Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1842-05-06

lhuIan eirI, they Opportunely arrived TO the
relief of Washington, and the confusion of
the traitor.
THE APPRENTICES LIBRARY.
ny ELImU BURRlTT.
"Why, Frank Wilson, where on earth
did you get all these good books7 Here
what-the knickerbocker, too! and the
North American Review, and the American
Eclectic! Now, Frank, where did YOU get
the money to buy all these? WHY, have
ten dollars more year than you; yet |
have TO send 10 father for money almost
every month. You take the Eclectic, in
deed! Why, there are none but Squire
Waters and DR.. Marvin in the whole town.
who think themselves able TO have such
costly work, which is only for few rich
people to read. Pretty well, eh for poor
apprentice TO soap boiler. Where did you
get that bookcase, and all those books you
have stuck up there Lets Sec Plutarch's
Lives Who's he? what's that about :?
: Rollins Ancient History' why didn't he
write it all in one book, as well as to have
dozen about it! Gibbons Rome = there
is no such place in the United States. Why,
my dear fellow, what long list of odtlandish
names you've got here Let me see, Mil
ton, Shakespeare. Young, Pope, Dryden,
Cowper, Bacon, Locke, Goldsmith, and all
other Smiths in creation, as well as those in
America !! Now, come, | will light nv
Havana, and give you chance to explain
how you, an apprentice, with only forty dol
lars year, conlrve to scrapc together a
library half as large as Parson Dayton's."
Sitting down in the proiiered chair, and
lighting his Havana, Edward Saunders
placed his feet upon his friends clean desk,
and seemed really to be waiting for de-
tailed account of the modus operanM BY
which an apprentice could acquire honestly
such collection of books. Nor did Francis
hesitate to crafty his curiosity. Both of the
young men were in the middle of their ap-
premiership, and a cordial intimacy had
snbsls!ed between them from their youth.
Edward was deficient in nothing so much as
that economy so necessary for an apprentice
in expending his small annuity; and Francis
mt upon very successful method of adj
mnistering to his friend salutary lesson
upon this subject, while he explained how
an apprentice could acquire a taste and the
means for the cultivation ofhis intellect.
Edward said he, taking up his pencil,
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 in week."
80, none of any account" replied Ed
ward, anticipating some unpleasant structures
upon his favOrite practice. "After working
all day, it is really comfort to smoke one
genuine Havana it does not amount &c
much. ! only smoke SIX in the course of the
whole week."
Six llavana's week." repeated Fran
els, putting il down on paper, with as much
formality as if he were registering the data
of problem; I" six a week, at two cents a
piece, amount TO the very trillng sum of six
dollars and twenty-four cents per annum
| suppose you spend a trIfle at the fruit
Shops" continued Francis.
"Nothing worth Mentioning" replied
Edward, rather startled at the aggregate o.
such little items; call buy, apples, nuts
raisips, figs, oranges, &C., does not amount
to ninepence week; why, that is not hall
so much as Tom Williams, the goldsmith.
apprentice, spends for mint Juleps in hall
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, Frank?'
"Ninepence week for nuts, raisins
oranges, and figs" repeated Francis, in a
low, serious tone, pronouncing the items one
by one, as he wrote them down, with all the
precision and gravity Of a clerk in a country
store. "Ninepence week is six dollar,
and fifty cents per annum; which, added &c
six dollars and twenty-four cents spent fol-
cigars, makes the trifling sum of twelve
dollars and seventy-four cents for one year
Now, Edward, see what have obtained fol
\ Just this sum. Here" added he, taking
down several neatly bound volumes of the
North American Review, and a handful o
those of the Knickerbocker, 81 have bough
all these for less sum than you have paiC
for nuts, fruit, cigars, &C., during the las
year. And as for these books which you SEE
here in my book case, will tell you how
have obtained them, and how any other APP
prentice 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
to see their workmer so. They prefer also
TO see them with book in their hands wher
they have done their work, rather than be
lounging about at the taverns, or in vicious
company. SO when my master saw that
liked to read every chance could get, anG
spent all the money could spare for books
he offered to give me ninepence an hour fol
all that would work from twelve o'clock tc
one, p. m. And that is the way, Edward
that have obtained all these books, whicl
you thought | had borrowed, begged, OIL
stolen. lwork from nOon-time half an hour
and earn enough in fortnight to buy one o
these books Paradise Lost, ',for instance
To be sure, they are not bound in calf, OF
gilt edged, but they contain the same matter
as fthey were, and that is enough for me-"
\ Whom Edward Saunders had listened tC
the very interesting and simple explanation
of his unclo's apprentice, and had passed hi,
I eye over all the fine books in his little