Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-03-17
AN AWKWARD SITUATION

me boy came IN at ABOUT o CLOCK, altsr
playing on the vacant lot with the other
neighboring boys, and he didn't waste much
time in climbing up to his room and turn
ing into bed. His mother was at his bed
side ten minutes later, to kiss him good
night. The boy drew an in-breath when
she kissed hin-for boys, it is as well to
confess. regard their mothers as pretty
easy marks in some respects. This boys
mother. however, wasn't exactly SO easy as
he thought. She looked at him reproach-
fully.
Johnnie she said, you've been smok-
ing
johnnie didn't say anything. He appeared
to be pretty sleepy, anyhow, and he turned
his face toward the wall. as much as to
say that he'd be highly pleased and graft
ned II his mother would permit him to
rest.
DO you hear me. Johnnie? You have
been smoking, YOU naughty boy"
II johnnie had any remarks to make he
didn't deliver himself of them. He looked
sleeper than ever, with his eyes tightly
closed
And cigarettes, too. Aren't you ashamed
of YOURSELF"
If the boy was ashamed he had mighty
strong method of holding down any visible
manifestation of penitence.
Supposing tell your father?''
johnnie tossed bit uneasily, but he didn't
open his eyes, nor did he make any re-
ply:
He'd punish you severely if he knew
you'd been smoking. Johnnie
Johnnie didn't deny it.
Don't You know that smoking will stunt
your growth. and make you a little, shrv-
eled-up old man, and drive you to the in
sane asylum
Johnnie tossed some more. He looked as
II ne d be powerful glad to be let alone.
Answer me this minute, Johnnie."
Nav, I'm sleepy. replied Johnnie and
ne turned his head toward the wall again,
as II he considered it all off
His mother went down stairs.
90, Slcnard, she said to the boys father,
II don't want You to punish Johnnie, for 1
think it's the first time, but 1 want you to
talk to him. Richard, Johnnes beeh
smoking!''
That so?" inquired the boys father,
dropping his paper, but not looking particu-
larly alarmed.
You certainly take it cooIlyr' she said
mifed. Aren't you shocked to hear it?
a young boy like Johnnie should think
you d see how horrible it isr'
JohnIlie's father rubbed his chin contem-
platively.
Well. it won't do him any good, of
course he said. weakly.
.e, po MIN ~ any good!'' exclaimed his wife
w ny; 1t will-Richard, why don't you go
up ana tax to him? Don't punish him, but
JUST ten MIN what wicked thing it is for
poy 10 smoke and how it'll destroy him
l nate to acknowledge it, but L really be-
lieve Johnnie pays more attention to what
you say than to what l say"
The boys father rose from his sitting
Gnair, stretched, and walked upstairs to
johnnie room Johnnie looked to be pref
" sound asleep-a picture of the Innocence
of childhood.
son said the father
The boy opened his eyes
Son, said his father your mother tolls
me you We been smoking. How about it,
smoked cigarette on the lot, SIR said
rne f., o9 S,,; apparently perceivng that it was
Did, hey, said his father. rubbing his
ci!i, again; as that the first one?'
No, sir said the boy.
his father "'Neu
Bout a year, sir" said the boy.
me dickens you have.' said his father
LOOK mere, son, don't you know it makes
Your mother feel bad to have YOU smoke -
The boy didn't have any reply ready
You don't want to do anything to make
your mother feel bad, Jack, or you'll feel
father.
Then he fell into a line of thought.
ought to tell this boy all about the
cyl OF smoking. and stultify myself, and
The picture came into his mind of the
broad, yellow western river on the banks
OF "nich, as boy just about his son $
age he had picked up pieces of porous
dried drlttWood and smoked them with the
other boys. After that-very soon after
the cigarettes made of corn silk Drowned
by the sun. and with any old kind of paper
Ihen not long after the Saturdays out in
the woods and the half dozen genuine
cigarettes smoked one after the other and
his furtive lodging of his mother until
after he thought the aroma had died ONT
OF his breath. Then the day, amid the muir
muring reeds of the river, when he had
tackled his first cigar, and had been thrown
tnereby-these pictures all came into the
mans mind and he
johnnie had apparently fallen asleep
again.
u m not going to mix up in this at ALL :"
SAID the boys father to himself as he
went slowly down stairs. I'm not going
to make hypocrite of myself A bow
that's begun to smoke is going on smok-
ing, anyhow. He can't be stopped. If his
mother can stop him, though, all right.
But l pass
We'll. did you warn him." asked the
boy mother. who had been listening at
the bottom of the stairs all the time
'Oh, yes said the boys father 81
guess you won't smell cigarettes on him
for some time to come"
Not if Jack gets real crafty will she
smell them on him., said he to himself