"
"Cigarettes don't give a fellow consumption!" retorted the younger
boy sullenly.
"I don't believe they do," Tom admitted, thoughtfully. "Consumption
is caused by germs, I've heard. But germs take hold best in a
weakened part of the body, and your lungs, Alf, are weak enough
for any germ to find a good place to lodge. What you've got to do is
to make your lungs so strong that they'll resist germs."
"You talk like a doctor!"
"No; I'm trying to talk like an athlete. I used to be a half-way
amateur athlete, Drew, and I'm still taking care of my body.
That's why I've never allowed any white-papered little 'coffin-nails'
to fool around me. Bad as your lungs are, Alf, they're not one
whit worse than your nerves. You'll go to pieces if you find
yourself under the least strain. You'll get to shivering and crying,
if you don't stop smoking cigarettes."
"Don't you believe it," muttered the boy, sullenly.
"Alf," smiled Tom, laying a hand gently on the boy's shoulder,
"you don't know me yet.
Pages:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25