Page:Peterson's Magazine 1856 Vol. XXX.pdf/10

 10 the most elegant in bis manners, had the most fashionable friends, was most admired by the other girls; but still, notwithstanding all these advantages, I had an unaccountable and ground less leaning toward you, which prevented my quite deciding in his favor. A conversation which I had with you, sir, one day on the most trivial of subjects determined my life's choice; a conversation which I do not believe you remember, or have ever thought of since."

"What was it about?" I asked, curiously.

"About smoking!" eried Mary, with tho mer riest laugh. "Do you remember, as we sat on the piazza at our country hoase one summer day after dinner?"

"No, I recollect nothing about it."

"Well, it was simply this. I desired you to make my presence no obstacle if you wished to enjoy a cigar. You replied that you did not smoke. 'Why not?' I asked, with some curiosity. 'Beoau e,' you answered, quite simply, 'I think it's time enough for a young man to indulge in such luxuries, when he is able to pay for them with his own money.' And then you added, carelessly, 'Smoking is an expensive habit, I suppose you know.' I did not know; I had never thought about it before ; but I did now. I admired and respected you for that answer, John. It let me see through your honorable and honest character."

"Smoke and fudge!" I interrupted, with an attempt at a frown ; but the little woman paid no heed to the sham, which she instantly saw through—she was speaking very earnestly now, with a flush on her soft cheek and a sparkle in her eyes.

"I thought about that speech after you left me, John, and pondered it, and liked it more and more. You were at that time just estab lished in business with your father's means; mj yet you had nothing of your own, and you were right, quite right. I saw, even by so slight i thing, that you were actuated by high princi ples, and then it was, John, that I began to lihe you so very much. Besides this, I applied mi new ideas to Morris, and what did I find! t young man, whose parents were actually pinch ing themselves to give him a fine collegisto education, selfishly indulging in all sorts of ex travagance, not merely in the trifling matter of cigar-smoking, but of dress, fashionable atouHments, &c. It showed the wrong spirit, Jobi, and my choice was made from that hour—ob. how little I repent it!"

The tears were in her eyes as she spoke, ani she rose hastily, doubtless the reader has alreidj conjectured, to throw herself in her adorinj. husband's arms, &c., to make a pretty conelni ing scene for my story. Not at all, though I confess there aro some such sentimental piisages in our married life, (for Mary is Ten romantic) still in the present instance she sinply took down another cigar from the mu«lt, seeing my first had vanished in smohe, ul having lighted it, she handed it to me with Iff brightest, sweetest smile, saying,

"And now you see, John, how it comet ti»tl am so passionately fond of cigar-smoke."

Of course I can't expect my intelligent t«d" to be quite of my wife's way of thinking. W course he sees through all this smoke which & conjured up about me, as clearly, if not more «. than I do. We know, of course, that smoU is smoke. But let me tell him that smoke of K* kind is a smoke of "virtuous powers." Itpenetrates with a delicious aroma, not to the brain, but to the heart. It sweetens the temper—it tranquillizes the mind—it softens the heart I would simply advise such poor, pitiful bachelors as don't know what I'm talking about, to throw away their cigars, if need be, and try it They will find it surpass the finest Havanas.

VIOLETS. BY

wILLIAM RODERICK LAwRENCE. Violets! violets! From whenco do ye conio, With your blue leaves so tender, So frail and so slender, Say where is your home, Sweet violets?

Violets! violets! So daintily fair We most cordially greet; While your perfume sweet Floats out on the air, Bright violets !

Violets! violets! Pure gems of the field; That bloom in tho glade, In sunshine and shade, What pleasures yo yield, Fair violets!