TOBACCO LEAVES 



MY LADY NICOTINE AND How SHE SE- 

 DUCED ME 



SHE is a common wench, this well- 

 beloved mistress o' mine. There is no 

 roystering blade, no gallant courtier, no 

 ragged tramp, no rollicking sailor boy, 

 who is not welcome to her close embrace, 

 her sweet, perfumed kiss, and the languor- 

 ous, delicious content that follows a brief 

 hour's dalliance with her charms. And 

 yet I love her! 



Even as she is not nice in her choice 

 of those to whom she gives her favours, 

 so she is by no means fastidious as to the 

 time or place of her assignations. Revel 

 she will, it is true, in the daintiest boudoir, 

 leaving the perfume of her presence on 

 silken hangings, soft couches, and even in 

 the costly rugs her lovers trample. Yet 

 she speeds as joyously to the meanest hovel 

 or den, where lurks some burly ruffian, 



148 



