Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1858-10-05
sTAUNTON, VIRGINIA. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1858.

on my hands that an hour spent in stupid listli'
ness 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 q
given time. Ny youngest brother, who is col
lege bred man and a lawyer, sent ME, at my re-
quest, fine collection of books Oh all imagina.
Bile subjects, so that my library outshone that OF
the parson or indeedanY other man in the place;
but found | had no more taste to sit down and
read than had for trimming currant bushes
Time was, after had finished hard days labor
at the shop, when an hour at books was q real
solace, and also believed an occasion of i'm
provement Then / envied those whose leisure
allowed them to feast on books perpetually; but
the mistake made was in failing to discriminate
between mental habits and requirements of the
professed student and those of the working man,
SIN this wretched condition did time at my
country seat drag heavily along Visiting Yves
perfect BORE for not feeling the slightest inter
est in such masculine topics DIS corn, grubs and
manure, and caring less for the feminine ones Of
dress and local gossip, i did not know what tc
talk about. Books set me to sleep, and not hav.
ing the society of my two boys, who were off al
boarding school, became fully satisfied that
"nothing to do" was equal to having everything
to suffer.
"My most delightful place of resort was 6
blacksmith's shop some two miles from the
house, where occasionally would handle the
hammer, and clang little on the anvil, but wife
making the discovery one day that my hand:
were getting griIny again, was obliged to OWL
up the 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 would sometimes ride past
the shop behind my prancing Morgan horses
the tears would start in my eyes at my being de.
barred the only employment which was in the
least adapted to my taste or capacity.
"But, Cousin Aleck, to shorten my story, wife
perceiying my unhappiness was increasing, at
last consented TO move back to town, and let me
resume my business. had no difficulty in re-
newing an arrangement with my old partner,
and hence here you see me hard at work, and
happier than the President. l am perfectly able,
in pecuniary point of view, to live without
work. but have learned to my satisfaction two
important truths: First, that we never enjoy
ourselves so well as when we are usefully en-
ployed and second, that there is no occupa-
ton on the whole, for which we are so well fit
ted, as that to which we have been accustomed,
and which has hence become to US, as it were,
q second nature"
was much pleased with the good sense of
s'my wife's cousin" as evinced in the small Sec
ton of his autobiography which he had given me,
and very soon after he had finished it, we reach
ed his dwelling. If his shop was dingy, there
was no dinginess here. The edifce was built
on the Philadelphia style, having large dining
room back of the two parlors and noble kitch-
en- in the rear of the dining room. The whole
floor, as we'll as the airy and pleasant bed rooms
above stairs, were probably adorned with bet
ter description of furniture than was owned by
the Governor of Pennsylvania. Everything was
in perfect order, and although the locksmith's
wife was somewhat uppish in her notions, L soon
perceived she was capital housekeeper, and
that my friend was proud ofhis house, and proud
of his wife, and proud of his two sons who had
come from boarding school to spend the vaea-
ton. | found that these lads were quite intelli-
gent, aud that they were both intended for the
learned professions. While one of them enter
tanned me with some music on parlor organ,
the worthy smith begged me to excuse him for
q few moments, after which he reappeared in
perfectly clean linen, aid O. suit of dainty black.
We supped at a table spread with the utmost pro-
fusion, and in the evening, some company COM
ing in, conversation and music filed up the pass
ing hour. / was deeply interested, and conclu.
ded that "my wife's cousin" the locksmith and
bell-hanger, was wise man, and that unwitting.
ly he had discovered the true philosophers stone.
Daily work was to him as necessary as his daily
bread, and the toll OF the shop only served to
enhance the pleasures and recreationS OF REIN
ed and happy home. On taking my leave, |
realized that had been taught valuable les
son: Employment is the healthful lot Of life, and
he that would seek happiness in state OF per,
petual repose, betrays a profound ignorance Of
the benefcent laws which govern his being.