 | Life and sayings of Mrs. Partington and others
of the family |  |
MRS. PARTINGTON ON TOBACCO.
“I know that tobacco is very dilatorious,” said Mrs.
Partington, as Mr. Trask sat conversing with her upon
the body and soul destroying nature of the weed. “I
know that tobacco is dilatorious, especially to a white
floor;” and, taking out her snuff-box, — the broad one
with the picture of Napoleon on the cover, — she tapped
it, and offered a pinch to her guest.
“Snuff is just as bad,” said he, laying his finger
gently on her arm and speaking earnestly — “snuff injures
the intellect, affects the nerves, destroys the memory;
it is tobacco in its most subtle form, and the poison
appears as the devil did in Eden, under a pleasing
exterior.”
She gazed upon him a moment in silence.
“I know,” said she, “it has a tenderness to the head;
but I could n't do without it, it is so auxiliarating to
me when I am down to the heel; and if it is a pizen, as
you call it, I should have been killed by it forty years
ago. Good snuff, like good tea, is a great blessing, and
I don't see how folks who have no amusement can get
along without it.”
The box was dropped back to its receptacle, and her
friend took his leave, sighing that she would persist in
shortening her days by the use of snuff, and stopped a
moment to lecture Ike, who was enjoying a sugar cigar
upon the front door-step.
| Life and sayings of Mrs. Partington and others
of the family | |