Book Description

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1847 edition. Excerpt: ...of their daily toils creates the want of just such relaxation and refreshment as have been indicated. And let it be remembered that in our country even the poor man should cultivate his taste, because every poor man may look forward to the time when he shall be rich. Let him educate his faculties, that his ignorance may not some day disgrace his wealth. It is common to sneer at the mechanic, and to consider the youth who becomes an apprentice as degraded. This is very short-sighted. I know no class of society whom success makes so truly independent, or who in the decline of life have so much leisure as mechanics. Compare them, in this respect, with professional men. The lawyer or the physician, however wealthy he may become, finds still increasing labours; the more riches, the more toil. Unless he relinquishes his business altogether, he must do the work himself. He cannot send his foreman to plead a cause, or to set a leg; nor can he, like the rich mechanic, sit in his parlour or his arbour, and know that all his great concerns are well conducted by proxy. Working-men should look to this, and from the time when they first enter a habitation of their own, should cultivate the delights of domestic ornament. Among these ornaments, the highest rank is due to Gardening; including in that term the rearing of valuable trees. Children should be early taught that when they set out a fine tree, or insert a graft, they are doing a favour to posterity, and beginning that which shall continue to make others happy when they are in their graves. It has always been pleasant to me to see the house of the industrious citizen embowered in flowering vines and trees. And on Saturday evening, a season when so many forsake their work only for the porter-house...