"Pshaw! Your mother don't mind my smoking—do you, mother?" he asked, jocularly, as his wife entered just then.
"Well—I—I used to rather more than I do now. One can get accustomed to anything, I suppose, so I go on the principle that what can't be cured must be endured."
"Nonsense! you know I could stop to-morrow if I wanted to," he laughed.
"But you won't want to," she said, softly.
I don't know whether Johnny's father gave up the weed. Most likely not; but if you want to see what really came of it, I will give you a peep at the following paper, written some years ago, and which happens to be in my possession.
"I, John Lord, of sound mind, do make, this first day of January, 1861, the following resolutions, which I pray God I may keep:—
"First. I will not get married till I own a house, for I expect my uncle will give me one, one of these days; mother says he will.
"Second. I will never swear, because it is silly, as well as wicked.
"Third. I will never smoke and so make myself disagreeable to everybody who comes near me, and I will always keep these words as my motto after I am married:
"'I don't smoke, because I respect my wife.' Mr. Dalton said that, and I will never forget it.