"No; I'm wretchedly sick," said Max. "I think I've had enough tobacco to last me all my days." "O pshaw! it won't be half so bad next time, and pretty soon won't sicken you at all." "But what should I gain to pay me for all the suffering?" "Well, it seems sort o' babyish not to smoke." "Does it? I've never seen Grandpa Dinsmore smoke, and I don't believe he ever does, nor Uncle Edward, nor Uncle Horace either." "No, they don't, and Art doesn't, but they're all sort o' pious old fogies," Ralph said, with a coarse laugh. "I wouldn't talk so about my own relations, if I were you," returned Max, in a tone of disgust. "Of course I shouldn't let anybody else say a word against them," said Ralph. Arthur's entrance put an end to the conversation. He inquired of Max if the sickness were abating; then sitting down beside him, "Boys," he said, "I want to talk to you a little about this silly business of smoking and chewing." "I've never chewed," said Max. "I'm glad to hear it, and I hope you never will, or smoke again either. How would you like, Max, to have a cancer on your lip?" "Cancer, sir? I wouldn't choose to have one for anything in the world." "Then don't smoke, especially a short pipe, for it often causes cancer of the lip. I cut one out of a man's lip the other day; and not long ago saw a man die from one after months of agonizing pain. Tobacco contains a great deal of virulent poison, and though some persons use it for many years without much apparent injury, it costs many others loss of health and even of life. It weakens the nerves and the action of the heart, and is a fruitful source of dyspepsia." "Pooh! I don't believe it will ever hurt me," said Ralph. "I think it will," said Arthur; "you have not yet attained your growth, and therefore are the more certain to be injured by its use. "Max, my boy, I admire your father greatly, particularly his magnificent physique." Max flushed with pleasure. "Do you not wish to be like him in that? as tall and finely developed?" "Yes, sir; yes, indeed! I want to be like papa in everything!" "Then eschew tobacco, for it will stunt your growth!" "But papa smokes," repeated Max. "Now, but probably he did not until grown," said Arthur. "And very likely he sometimes wishes he had never contracted the habit. Now I must leave you for a time, as I have some other patients to visit." "I told you he was an old fogy," said Ralph, as the door closed on his brother, adding with an oath, "I believe he wouldn't allow a fellow a bit of pleasure if he could help it." Max started, and looked at Ralph with troubled eyes. "I didn't think you would swear," he said. "If you do, I--I can't be intimate with you, because my father won't allow it." "I don't often," said Ralph, looking ashamed, "I won't again in your company." CHAPTER XIV. "Be sure your sin will find you out." --_Num._ 32:33.