"Don't you like the smell of it?"
"First-rate."
"Then why don't you take it?"
"Ain't a going to."
"But why?"
And then for the first time his companion spoke:
"Are you a total abstainer?"
"What's them?"
Both boys stopped to laugh ere they made answer.
"Why people who think it wicked to 'touch, taste or handle,' you know. Say, Pliny, did you know there's quite an excitement on the subject up our way? Old Mousey is round trying to get all the folks to promise not to sell Joe any more brandy."