Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1841-10-21
A MODERN CATEcHIsAr.
Question. Who is The oldest u,aH

QUESTION. Who is the Oldest mani
Answer. The lad of fourteen who struts
and swaggers, and smokes his cigars. and
drinks rum aud treads on the toes of his
grandfather, and Irets at his mother and
says he will run away and leave "lhe old
man. 1t he will not let him have more
cash.
q. In what families is there the best
government
| A. Those in which the children govern
the parents. i..s '.....
@. Who brings up his children in the
way they should go?'' ''.a
A. He that teaches them TO spend mon
ey without earning i, /; mixes brandy and
water whenever he thinks it does him good,
and always saves the bottom Of the glass
for little Frank. .. J., .t
PHILOSOPHICAL SKETCH OF Al CENT? EMAN.
What is the best profession in this world
OF ours That ofa gentleman for gen.
uanan s"es not work, he has liberty &C. 20
where he pleases, he is not controlled, and
is his own master. Many man considers
llImseifa gentleman who has not the indis-
rensab'es that must complete the profession.
clerk inthe treasury or public Offices con-
siders himself gentleman ;Zand SO he is by
birth, but NOT by profession for he is not
his own master, but is as much tied down
to his desk as clerk in bankers counting
house or in shop. A gentleman by pro-
tession must be his own master, and indie
pendent; and how few there arc in the
world who can say SO !-Soldicrs and sail
ors are obliged to obey orders, and there
fore | do not put them down as perfect
gentlemen, according to my ideas OF what
gentleman should be- + doubt whether
the prime minister can be considered gem
tieman until after no is turned out of Office.
Do you understand me, boy3' .a.a
20, yes, understand what you mean bv
a gentleman; ! recollect reading a story Of
IA negro who came to this country, and who
said that the pig was tho only living being
that did not work. ...,;|. ,.. - ~.
The negro was not far wrong resumed
| tho tinker. 'Well, after thinking long
while, / came to the decision thar, as I
| could not be a. perfect gentleman, would
be the nearest thing to it that was possible
and ! considered that the most enyiable
SITUATION was that Of a travelling tinker
| learned enough Of the trade, saved mon
wheel, and here have, been in this capa-'
city for nearly ten years. - .H#+a'
And do you sso!d to the opinion that
you formed1' ,.,-,t
4 do; for, look you, work must. ,
therefore fore ' sa Gn kas ghle., and paid the
best know no trade where you can gain
SO much with SO little capital and 50 little
Ill. I v0N lad hS,a
living being; l have my liberty and indie
pendence; go where please, stop wherc
| please, work whenI please, and be idle
when please and never know what it is
to want nights lodging. Show me any,
other profession which can say the same J!
| might be better clothed--I might be
considered more respectable; but arm a
philosopher, and despise all that, earn as
much as I want, and do very little work for,
it.. ] can grind knives and scissors and
mend kettles enough in one day to provide
for whole week for instance, I can grind
knife in two minutes, for which receive
two pence. Now, allowing that l work
twelve hours in the day, at the rate of one
penny per minute, should earn G3 per
day, which, deducting Sundays, is 1850
year. Put that against $40 year as. a
drudge 10 a desk in shop. or any other
profession, and you see how lucratiye mine
is in proportion ;,then am under no con-
troll not ordered here or there, like gen.
eral or admiral not attacked in the House
of Commons or Lords, like prime minis =
ter on the contrary, half days work
out Of seven is all require Z: and there
fore assert that my profession is nearest
to that ef gentleman than any other pro
fessiom know Of .H.pra -4. ,
Ii may be as you style it., bnt you don'r'
look much like one replied joey, laughing.
'Tha,'s prejudice; my clothes keep me
as warm as IL they we're of the best materi- >
ais, and qui,e new. enjoy my victuals
quite as much as any gentleman does-per-
baps more. can indulge in my own
thoughts; | have been well educated, as it
happens, and ans too much Of a phiioso-
pher not to despsc All tbs rest. Besides,
as ! must work little, il is peasN y. to feel
that | am always in request and respected
by those who employ me- ..T. ..s.....
Respected! ON what account ,,,.
Because am always wanted. and there
fore always welcome. tits the little things
Of life which annoy, not the great = aid "a
kettle that won't hold water, or knife
that went cut, are always objects Of exc
Grafton and as people heap their anathen,as
upon the kettle, and knife, so do they long
for nv return, and when ! come they are
clad to SIZE IRE. glad ,o find their knives are
sharp, and their kettles, thrown Oh one side,
are useful again, at trifing charge. add
|, I hernnNSA ntSeRxsaFV'