The next is a more modern version:―― TOBACCO IS AN INDIAN WEED. This Indian weed now withered quite Though green at noon, cut down at night, Shows thy decay; All flesh is hay; Thus think, and smoke tobacco. The pipe, so lily-like and weak, Does thus thy mortal state bespeak; Thou art e’en such, Gone with a touch: Thus think, and smoke tobacco. And when the smoke ascends on high, Then thou behold’st the vanity Of worldly stuff, Gone with a puff! Thus think, and smoke tobacco. And when the pipe grows foul within, Think on thy soul defiled with sin; For then the fire It does require: Thus think, and smoke tobacco. Thou seest the ashes cast away, Then to thyself thou mayest say, That to the dust Return thou must: Thus think, and smoke tobacco. Some additional, but very inferior stanzas, were written by the Rev. Ralph Erskine, a minister of the Scotch Church, and printed in his _Gospel Sonnets_, about the end of the last century. This continuation has been called SMOKING SPIRITUALIZED. “Was this small plant for thee cut down? So was the plant of great renown, Which mercy sends For nobler ends. Thus think and smoke tobacco. “Doth juice medicinal proceed From such a naughty foreign weed? Then what’s the power Of Jesse’s flower? Thus think and smoke tobacco. “The promise, like the pipe, inlays And, by the mouth of faith, conveys What virtue flows From Sharon’s rose. Thus think and smoke tobacco. “In vain th’ unlighted pipe you blow, Your pains in outward means are so, Till heavenly fire Your heart inspire. Thus think and smoke tobacco. “The smoke, like burning incense, towers; So should a praying heart of yours With ardent cries Surmount the skies. Thus think and smoke tobacco.” ―――― A CATCH ON TOBACCO. (_Sung by four men smoking their Pipes._) Good, good indeed; The herb’s good weed; Fill thy pipe, Will. And I prithee, Sam, fill, And yet sing still, And yet sing still, What say the learn’d? What say the learn’d? _Vita fumus, vita fumus!_ ’Tis what you and I, And he and I, You, and he, and I, And all of us _sumus_.