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

| | live"
But the old doctor knew well the
harm that is done to boys by indulg-
ing in the practice of smoking, and he
felt that it would be both an injury to
Joe and an injustice to his parents to
keep the matter to himself, SO he said,
"NO, Joe, that would not be right.
Your parents are much alarmed about
you, and | would not be doing my duty
as physician to deceive them about
your condition. And besides, if you
have done this act in violation of their
wishes, it is nothing more than right
for them to know it. Were you my
son, and gave evidence of such weak
ness of character as to yield to such
temptations while so young, | would
be very glad to know it; for when a
boy is not able to resist such evil he is
much in need of some one to look out
for him. But | must give You some
medicine now, for | want your stomach
rid of the effects of that tobacco as
soon as possible" i.ra-a-'l .-'-1t
Joe still! clung to the hope that he
could persuade the doctor to keep the
fact from his parents, so he pleaded
earnestly with him, making promises
for the future, assuring him that it
would be great kindness to him, and
reminding him of the pain it would
cause his mother to know it. But the
doctor was inexOrable, and all hope
died out of JOe's heart as he said,
| sternly:
~ would not be doing you kind
ness, Joe, to keep this from your par
ents. 1t is very plain from this action
of yours that You need help in strength
ening your character, and there is no
one who will or can do so much to
help you as they. And as to the pain
your mother will suffer, the time when
you should have thought of that was
before yOu yielded to the temptation
| to smoke"
The doctor then opened the door,
and after the parents entered, he said,
Il think you need not be greatly
alarmed about Joe. | have just given
him an emetic, and when his stomach
has been relieved he will feel better.
Joe has been indulging in Il smoke,
this afternoon, and that is what has
caused his sickness. But | guess his
experience has been such a tough one
he will not care to repeat it,"
| prised JOe's parents were ut this news,
but the mothers SO, Joe, | would not
have believed it of you," was all that
was said. But Joe would far sooner
have been censured in the severest
terms than to have seen the grave,
stern look on his fathers face, and the
grieved expression his mothers wore.
On account of JOe's sickness the
party was broken up. None of the
| guests, and not even his sister, suspic-
ioned the cause of his illness. The
parents and doctor agreed that the
cause would be preserved as secret
between them. 1t was decided by the
parents that nothing should be said to
Joe that night about the party, and
that everything should he left as it
was that he might witness the labor
that had been done for his sake, and
see for himself what pleasure he haC
forfeited by yielding to such weakness:
in his character. They wisely con
Cured, too, that not IL word of censur,
or reproof would they give him. They
knew that his modification was deep
and they felt that the best course tC
take was to leave him quiet and alon,
with his thoughts.
Never before had Joe experienced 5,
irving an ordeal us on the following
morning when he was Ompelled t,
meet his parents face to face. III,
knew well their strong opposition tC
smoking, and while no promise haC
ever been eXacted from him not t.
smoke, he knew from their actions
that they had the greatest confidence
that he would refrain from such habits
And now to feel that confidence wa
removed, that his mother, for whom
, he had so strong an affection, SHOULD
regard him as weak and unreliable
was thought almost uncomfortable tC
him.
As Joe left his room, on his way t.
breakfast, he was greatly surprised Il
, the appearance of the house. Their
were wreaths and arches of evergreen
and beautiful flowers in great prOfu
: sion. But his surprise was increased
t tenfold as he opened the door of tn
dining room and beheld the scene be
fore him. The table, so beautifully ar
ranged, had been left Just as it was til
f night before. He stood for momen
as if entranced, when the door opene,
r suddenly and his sister Kate burst IL
saying:
40, Joe, | am so glad to see you VI
= How do you feel ?" And without wait
f ing for reply she continued, "MOthe
4 would not let me see you last night t
e tell you all about it, and how disap
!. pointed the girls and boy swere. But
!, Joe, wasn't it too bad that you shOul
n be taken so sick just at this time ?"
n Joe's curiosity was greatly excite
e so he said, "Why, Kate, what does
e all meanP What is all this fixing u
# for p
"Why it was a birthday surpris
party father and mother intended
e give you. The boys and girls were a
II here to receive you, but father tOl
n them you had been taken so sick til;
the party could not continue. o, dea
1t dear, | never was so disappointed
p my life. But how did You say you al
is feeling, Joe? v..t
d 80, pretty WE'LL" said Joe, dryly.
m 1t would be impossible to descril
f. Joe's feelings when Kate impaired tn
ii information to him AS great as h;
ID been his modification, he felt now tn
e. it had increased until the feeling W
Is so unbearable it would be impOssib
is for him to meet his parents. SO aft
t. requesting Kate to see that no one ca
I'd ed him to breakfast lie returned to |
10 room, and throwing himself on his b
ch gave vent to his feelings in burst
lie tears.
to He had not wholly recovered fro
nd his sickness, so with this constant ]
lv miuder of his horrible experience ad
ed to all the disgrace from which
was suffering, Joe felt that of all
disgusting things on earth smoki
he and cigars were most so.
he For several hours he was left und
oe turbed, and when he finally left
cal room, although feeling far more hu
er. BILE and less like a man when smoki
ro- his cigar, there was more true mar