The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1858-11-18


SO heavily on my hands, that an hour
spent in stupid listlessness about the house
seemed longer to me than day did. when
I had orders ahead for locks, and was
driving hard to get them finished at
certain time. My youngest brother, who
is college bred man and lawyer, sent
me, at my request, fine collection OF
books on all imaginable subjects, so that
nv library outshoDe that of the parson
and indeed any other man in the place:
but found | bad no more taste to sit
down and read than | had for trimming
currant bushes. Time was, after | bad
flushed hard days labor at the shop,
when an hour at books was a real solace,
and also believed an occasion o!improve-
ment. Then envied those whose leisure
allowed them to feast on books perpetual
ly; but the mistake l made was in fail
ing to discriminate between mental hab-
its and requirements of the professed
student and those of the working man.
"In this wretched condition did time
at my country seat dragged heavily along.
Visiting was a perfect bore, foI not feel
ing the slightest interest in such masculine
topic as corn, grubs and manure, and
caring less for the feminine ones of dress
and local gossip, did not know what to
talk about. Books set me to sleep, and
not having the society of my two boys,
who were OF at boarding school, l be-
came fully satisfied that nothing to do
was equal to having everything to suffer.
my most delightful place of resort
was blacksmith's shop some two miles
from the house, where occasionally |
would handle the hammar, and clang a
little on the anvil, but my wife making
the discovery one day that my hands were
getting grimy again, was obliged to own
up to the cause of it, and this to my sor-
row was succeeded by positive prohibi-
ton Oh her part from my taking any fur
ther exercise at the forge. After this.
when I would sometimes ride past the
shop behind my prancing Morgan horse,
the tears would start in my eyes at being
debarred the only employ yment which was
in the least adapted to my taste or capac-
ity.
"But, Cousin Aleck, to shorten my sto-
~, wife perceiving my unhappiness was
increasing, at last consented to move back
in town, and let me resume my business.
had DO difficulty in renewing my en-
gasement with my old partner. and hence
you see me hard at work and happier
than the President. AN perfectly able
in pecuniary point OF view, to live with
out work, but | have learned to my salts
faction two important truths: First, that
we never enjoy ourselves SO we'll as when
we are usefully employed; and Second,
that there is no occupation on the whole
for which We have been SO long accustom.
ed and which has hence become to US, as
it were a second nature"
| l was much pleased with the good sense
of "my wife's cousin" as eyinced in the
small section of this autobiography which
be had given NE, and very soon after he
had finished it, we reached his dwelling
If bis shop was dingy, there was no diDgi-
ness here. The edifce was built on the
Philadelphia style, having large dining
room back of the two parlors, and no.
! bic kitchen in the rear Of the dining room.
The whole floor, as we'll as the airy and
pleasant bedrooms abo9e stairs, were
probably adorned with better descrip.
ton of furniture than was owned by the
Governor Of Pennsylvania. Everything
was in perfect order, and although the
blacksmith's wife was somewhat uppish
in her notions, [ soon perceived she was
a capital bousekeeper, and that my friend
was proud Of his house and proud of his two
sons who had come from boarding schoo
to spend the vacation.
| found that these lads were quite in
telligent, and that they were both intend
ed for the learned professions. While
one of them entertained with some music
on parlor organ, the worthy Smith beg.
ged me to excuse him for few mome Dts
after which be rc-sppeared in perfectly
clean linnen, and suit of dainty black
We supped at table spread with the ut
most profusion, and in the evening, some
company coming in, conversation and mu
sic filed up the passing hour. wa
deeply interested, and concluded that N
"wifes cousin" the locksmith and bell
hanger, was a wise man, and that unwit
tingIy be had discovered the true philos
opbcr's stone. Daily work was to him a
necessary as daily bread, and the toll o
the shop only served to enhance the plea
sures and rccreations of refined ant
happy home. On taking my leave, | re
allied that | had been taught valuabl
lesson:
Employment is the healthy lot of lif'
and be that would seek happiness in
state of perpetual repose, betrays pre-
. found ignorance of the benefcient Law
which govern it.
f B9-"Sam, can you tell mo why N a
who has had his eye 'blacked' is like OF
of the colored racel'
IN Vt "a