. his bed.
IS "Why, joe" said his mother, "Wh
e is the matter with you Are you sick
IT Joe was now greatly troubled in Ii
W mind. Although he had never hea
< of any one being made so sick fro
> smoking, he knew by the strong, I
g fensive taste of tobacco lingering wi
him, that it was the cigar which caus
,e his sickness, and he was distressed |
5, yond measure for fear his parer
Id would learn the cause. So to
mothers questions as to what the m;
OF ter was, he only told her that he h
ne been taken suddenly i'll since leavi
st the depot Mrs. Strong was mu
ed alarmed, for Joe was really very p;
ed and sick-looking, and she FASTENED
at communicate the news to her husba
or and the guests, and also to speed
,st send for their family physician.
PART IL.
ed But a few minutes passed before
nd doctor arrived, during which time
parents learned but little from ,
Die about his sickness. AS to the I
le- cause they had no suspicion whatey
1 "A but greatly feared it had been p
lily duced by something poisonous he
he eaten. But when the physician :
vas him, and the parents repeated W
lor Joe had told of his sickness, he asl
if he might be left alone with the
Ii, ! :, f..,.- Ir,innt..s Mhnn thnr. 1rara.