The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1852-08-26
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Prom Gleason's Pictorial.
THE TWO CARPENTERS
OR,
Pastime Real and Unreal'
BY sYLvANUs COBB, JR.

Charles Bracket and Ludlow Weston
were apprentices to a carpenter by the
name of Jonas White. They were
nearly of the same age about nineteen,
and they were both Of them of remarka'
bic good disposition, and, withal, very
punctual at their work. Mr.. White
was a kind, indulgent man, and his work
men had no occasion to complain Of his
requirements.
Charley" said Ludlow Weston, one
evening after they had closed their
labors upon house that Mr.. White was
erecting, let us have a ride this
evening"
"No," returned Charles Bracket, a:
be removed his apron. His answer was
short, but yet it was kindly spoken.
Come, do" urged Ludlow. 1t
will be beautiful evening, and We car
have tirst-rate time. Won't you so !"
Il cannot, Lud."
=" But why Z"
Because | am otherwise engaged,
and beside, l bavn't the money to
spare"
"Never mind the engagement, Tut
come along, and pay the expenses"
" If ever | join with companion in
any pastime that involves pecuniary ex-
pense, l shall always pay my share ;
but this evening, Lud, | have an en-
gagement with myself"
"And what can it be, Charley Z"
81 borrowed book of Mr.. White, a
few days since, and promised to return
it as soon as possible, so must devote
this evening to reading"
"And what is the subject, pray -
asked Ludlow.
The history of Architecture" re-
turned Charles Bracket
90, bah ! Such dry stuff as that ~
"It's not dry, l assure you, Lud."
1t may not be to you, but it is to
me. What poring over architecture all
night, after working at it all day :"
"Yes," returned Charles " because
am thus enabled to learn more of the
different branches of our business"
"Well," said Ludlow, with slight
toss of the head, f" for my part learn
full as much about the carpenters trade
at my work as l shall ever find use for.
don't see the use, after poor fellow
has been tied up to mortices, grooves,
sills, rafters, sleepers, and such matters,
all day long, to drag away the night in
studying the stuff all over again"
"Ah, Lud," replied Charles Bracket,
+" you don't take the right view of the
matter. Every man makes himself hon.
orable in a peculiar business, just so far
as he understands that business
thoroughly, and applies himself to its
perfection. 1t is not the calling or
trade that makes the man, but it's
the honest enterprise with which that
calling is followed. In looking about
for business that should give me sup
port through life, I hit upon and chose
the one in which We are now both en-
gagged, and when l did so, l resolved
that wsald make myself useful in it.
We have something beside mere physi-
cal strength to employ and cultivate ;
we have mind that must labor, and
that mind will labor at something. Now
physical labor alone is tedious and un-
thank ul but when we combine the
mental and physical, and make them
assist each other, then we find labor a
source of comfort"
Really, Charley, you are quite a
philosopher and | suppose what you say
is true but then | should like to know
if it don't require some mental labor to
keep up with the instructions of our
boss, now i declare it keeps me think
ing pretty sharply"
"That may be-" said Charles "but
after all the only mental labor you per-
form is memory. You only remember
Mr.. Whites instruction, and then follow
them, and in so doing, you learn nothing
but the mere method of doing the work
you are engaged on. For instance, you
know how long to make rafters of the
house we are now building, and you
know how to let them into the plates ;
but do you know the philosophical reason
for all this Do you know why you are
required to perform your work after
given rules 7"
WI know that am 10 do il, and j