Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1852-09-29
THE TWO CARPENTERS
Or, A story For Mechanics
NY sYLvANUs com, JR.

Charles Bracket and Ludlow Weston
were apprentices to carpenter by the
name of Jonas White. They were nearly
of tho same age-about nineteen, and
were both of remarkably good disposition,
and, withal, very punctual at their work.
Mr.. White was kind indulgent man, and
his workmen had no reason to complain
ofhis requirements.
Charley" said Ludlow Weston, one
evening after they had closed their labors
upon, a house that Mr.. White was erect
ling, q let us have ride this evening""
No returned Charles Bracket, as he
removed his apron. The answer was
short. but yet was kindly spoken,
'eGone, do" urged Ludlow. 1t will
be 4 abeautiful evening, and we can have a
first.rate time. Won't you go?'
al cannot Lud."
" Butswhy 2"
Z" Because am otherwise engaged, and
beside haven't the money to spare"
"Never mind the engagement, but
come along. and will pay the expenses"
elf ever join with companion in any
pastime that involves pecuniary expenses,
l shall always pay my share but this
evening Lud, l have an engagement with
myself"
"And what can it be, Charley ?"
Al borrowed book of Mr.. White, n
few days since, and as promised to re-
turn it Ns soon as finished it. desire to
do SO rs soon as possible, so l must de-
vote this evening to reading"
"And what is the subject, pray ?" ask
cd Ludlow.
"rhe history of Architecture. F." return
cd Bracket.
"Oh, bah Such dry stuff as that !"
Its not dry, | assure you, Lud 2"
"IL may not be to YOU, but it is to me-.
What, poring over architecture all night,
after working hard at it all day"
. " Yes" returned Charles because |
am thus enabled to learn more of the diff
ferent branches Of our business"
"Wrll," said Ludlow, with slight toss
of the head " 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, raftcrs,
slcepers, 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 mat
ter. Every man makes himse honora-
BILE in 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 the calling is followed. In looking
about for business that should give a
support through life, hit upon and chose
tho ono in which we arc now both cnga-
7 AL I ropO1H-oI ihOt |
would make myself useful in it. We
have something besides physical strength
to employ and cultivate : we have a mind
that must labor, and that mind will labor
at something. Now, physical labor alone
is tedious and unthankful but when we
combine tho mental and physical, and
make them assist each other, then we find
labor n source of comfort"
Really Charles, you are quite phi
losopher, and l suppose what you say is
true but then l should like to know ifit
don't require some mental labor to keep
up with the instructions of our boss? l
declare it keeps me thinking pretty sharp
ly,"
"That may be-" said Charles " but
after all, the only labor you perform is
memory. You only remember Mr..
Whites instructions, and then follow
them, and in SO doing, you learn nothing
more than the mere method of doing the
work you are engaged on. For instance,
you know how long to mako the raftcrs 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 arc
required to perform your work after Civ
en- rules ?"
al know that am to do it, and that
when am of age, shall be paid for do
ing it. That is enough" answered Lud-
low, with much emphasis.
{" 1t is not enough for me-" said
Charles. Every piece of mechanism
has a science in it's composition, and |
would be able to comprehend that science
SO as to apply it, perhaps to other uses.-
In short, Lud, / would be master of my
business"
"And so would L, tell you Charley
l believe could frame house now"
"such a one as you have been taugh
to build, Lud," ....
T." Certainly. Everybody must be
taught at first"
Z" True and every body may gain i'm
ProYement upon the instructions of others
by self-culture." .....
Then you won't go to ride this even
ing ?" said Ludlow, as they reached theil
boarding house,