human
Dear boy, I'm sorry you are suffering, Violet said, leaning over him,
gpt
Papa smokes, he said,
human
No, said Mr. Dinsmore;
gpt
No, sir; leave him here in my care. To-morrow he will probably be quite recovered, and I will drive him over in my gig.
human
Would you like me to stay with you, Max?
gpt
Or me?
human
No, thank you, Grandma Elsie and Mamma Vi, he said.
gpt
You are both very kind, but Walter and Gracie wouldn't know what to do without you; and I shall do very well.
human
Yes, said Ralph,
gpt
I'll help Art take care of him. I ought to, as I gave him the cigar that sickened him so.
human
Do you begin to get over it, old fellow?
gpt
No; I'm wretchedly sick, said Max.
human
I think I've had enough tobacco to last me all my days.
gpt
O pshaw! it won't be half so bad next time, and pretty soon won't sicken you at all.
human
But what should I gain to pay me for all the suffering?
gpt
Well, it seems sort o' babyish not to smoke.
human
Does it? I've never seen Grandpa Dinsmore smoke, and I don't believe he ever does, nor Uncle Edward, nor Uncle Horace either.
gpt
No, they don't, and Art doesn't, but they're all sort o' pious old fogies,
human
I wouldn't talk so about my own relations, if I were you,
gpt
Of course I shouldn't let anybody else say a word against them,
human
Boys, he said,
gpt
I want to talk to you a little about this silly business of smoking and chewing.
human
I've never chewed,
gpt
I'm glad to hear it, and I hope you never will, or smoke again either. How would you like, Max, to have a cancer on your lip?
human
Cancer, sir? I wouldn't choose to have one for anything in the world.
gpt
Then don't smoke, especially a short pipe, for it often causes cancer of the lip. I cut one out of a man's lip the other day; and not long ago saw a man die from one after months of agonizing pain. Tobacco contains a great deal of virulent poison, and though some persons use it for many years without much apparent injury, it costs many others loss of health and even of life. It weakens the nerves and the action of the heart, and is a fruitful source of dyspepsia.
human
Pooh! I don't believe it will ever hurt me,
gpt
Max, my boy, I admire your father greatly, particularly his magnificent physique.
human
Do you not wish to be like him in that? as tall and finely developed?
gpt
Yes, sir; yes, indeed! I want to be like papa in everything!
human
Then eschew tobacco, for it will stunt your growth!
gpt
But papa smokes,
human
Now, but probably he did not until grown, said Arthur.
gpt
And very likely he sometimes wishes he had never contracted the habit. Now I must leave you for a time, as I have some other patients to visit.
human
I told you he was an old fogy, said Ralph, as the door closed on his brother, adding with an oath,
gpt
I believe he wouldn't allow a fellow a bit of pleasure if he could help it.
human
I didn't think you would swear, he said.
gpt
If you do, I--I can't be intimate with you, because my father won't allow it.
human
I don't often, said Ralph, looking ashamed,
gpt
I won't again in your company.
human
Be sure your sin will find you out.
gpt
I'm tired, Walter, I'm going in yonder to see the things Max and Lulu are making,