34 THE PHILOSOPHY OF SMOKING. 



SMOKE DREAMS. 



TOBACCO smoke ! Blue-gray in wreaths, 



Blue laurel-wreaths which float in air, 

 As if, invisible, serene, 



A dreaming angel hovered there. 

 A spirit of calm kindliness, 



A touch of eyes that smile through tears,- 

 A mantle of forgetfulness, 



Thrown on the passions of the years. 



I cross my knees, 1 puff my pipe, 



The gentle Summer warmth creeps in ; 

 The Summer warmth 'mid Winter's snows,- 



For indolence shall banish sin, 

 And watch the tasseled smoke-drops fall, 



And note the fringed smoke-plumes rise, 

 And see the dreams, in legions, turn 



To smoky notnings in the skies. 



Tobacco smoke, like silken web, 



Suspended fn the restful airs, 

 To me and mine, in soothing rhymes 



A dainty, artless burden bears ; 

 Let cares rage on let hopes renew 



The Yesterday, To-morrow be 

 But we are wise, the smoke and I ; 



We cease regrets and troubles flee. 



A. B. TUCKER- 



