The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1872-10-10

! cay there's q eapiial lesson in DC if
of the young man-ihe senueman--for !.
.isa true gentleman that was maraet
this morning; Tor, II fhe lad uo been u
heart and spirit good ard tfuc, he comic
not have attained his present FEosperl
ty.
DO yoa then, know lhe circaiostapoei
Of biz Iies
DO know it2 Why, I've know
young Richards ever since be was :,
high-iudicadng a space iittle above
bis knee as BE spoke. HE father aud
mother, poor soul, bad their triHls The,
are worthy people; but the bread uf sor
row and the water oi affection were APP
pointed to them, ! can tel you, IN th'
years that are goue, Old Sir. Richards
was a carpenter by trade, a steady mat
and bis wife was just the cheerful, pa
licnt, thriny body that makes a iresid,
pleasant to husband. But she bad great
troubles IN losing child after chiid tiIlhei
tender, feeling heart was well nigh brok-
en-. She lost an bnt one, this very MIR
Richards who was married to-day. And
besides these various sieknesses aud
deaths there were all the ups and downs
that happen 10 working mans life,
But they struggled ON and gave their boy
decent schooling; and they didn't spoil
him through, Of course, he was TO them
as the light Of their eyes He went to
work with his father, and learned the
trade Of a carpenter was, as we say, q
worthy chip of the old block. One thing
Iused to notice in young Richards, hc
necer uasted has egeaiags, lie was fond
ofhis pencil, aud his fayorite recreation
was drawing. There's few things more
useful TO working mau than StiR ciHi
the pencil, Now, ten or fifteen years ago
there was not the encouragement there
is now for working men and youths to
employ their evenings in this way. One
of the chief benefits observable from the
industrial exhibition 10, that they lead
men to exercise their skill and ingenuity,
and produce some useful or ingenious in
vention, in their leisure time, and not
muddle their brain with beer, or puff
away their thoughts in smoke in the pub
lie house. Young Richards had not
the privilege of paraking in these adj
vantages; be however, made good use OF
his time, deyoting Ii to study, and keep
ing himself away from all bad compan-
ions and drinking habits. But matters
didn't prosper very well with his father
trade was dull; and young Richards
thought he must 60 TO farther field to
try and better himself. No doubt when
itwas first known how fai,oir lleNas go-
ing, it was bitter pang to his parents to
think of parting with him. He had an
offer to 60 out, with several other me-
chanics, to the east. lie was engaged at
the wages of six shillings day, which
was not much, considering that it was a
very long voyage, and to land where
they would be subject to disease and
dangers ofall kinds peculiar TO the eli
mate. But it was the best thing that Of
fered; and il came just at the right time
and in his case, it came to the right
man.
The poor mother, no doubt, thought
she had reared her boy to little purpose,
if nearly half the world was to be be-
tween them. The ocean which divided
her from her only son was as great a
source of grief as the graves Of her other
children. But, if nature put this feeling
into her heart, grace helped her to over
come It. The parents gave their boy
their blessing, and sustained him by their
prayers What's that poet says some
where about: H
wan a thought from Indus to the Pole
why bless you, friend Prayer watts
thoughts right up TO the Throne of
God
know il said |, softly, as the old man
in his ardor, lifted his hat reverently, and
paused moment before he continued.
The first yearwas weary time--a try
ing weary time for the parents; they had
need of faith, for vain was the help of
man in their anxiety. And the first year
was time Of great trial TO young Rich
ards; all was SO strange, that no doubt
there were moments when he pined for
his native land, and l.ought Of the old
folks at home with a sore heart. But ha
was man Of aelion and the best cure for
melancholy that know Of il work. SO
with brave aud cheerful spirit, and
showing in a heathen land what right
noble fellow Christian British work
man is-he got noticed and liked by
everyone. Well, il 50 happened that the
rich native Of certain great town, where
a good deal OF tea comes fr0m-I can't
rightly get my tongue round those ont
landish places--ther rich native merchants
as said wanted fresh water brought into
their city and they bad so far initiated
English customs that they offered prize
for the best plan Of water works.
1t was a very handsome prize, not less
than 1900 Of our money. Young Rich.
ards heard Of il, As did al the English
residents, engineers, mechanics, and 9TH
ors; il was open to.general competitions
Il was now that young Richards felt th
benefits arising from the jadicioas em
ployment of bis leisnre hours IN study
aud mental improvement, wilhelm Rag
land He set 10 work and carefully sur.
yeyed the district; made himself fully ac-
qualntcd with llle difficulties 70 be over