"That I'd like nothing better, sir," he said; and they went out together.
"You are pleased with your pony, Max ?" the captain said inquiringly, striking a match and lighting a cigar as he spoke.
"Yes, indeed, papa!" was the enthusiastic reply.

"I feel very rich owning him." "And mean to be a kind master to him, I trust ?" "Yes, sir; oh, yes, indeed! I don't intend ever to speak a cross word to him, much less give him a blow." "He has always been used to kind treatment, I was told, and has nothing vicious in his disposition," the captain continued, puffing at his cigar, and pacing the veranda with measured tread, Max keeping close at his side: "so I think he will always give you satisfaction, if you are gentle and kind, never ill-treating him in any way." "I mean to make quite a pet of him, sir," Max said.
Then, with an arch look up into his father's face,--a full moon making it light enough for each to see the other's countenance quite distinctly,--"Papa, you are very generous to me, but you never offer me a cigar." The captain stopped short in his walk, and faced his son with some sternness of look and tone.

"Max, you haven't learned to smoke?
tell me: have you ever smoked a cigar?
or tobacco in any shape ?" "Yes, sir; but"-- "Don't do it again: I utterly and positively forbid it." "Yes, sir: I'll obey; and, in fact, I have no desire to smoke again: it was just one cigar I tried; and it made me so deathly sick, that I've never wanted another.

I wouldn't have done it, papa, if you had ever forbidden me; but--but you had never said any thing to me on the subject, and I'd seen"-- Max hesitated, and left his sentence unfinished.
"You had seen your father smoke, and naturally thought you might follow his example ?" "Yes, sir." "Well, my son, I can hardly blame you for that; but there are some things a man may do with impunity, that a boy may not.

Tobacco is said to be far more injurious to one who has not attained his growth, than to an adult.