, 1842-04-09
character to the man. One occupa-

character to the man. One occupa-
ton, as the means of Sgetting a liv-
ing," as the phrase goes, is precisely
as high and creditable as another, pro-
vided that it be honorable and in ac-
cordance with the laws Of God and
man. The man who. holds the plough
hammers his iron, or drives his peg
to support his family with the neces-
saries and comforts of life, is not a
whit below the one who measures
tape behind the counter, mystifes the
law at the bar, or presides at the
councils of the nation. There is a
vulgar and most pernicious feeling a.
broad in the community on this SUBJ
ject. Fathers must educate their
sons for one of what are called the
"Learned Professions" Daughters
must marry a lawyer, a doctor, a
clergyman, or a merchant. Horror!
the good lady would as soon think Of
marrying her daughter toa Winnie
bago as to a homely, Industrious, and
honorable mechanic. Why, the fami-
ly would be disgraced-the name
dishonored. No, no-the business
of a carpenter, 4 blacksmith, or a
farmer, is not so respectable as that
Of shaving notes, drawing stolidity
from the desk,~ peddling rotten wood
or pills, or selling snuff or tobacco.
And yet, the duty of all the learned
professions, as well rs those of a
mercantile character, are performed
for the same reason that a shoemaker
waxesh his thread and the farmer plants
his potatoes, viz: TO obtain 4 living.
Still a set Of miserable ups,art fools,
who are almost universally low bred
people themselves. people who have
begun to live in the ditch, endeavor
to establish in society artificial dis
tinctions which they hope will ele-
vate them above the common mass
from which they were taken, and give
to them an Importance when innate
worth and honesty could not com
mand them. Labor is labor-Honest
labor is honest labor. Honest and
honorable laoor are the same, wheth.
er performed by the king or the beg
gar, and is just as honorable in the
one as in the other.
Its true that all men, by habit and
by taste, are not fitted to pursue the
same ~vocations, and there are natu-
raj divisions, not distinctions, as the
word is commonly used, created by
harmony and taste. This is as il
should be, and fits us for the discharge
OF all the peculiar duties that devolve
upon US as members Of society. But
TO say that, because a man performs
any given duty, however humble,
through necessity, degrades HIM or
renders him less merritorious than
his neighbor, who performs another
duty yet more faithfully, is to say
that we still adhere to the monarchi-
cal principles of the old world.
Let the father educate his sol 10
some honorable calling, and if he has
predictions for any particular busi-
ness, rs is often the case, let him fol-
low it if it be possible. 1t is the
man that ennobles the business, not
the business that ennobles the man;
and not spend a thought upon the
distinctions in occupations, honora-
bic and honest, that fools have at
tempted to build up. Let children
be taught to be honorable, and honest
and upright, to set a proper value up
on the riches of the world, which is
only at best but a bubble, blown into
existence to-day to burst to morrow,
and to understand that the only true
and enduring riches are an intellect
duly cultivated, affections schooled,
and a heart that knows no guile.