Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1853-09-02

much happier, for | knew | was laying til,
foundation for future good. Time passed ON
and my twenty-five cents II week kept coming
in. 1t was now a saw, then II hammer. thei
another plane, then new augcr, then bit
stock and bits, until in eleven years. hay,
not only collected an excellent variety o
tools, but | have drawn directly from my
grog fund nearly hundred dollars in casl
besides but the value of my tools cannot be
estimated III money, as have already showr
you. They are not only source Of grcH'
profit, but are also a source of an incalcula.
BILE degree of comfort, \ small gap in d
mans business affairs may seem triilina
thing at first, but 10 is like little hole il
the bank that confines the high waters of Il
lake. The almost magnificent stream will
be sure to crow frighthIlly larger, and unless
soon stopped up, the pure waters Of the lake
will ere long lose themselves in the neighbour
ing streams. | believe, my friend, that in
giving up MY grog, have not sacrificed one
single comfort. Now don't YOU think YOU
would feel as we'll without it Compare the
products of your gros money with tho pro-
ducts of mine.
Mr.. Holmes made no answer, but he pokcd
deep down into the shayings with his foot, rs
though he expected to find an idea there
Thompson, he said at length, | wish you
had explained this to me years ago
| was afraid it might offend you, for to
| touch upon mans private affairs is at best
delicate matter
Il know it-but Nathan Holmes is not the
man to he offended with his friend for kind
admonition and instruction.
well, said Thompson, with a look of OK
trcme qualification, it is not too late now tc
commence, and if ever You have an opportu-
t.,l., ,,l,-,, al
fifty dollars or so would he of any use to YOU
! will lend it to YOU with pleasure
Mr.. Holmes thanked his friend with mois-
tened eyes, and shortly afterwards went home
The next day he went to the village. but in
stead of bringing home his little brown iug
he brought home an augcr. and he really felt
proud when he found himself at work with
one of his own tools.
The winter passed away, and when Spring
came, Holmes found himself the owner of six
dollars worth of tools, and all from money
that would have been worse than wasted had
he not bought them But this thing opera
ted in many ways for good. Now that he
had the ability to fix up his buildings without
borrowing tools. he began to take il degree OF
pride in them that he had never felt before
lie built racks and stands for his farming
| utensils, reset his windows. fixed up his bee
hives and rooted them over, tightrncd his
barn, and during the rainy days, he found
himself with plenty of useful and profitable
work to do. His children never wear worth
less shoes now. nor do his cows break through
the barn floor, but he is Il happy. thriving
and contcntcd farmer. His cows give II,
much milk, his bees make as much honey
his trees yield as many and as good apples
his chambers hold as much grain, and he gets
as much money for his wool as does his neigh
hor Thompson and all this is because he
stopped his grog and bought his own tools
and left off depending ON his ncighhors for
what he ought to do himself.