well 'tis known
Thy habit is disease. In iron clad
Sometimes thy feature roughen to the sight,
And oft transparent art thou seen in glass,
Portending frangibility. The son
Of laboring mechanism here displays
Exuberance of skill. The curious knot,
The motley flourish winding down the sides,
And freaks of fancy pour upon the view
Their complicated charms, and as they please,
Astonish. While with glee thy touch I feel,
No harm my fingers dread. No fractured pipe
I ask, or splinters aid, wherewith to press
The rising ashes down. Oh! bless my hand,
Chief when thou com'st with hollow circle crowned
With sculptured signet, bearing in thy womb
The treasured Cork-screw. Thus a triple service
In firm alliance may'st thou boast."

Tobacco-stoppers were often made of wood from some relic like a
celebrated tree or mansion which gave additional value by its
historic associations. Taylor alludes to several made from the well
known Glastonbury thorn. He says:--

[Illustration: Tobacco stoppers.]

"I saw the sayd branch, I did take a dead sprigge from it,
wherewith I made two or three tobacco-stoppers, which I
brought to London."

Pipes and tobacco-stoppers have often been favorite testimonials of
friendship and reward. Fairholt says:--

"It was the custom during the last century to present
country churchwardens with tobacco-boxes, after the faithful
discharge of their duties."

The following lines from "The Tobacco Leaf," penned by some favored
one on receiving a rare pipe, are no doubt as neat as the object that
called them forth:--

"I lifted off the lid with anxious care,
Removed the wrappages, strip after strip,
And when the hidden contents were laid bare,
My first remark was: "Mercy, what a pipe!"

A pipe of symmetry that matched its size,
Mounted with metal bright--a sight to see--
With the rich umber hue that smokers prize,
Attesting both its age and pedigree.

A pipe to make the royal Freidrich jealous,
Or the great Teufelsdrockh with envy gripe!
A man should hold some rank above his fellows
To justify his smoking such a pipe!

What country gave it birth? What blest of cities
Saw it first kindle at the glowing coal?
What happy artist murmured "_Nunc dimittis_,"
When he had fashioned this transcendent bowl!

Has it been hoarded in a monarch's treasures?
Was it a gift of