ing."

"I've never chewed," said Max.

"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?"

"Cancer, sir? I wouldn't choose to have one for anything in the world."

"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."

"Pooh! I don't believe it will ever hurt me," said Ralph.

"I think it will," said Arthur; "you have not yet attained your growth,
and therefore are the more certain to be injured by its use.

"Max, my boy, I admire your father greatly, particularly his magnificent
physique."

Max flushed with pleasure.

"Do you not wish to be like him in that? as tall and finely developed?"

"Yes, sir; yes, indeed! I want to be like papa in everything!"

"Then eschew tobacco, for it will stunt your growth!"

"But papa smokes," repeated Max.

"Now, but probably he did not until grown," said Arthur. "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."

"I told you he was an old fogy," said Ralph, as the door closed on his
brother, adding with an oath, "I believe he wouldn't allow a fellow a bit
of pleasure if he could help it."

Max started, and looked at Ralph with troubled eyes. "I didn't think you
would swear," he said. "If you do, I--I can't be intimate with you,
because my father won't allow it."

"I don't often," said Ralph, looking ashamed, "I won't again in your
company."

CHAPTER XIV.

"Be sure your sin will find you out."
--_Num._ 32:33.

Gracie and Walter were in the play-room. They had been building
block-houses for an hour or more, when Gracie, saying, "I'm tired, Walter,
I'm going in yonder to see the things Max and Lulu are making," rose and
sauntered into the work-room.

She watched the busy carvers for some minutes, then went down to Violet's
apartments in search of her.

She found no one there but Agnes busied in putting away some clean
clothes, fresh from the iron.

"W