Litchfield enquirer., 1837-08-10
THE MECHANICS PLEASURES.


 There is shop near my lodgiDgs-and I never yet saw shop in which there was not something to be learned. Without go- ing SO far as to state what believe firmly, that to the industrious man labor is pleasure, beg leave eO introduce Arthur Kip. This young dDsn is plain cooper. and lives in the extremity of the street ~hich pass daily. He is ia his shop as early as hs earliest neighbOr, yet { see him busy sOSa half hour before he is in his shop. What IS Arthur about in the grey of the morning l will tell you. He has been setting cut rows of elms around the whole border of his little lot. For you must know that he Is content to live in very uncomfortable, house, in order to forward his business, and prepare his gronnds, 80 as to make fair start as he calls it. He has told me that he was induced to do this by a maxim ot an ancient king, Prepare thy work Wath0ut, and make it fit for thyselfin the field, and 1ftersc0rds build tky AOuse.' It does one good to see Arthur among his trees he sings chesrfuIly over his spade and hatchet. long before the sun is up. 'These sap lings,' says he. 'wiIl be noble branching trees over the heads of my children; and if little Tom should be rich man thirty years hence, he will have grove which all the money in England could not cause to spring up.'
 Arthur has garden also. His rule is. first fol. use, and next for shOw.' So he has most of his ground in substantial vege- tables for the table !; but very goodly por- tion, assure you, in choice fowers.- Why should he not1 God has given the poor man these gems of earth with boun- teous profasion and Ellen Kip and lit- ,le Tom will love Arthur and one other all the better for dwelling among the lustrs and fragrance of tulips and viclets.
 In these bright spring evenings, l take a walk about the time this little household comes together after work. No tavern has yet become Ellen's rival; her husband spends not only his nights. but his evenings at Aeme. Or, fine goes abroad. is is in the old fashioned way: mean he takes his wife and little boy along. At this hour am always sure of witnessing another of the mechanics pleasures. Arthur and Ellen were natives of state, where young folks are taught to sing they have already be- gun to bring up little Tom in the same way. They carry tune m several parts; for Arthur is no mean performer on the violin, and Ellen sings soprano part to her hus- bands bass. The neishbors are beginning to find their way out, since the spring weather has unclosed the doors and win- dows, and there are some signs of little musical association.
 Some of the best musical talent in Amer Sea, is among our mechanics :. and it is said that they are too slow to discover the ex- quisite satisfaction which they might de- rive from innocent recreation. 1t soothss the troubled mind. it breaks the thread of vexing thoughts; it prepares the affections for every good impression; it affords 'healthful excitement it knits familirs tue gether by the gentlest bands, and it makes paradise of Nome.
 What mechanic is there who may not command these pleasures? What pleas- ures of the bar-roon, the circus, the gam bling-table, the theatre, are equal to these in purity and genuine content2 I am sure shall have right answer-if not from mechanics, at least from their wives.
 Nepark Adrertiser.