He’d cough an’ bresh the smoke off with ’is hand.
I’d never saw Bill smoke, or chaw, or “dip,”
Sence I hed knowed ’im, tho’ I’d offen wondered
Jes’ why it was thet he denied hisself
About the bigges’ comfort they is goin’.
I blowed a bunch o’ smoke rings threw the screen,
An’ watched ’em melt away in bluish mist.
Then I inhaled, an’ filled my chist up full
Till I could feel the nickerteen soak in
Clean to my toes, an’ brace me up all over.