Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1858-11-19

proud memoty'of the locks and keys had
handled" In happier days and CON
mence a history Of my exploits in that
line, when wife would look as though she
was going to sink through the floor In
fact she wished me to keep a perpetual
lock on my lips, $50 far as our an ntecedents
were concerned with the key in her
pocket. But I sighed for the shop. and
time hung so heavily on my hands that
an hour spent in stupid IstIessness about
the house seemed longer TO me than day
did when had orders ahead for locks and
was driving hard TO get them finished at
given time Ny youngest brother, who
is a college. bred man and lawyer, sent
me. at my request. fine collection of
books on all imaginable subjects, so that
my library Outshone that OF the parson,
or. indeed. any other man in the place :;
but found had no more taste to sir
down and read than had for trimming
currant bushes. Time as. after had
finished hard days labor at the shop,
when an hour at books was a real eolace,
and l also believed an occasion Of im>
proVement. Then | envied those whose
leisure allowed then to feast on books
perpetually !. but the mistake l made was
in failing to discriminate between the
mental habits and requirements Of the
professed student and those Of The work
ing man. .... ~ -. a'-e
In this wretched manner did time al
my country seat drag heavily, along Il
Visiting was a perfect bore. for not feel
ing the slightest interest in such mascu
line topics as corn. grubs and manure. and
caring less for the feminine ones Of dress
and local gossip. | didn't 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. be-
came fully. satisfied that nothing to DO
was eqlal to having everything TO suffer.
Ny most delightful place of, resort
was blacksmith's shop some two miles
from the house. where occasionally |
would handle the hammer, and cIang
little on the anvil, but my wife making
the discovery one day that my hands were
getting grimy again. was Obliged to own
up tine cause of it, and this. to my sorrow.
was succeeded by positive prohibition
on her part from my taking any further
exercise AT the forge. After this. when
L. would sometimes ride past the shop be-
hind my prancing Morgan horses. the
te"rs would start in my eyes at my being
de0arred the only employ ymenc'w W hrch was
in the least adapted to my taste or capac
i'y. .' -. -"
But. cousin Aieck. TO shorten my sto-
ry. wife. peiceiving that my unhappiness
was increasing. at last consented 10 move
back to town. and let me resume my
business. had no difficulty in renew
ing an arrangement with my old partner.
and hence here you see me hard at work
and happier than the President. am
perfectly able. in a pecuninry point Of
view, to live without work but | have
learned to my satisfaction two important
truths first. that we never enjoy our
selves SO we'll as when We are uSeiully
employed and second, that there is no
occupation on The whole for which we are
so we'll fitted as that to which we have
been so long accustomed. aod which has
hence become to us, as it were, q Second
nature ." .' '''H- "''. 3" go -
was much pleas ed with the good
sense of my wife's cousin as evinced in
TIE small section OF his autobiography
which he had given me, aud very soon
after he finished it. we reached bis dwell
ing. II his shop was dingy. there was. no
dinginess here. The edi6ee was built on
the Philadelphia style. having large
dining room back of the two parlors and
noble kitchen in the rear OF the dining
room. The whole Aoor, as welI as the
airy and pleasant bed rooms above stairs.
we're probably adorned with better de-
scriprion OF furniture than was owned by
the governor Of Pennsylvania. Every.
thing was in perfect order. and although
the locksmith's wife was somewhat uppiSh
in her n)tOns. | soon perceived she was
a capital hOusekeeper. and that my friend
was proud OF his house. and proud Of bis
wife. and proud Of his two sons who had
come from boarding school to spend the
vacation. I found that these lads we're
quite intelligent. and that they we're both
intended tor the learned professions
While one of them entertained me with
some music on a 'parlor organ. the wor
Thy smith begged me Ia excuse him for a
few moments. after which he rrappeared
iu perfectly clean 'liuen and Suit OF dRin!
ty black. We supped at table spread
with the Utmost pro'usion. and in the eve
ming some .c0mpany coming IN. conversa.
ton and music 6'ledoup the passing huur
| was deeply interested. and concluded
that nv wife'S cousin. the fockSmi l. eud
bell-hanger, was wise man and that
unwitti'gly he had di<cov%red the true
philosophers stone, Daily work was to
him as necessary as his daily bread, and
the toll Of the shop only served to en-
hance the pleasures and recreations or a
refined home. On taking my leave. Ire
allied that had been taught valuable
lessun: Employment is the healthtuI lot
Of life, and he that would seek happiness