The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-10-30
Why John Did Not Smoke.

long platform of the railway station
at New London, one bright spring
morning, enjoying the fresh breeze
that blew in from the Sound while we
waited for the Vermont Central train
to take us on to the northward,
There were other strOllers beside
ourselves. and we admired particularly
handsome, dainty, young athlete for
his scrupulous neatness, his quiet, de-
meanor, and his firm, erect carriage.
Presently he was accosted by halt
dozen jolly young friends, who were
surprised and delighted at meeting him
there. They piled him with hasty,
cordial, boyish questions. "Where
had he been" "What had he been
doing?n "How was he getting Oh ?'
We dropped down on settee near
by, amused at the merry, lively chat
Presently some one offered our athlete
a cigar.
"Thank you. no." he said, firmly
and quietly. II have given up smok-
ing" ,,
And then he added, laughing little
and showing a set of very white, even
teeth THE fact is, when reached
home there set med to be no place TOR
me to smoke, and was under the ne
cessity Of giving W. the habit"
"HOw was that, JUhn?
"WeIl, you see, was glad enough TO
yet home again, and after supper l
went into the library and lay down on
the sofa in front of the open fire, and
lighting a cigar, prepared for a smoke.
Pretty soon ma came in. Not my
own mother. she died when l was u
little thing but this one, ever since
my father married her, has made b
pretty and pleasant home for me. As
She walked along | heard the soft
rustic Of her dress and then | heard
ner sniff. sniff, sniff, and presently she
laid : Il fancled | smelled smoke !
neld up my cigar and confessed that l
mad been sm0kinga a little, off and OIL,
for some time.
".On is that so?" she said, gently.
well, Johnny, I don't know that 1t is
surprising, but please do not let me see
YOU smoning on the street or when We
are out anywhere. l don't think l
could bear that And | said: Ger
ta,nly not, ma; you can depend on
me.' But threw my cigar in the fire,
having lost my enjoyment of it some
now, although she did not scOld.
Pretty sOon my father came in, and
he said directly MA tells me you
nave learned To smoke, my boy. Well,
l suppose ought 10 he surprised that
YOU didn't learn sooner, but don't let
me zee you smoking around the house.
And 1 said: 'Cerlalnly not, Sir" and
was glad he had taken il 50 pleasantly.
Before the evening was half over
my Uncle Tom, who is my fathers
partner in business, str0lled over for a
little chat. AS he took q seat and look
ed me over in a way be has, a. If he
was taking an account of stock, ma
said, in her soft voice: "Johnny has a
new accomplishment since he went
away. He has learned to smoke
"Dear me! is that SOP exclaimed
Uncle Tom. We'll, why boys will
persist in burning up their hard earn-
ings is a mystery to me but you won't
let me see you smoking about the
factory, l hope. I shouldn't enjoy see-
ing nv nephew and book-keeper and
prospective partner about the works
with pipe or cigar In his mouth
"You shall never he pained in that
way, sir I said. And took my Gig
ars out of my pocket, and threw them
all over behind the back log after the
first one, and I never have smoked
since.
"Uncle Tom is a great go-to-meeting
man. One evening he asked me to 20
with him, and as had no excuse to
offer / went. There was collection,
and Uncle Tom said to me:1 used to
use tobacco and beer, but since | left
il off have put what money l save in
that way into the Lords work, and it
gives me more pleasure than [ ever got
from smoke or drink
"'I will do that too, sir ! said. Il
will follow so excellent all example for
a year, and then if l am no poorer |
will keep it up as long a. I live So l
began -aving my cigar dimes. / had
to 60 to church TO put them in the box,
of course, and in that way I became
interested in the religion heard
preached, and concluded that needed
it as much a. any one. So. boys / am
Christian and church member, and
feel ss if had been getting on quite
a little"
81 like your speaking out and tell
ing US about it," said the jolliest young
fellow of them all. "It gives me faith
to believe that you have got hold OF
something worth having"
"All abOarh for the North I" shouted
Conductor Doane. And the next min
ute we were moving RAPIDLY away,
| leaving the grOur still talking.