The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-04

TX pirate days on the island where, X A under the tutelaSe of Huck Finn, the boys learned the mysteries of to- bacco? It's a story of little tragedy that has happened to nearly every man in his boyhood days-perhaps forgotten now. Anyway, here's the story as Mark Twain told it.
 After dainty egg and fish dinner, Tom said he wanted to learn to smoke. TOW. Joe caught at the idea and said he would like to try, too. So Huck made pipes and filled them. These novices had never smoked anything before ex- cept cigars made of grapevine, and they bit the tongue and were not consid- cred manly anyway. Now they stretch ed themselves out on their elbows and began to puff charily and with slender confidence. The smoke had an unpleas- ant taste, and they gagged little, but Tom said:
 "Why. it's just as easy. If I'd a knowed this was all, I'd learnt long ago"
 "so would l." said Joe. 'Its just nothing"
 "Why, many a time I've looked at people smoking and thought well, I wish could do that; but I never thought could,' said Tom.
 That's just the way with me. hain't it, Huck? You've heard me talk just that way-haven't you, Huck? I'll leave it to Iuck if I haven't" "Yes-heaps of times,' said Huck. Well, I have, too," said Tom; 'oh, hundreds of times. Once down by the slaughter house. Don't you remember, Hucl? Bob Tanner was there, and Johnny Miller and Jeff Thatcher, when I said it. Don't you remember, Huck, bout me saying that?' "Yes.. that's so,' said Huck. That was tIie day after l lost a white alley. No, twas the day before"
 "There-I told you so,' said Tom, "Hucl< recollects it q believe l could smoke this pipe all day. said Joe. T don't feel sick" "Neither do l." said Tom. 'I could l smoke it all day. But l bet you Jeif | Thatcher couldn't Jeff Thatcher, Why, he'd keel over | j J it once. He'd see.''
 q bet he would. And Johnny Miller T wish I could see Johnny Miller tackle it once"
 "Oh, don't l." said Joe. "Why. I bet you Johnny Miller couldn't no more dc this than nothing. Just one little sniftel would fetch him. | Deed it would. Joe. Say-I wish the boys could see us now"
 "So do IT.
 Say, boys, don't say anything about 1 I'll come up to you and say, Joe, got g pipe? I want smoke. And youll say kind of careless like, as if it warn'i anything. you'll say, Yes. I got my old pipe and another one, but my tobacker ain't very good And I'll say, Oh, that's all right, if it's strong enough. And then you'll out with the pipes and well | light up just as cam, and then just | see 'em look.''
 By jings. that'll be gay. Tom! wish | it was now."
 1 "So do l, And when we tell 'em we learned when we was off pirating, won't | they WISH they u been alOng?''
 "Oh, I reckon not I'll just bet they will"
 So the talk ran on. But presently it began to lag trifle, and grow disjoint- cd The silence widened; the expectora- tfon marvelously increased Every pore inside the boys checks became sprout- ing fountain; they could scarcely bail out the cellars under their tongues fast enough to prevent an inundation; little overflowings down their throats occur red in spite of all they could do, and sudden retchings followed every time Both boys were looking very pale and