given, according to the rules of the asylum, a small quantity of tobacco.  For twenty years he was in this seemingly hopeless condition; and then suddenly, one day as he was walking the floor, his reason returned, and he realized what was the matter.  Throwing the plug of tobacco through the iron grate of his cell, he said:  “What brought me here?  What keeps me here?  Why am I here?  Tobacco! tobacco! tobacco!  God help, help!  I will never use it again!”

He was restored; and for ten years he preached the gospel.

But not only does tobacco injure the mind; it also affects the blood and sensitive tissues and the different organs of the body, which in order to act normally and to do their work properly must be in healthful condition.  When the blood becomes saturated with the deadly poison that comes from the pipe or cigar, and the soft membranes of the mouth become filled with the poisonous secretion from the quid, as a consequence, every member of the body becomes affected, and disease and suffering are the final results.  Lord Bacon said, “To smoke is a secret delight, serving to steal away men’s brains.”  Many others have expressed themselves in even louder terms against the evil effects of tobacco; but we must now return to John and to Ed, his stepuncle.

Soon after Ed came to live in the family, he paid a visit to a neighboring town; and while there, he stole from a store a case of plug tobacco.  This he stealthily brought to his sister’s new home, confiding his secret to no one except John; and by generous promises he persuaded John to say nothing about the matter.  At this time John was in his thirteenth year.  He still keenly felt that something was dreadfully missing in his life; so he turned to Ed, hoping to find that something in his companionship.  But again he was disappointed.  The standard of Ed’s ideals were so far below the standard that John had fixed for himself that John was conscious of a constant repulsion in his heart toward Ed. As a consequence, John’s loneliness increased.

About the time Ed arrived in the neighborhood, another dangerous pastime was introduced.  Dancing found a place in the social gatherings; and again John was an apt scholar.  Before very long he was considered to be one of the best among the young people in this art; and for the time being he seemed to find real enjoyment in the amusement.  There was a fascination about it that helped him partly to forget his troubles and heartaches, also the discouragements with which he had been haunted so much of late.

During the winter that followed, the social spirit increased and the months were full of changes and excitement.  The uncle with whom John and his father had spent several years came with his family for a prolonged visit.  A hearty welcome was given the visitors, especially by John; for regardless of the fact that in order to make room for the company he had to exchange his nice warm bed in the house for a less comfortable one in the sod cellar, he rejoiced in the thought that he could once more be with his old companion, Will.  In fact, any change was appreciated by John in his restless, discontented frame of mind.