The Columbian fountain., 1845-11-11
APPRENTICESHIP.

II should never be thought disgrace to
be an apprentice. If it be called bondage,
1t Is an honorable bondage. see but little
difference between the rich and the poor, in
this particular. All have TO pass through
course of preparation for after life. The
more affluent send their sons to school from
early youth, to the first stages of manhood.
During this time, they are virtually appren-
tices, subject to strict rules, which they dare
not ransgress; under continual fear of su-
periors; tasked during the whole day, and
sometimes for good part Of the night, to
the utmost stretch Of their abilities, the,
have but little time they can call their own.
Like apprentices to mechanical business,
they are generally away from home, and
the mdulgent influence of parental kind
ness; have to eat at common table, but
lily supplied with luxuries, and barely suf-
ficient in quantity to meet and satisfy the
calls of nature.
The difference you perceive is more in
name than reality. Nor is the toll of the
student at College, whit less severe and
laborlous than that of the lad apprenticed,
to learn any ordinary mechanical business.
1t is therefore difficult to see why the con-
dition of one should be less reputable than
the other, or why the common apprentice,
should be esteemed and looked upon as
an inferior to the College student. Both
are learning business, which is to prepare
them for after life, that they may be service
able to themselves, and the community in
which they arc to live. Nor can it ordi-
narily be said with truth, that professional
men are more important to the world, than
industrious and upright workingmen.
II is the lot Of every man to work his way
Through life in some form, for this, he must
seek preparation during minority. All
men come into the world alike ignorant of
either mechanics or science, and have to be
taught by those who were once as destitute
as themselves. Can that, therefore, be
deemed disrepuable which is the common
lot OF all, and is to prepare for the doings
of manhood, and the acquisition Of wealth
and comfort' The prejudice against labor
is as unnatural as it is unphilosophical and
wicked. 1t has injured society more than
all the revolutions that have ever occurred.
In becoming an apprentice it is true; a
man is put under the power and control
of another, but it is to gain power for him
self 1t is brief and voluntary surrender
of liberty for the sake of future gain, and
should be considered as purchasing what
another has to sell, at a given price. In all
such transactions, there are two parties,
both having rights, which each is bound in
all fairness and honor to respect. The
master is obligated to teach, instruct and
fulfil all his promises, and the apprentice is
equally pledged to reverence and obey.
There is however in some instances rest
lessness on the part Of the latter, desire of
freedom and independence before the allotted
time, wholly inconsistent with either his
present happiness, or future well being,
The indulgence Of this discomfort is most
disastrous in Its consequences. 1t shuts
out all desire of intellectual Improvement,
renders him who harbors it, constantly
sours his disposition, prevents
his faithfulness, and in some cases leads him
meanly to abscond. Among all the cases
which have come under my observation
where this has occurred, have not been
able to discover one that has eventuated
well This rash step, generally taken in
haste, is often followed by the most serious
and believe always by sin
cere regret. Such in general, have but half
learned their trade, SO that it is difficult for
them to find employment; are thrown
among strangers who feel little or no inter-
est in their welfare, and are therefore ex-
posed to misery and humiliation, thousand
times worse than that from which they
have fled, Add to these, the fear of pursuit
and detection, the constant sense of shame,