It was a week or more after Ben started in business as a baggage-smasher, that, in returning from carrying a carpet-bag to Lovejoy's Hotel, on Broadway, he fell in with his first city acquaintance, Jerry Collins. Jerry had just "polished up" a gentleman's boots, and, having been unusually lucky this morning in securing shines, felt disposed to be lavish. "How are you, Ben?" asked Jerry. "What are you up to now?" "I'm a baggage-smasher," answered Ben, who was beginning to adopt the language of the streets. "How does it pay?" "Well," said Ben, "sometimes it pays first rate, when I'm lucky. Other days I don't get much to do. I didn't make but fifteen cents this morning. I carried a bag up to Lovejoy's, and that's all the man would pay me." "I've made fifty cents this mornin'. Look here, Johnny." The Johnny addressed was a boy who sold cigars, four for ten cents. "I'll take two," said Jerry, producing five cents. "Six cents for two," said the cigar boy. "All right, I'll owe you the other cent," said Jerry, coolly. "Do you smoke?" inquired Ben. "In course I do. Don't you?" "No." "Why don't you?" "I don't know," said Ben. "Do you like it?" "It's bully. Here, take this cigar. I bought it for you." Ben hesitated; but finally, induced mainly by a curiosity to see how it seemed, accepted the cigar, and lighted it by Jerry's. The two boys sat down on an empty box, and Jerry instructed Ben how to puff. Ben did not particularly enjoy it; but thought he might as well learn now as any other time. His companion puffed away like a veteran smoker; but after a while Ben's head began to swim, and he felt sick at his stomach. "I don't feel well," he said. "I guess I'll stop smoking." "Oh, go ahead," said Jerry. "It's only because it's the first time. You'll like it after a while." Thus encouraged, Ben continued to smoke, though his head and his stomach got continually worse. "I don't like it," gasped Ben, throwing down the cigar. "I'm going to stop." "You've got a healthy color," said Jerry, slyly. "I'm afraid I'm going to be awful sick," said Ben, whose sensations were very far from comfortable. Just at this moment, ignorant of the brief character of his present feelings, he heartily wished himself at home, for the first time since his arrival in the city. "You do look rather green," said Jerry. "Maybe you're going to have the cholera. I've heard that there's some cases round." This suggestion alarmed Ben, who laid his head down between his knees, and began to feel worse than ever. "Don't be scared," said Jerry, thinking it time to relieve Ben's mind. "It's only the cigar. You'll feel all right in a jiffy."