How a Clergyman Was Cured of Using Tobacco.
About forty years ago Mr. John Tappan, one of those genuine philanthropists for which Boston was noted a half century since, lived in an elegant mansion on Summer street. He had retired from active business, but had fitted up an office in the house, where he received business calls. He was a scrupulously neat man, and had particular abhorrence of the use of tobacco in any form. He was as strong in his antipathy to its use as he was to the use of ardent spirits. The surroundings of his office were to the minutest particular indicative of the individual man. One of the leading avenues through which went out his benevolence, was that of aiding indigent churches and helping impecunious clergymen. On one occasion a well known clergyman of Vermont came to Boston to obtain aid for his church. He called on good old Deacon Proctor, then a leading hardware merchant, and made known his wants. The good deacon took him at once to the residence of Mr. Tappan, introduced him, and left. On being invited to take a seat, the clergyman put into his mouth a huge quid of tobacco. Looking around to see where he should expectorate, he saw an open coal fire, but the bars of the grate were polished steel. This wouldn't do. Next his attention was directed to a copper coal-scuttle, the outside of which shone like burnished gold, and it was heaped with cannel coal. Here was his opportunity, and he discharged his stream of saliva, making a perfect cascade over the coal. Being relieved, he commenced to state his case, stopping frequently to discharge his tobacco-juice. Meanwhile Mr. Tappan sat fidgeting in his seat, and finally interrupted the good clergyman by stating that he made it a rule never to give anything to an intemperate man, and rising, bowed the clergyman out. Overwhelmed with grief and mortification, the good man sought Deacon Proctor, and burst out with the exclamation: "I have never been so insulted in all my life." Deacon Proctor asked him to give an account of his interview with Mr. Tappan, which he did, not dreaming that the tobacco had anything to do with his sudden dismissal. "Sit here," said the deacon, "I will go and see Mr. Tappan." Arriving at the office, he found the windows wide open and a girl scrubbing. "Mr. Tappan," said the deacon, "you have hurt the feelings of one of the best of men, a devoted Christian, and a faithful pastor. What does it mean?" Mr. Tappan repeated what had happened, and pointed to the coal scuttle. "Why, sir, it will take a week to get this room purified." The deacon returned, and smoothed over the matter as well as he could, and the clergyman took his leave. In just one year from that day the clergyman again made his appearance at the store of Deacon Proctor, and asked him to accompany him to the house of Mr. Tappan. Arrived there, the clergyman, looking hale, hearty, and clean, extended his hand to Mr. Tappan, exclaiming: "My dear sir, you have been the means of breaking me of a vile habit, which I thought innocent, but which had got a hold on me I little dreamed of. From the day of my last interview with you I have never put tobacco in any form in my mouth, and by the blessing and with the help of God, I never will again."-Exchange.