The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1842-05-28

| Slttng down In tne proHeTeu, cndlr,anu
lighting his Havana, Edward Saunders
places his feet upon his friends clean
desk, and seemed really to be waiting for
detailed account of the modus operandi
by which an apprentice could acquire,
honestly such a collection Of valuable
books.-Nor did Francis hesitate 10 gra-
tify his curiosity. Both of the young
men were in the middle of their appren-
ticeship; and the most cordial intimacy
had subsisted between them from their
youth. Edward was deficient in nothing
SO much as that economy SO necessary
for an apprentice in expanding his small
annuity; and Francis hit upon very sue
cessful method Of administering to his
young friend a very salutary lesson upon
this subject, while he explained how even
an apprentice, could acquire taste and
the means for the cultivation OF his intel
lect.
"Edward,' said he, taking up his pen
Gil, 81 will explain to you in figures what
seems TO have excited your wonder, if
you will permit me by the way, to ask
you a few questions, in order to solve the
problem. see you are very fond of
smoking; how many cigars do you buy
week."
80, none of any account" replied Ed
ward, anticipating some unpleasant stric-
lures upon his lavorite practice; "after
working all day, it is really comfort to
smoke one genuine Havana: it does not
amount to any thing; only smoke six in
the course of the whole week."
"Six Havannas week." repeated Fran
els putting it down upon paper, with as
much Formally as if he were registering
the data ola problem; "six week at two
cents apiece, amount to the very trifing
sum of six dollars and twenty-four cents
per annum.
suppose you spend triae at the fruit
Shops" continued Francis. "Nothing
worth Mentioning" replied Edward, star
tied at the aggregate of such little items;
sail buy-apples, nuts, raisins, figs, oran-
ges, Sc, do not amount to ninepence
week; why, that is not half as much as
Tom Williams, the goldsmith's apprentice,
spends for mint juleps, in half that time;
and, besides, Francis, you know | never
taste drop of any kind of liquor-not
even wine: You certainly can't think !
lack economy, FrankW
"Ninepence week for nuts, raisins,
oranges, and figs" repeated Francis, in
low serious tone, pronouncing the items,
one by one, as he wrote them down, with
all the precision and gravity of clerk in
country store: "Ninepence week a
mounts to six dollars and fifty cents per
annum; which, added to six dollars and
twenty-four cents, make the riding sum
of twelve dollars and seventy-four cents
for one year. Now, Edward, see what !
have obtained for just this sum. Here"
said he, taking down several neatly bound
volumes of the North American Review,
81 procured all those for less sum
than you have paid (ol cigars, nuts, Sc,
during the last year. And as for these
other books, which you see here in my
book case, Twill tell you how ! have OBJ
tanned them, and how any other appren-
tice can do the same, with only thirty-six
| dollars year too. You know our mas
tiers are very industrious and steady men,
and are attentive TO their business, and
like 10 see their workmen so. They pre-
fer also to see them with book in their
hands, when they have done their work,
rather than to be loungng about at the
tayerns. or in vicious company. So when
my master saw that liked to read every
chance ] could get, and spend all the mo-
ney could spare for books, he offered to
give me ninepence an hour for all the
the time would work from twelve o.
clock to one,P M. And that is the way,
Edward, that have b, ,sht all these books
which you thought ] had borrowed, beg
ged or stolen work every noontme a
half an hour, and earn enough every fort
night 10 buy one of these books-Para-
disc Lost, for instance. To be sure they
are not bound in calf, nor are they gilt
edged; but they contain the same matter
as if they were, and that is enough for
me.
When Edward Saunders had listened
to the very interesting and simple explain
alton of his uncle's apprentice, and had
passed his eye over all the fine books in
his little library, he arose suddenly at the
very last words of Francis, and opening
the little chamber window, took out his
last half dozen cigars, which were to con-
stitute his weeks stock of comfort, and
without saying word tossed them into
the garden. A new fire of animation lit
up his eye, as he darted out of the room,
turning only at the door to say.-"Pll
try ii, Fankm
| SUPER