Learn A Trade

l never looK at my oíd steel eomposing rule that I do not bïess myself that, ! while my strengtli lasts, I am not at the [ mercy of the world. If my pen is not i wanted, I can go back to the type-case and be snre to flnd work; for I learnod ■ the printer'a trade thoroughly - paper-work, job-work, book-work, and ! press-work. I am glad I have a good trade. It is a rock pon whioh the . sesssor eau stand firmly. There is health and vigor for both body and mind in an honest trade. It is the strongost and j Bureat part of tlie self-made man. Go from the academy to the printing office, or the artisan's bencli, or, if you please, to the farm - for, to be snre, tnie farming is a trade, and a grand one at that. Laytlrasa sure foundation, and af ter that bramen off into whatever proff ssion you please. You have heard, perhaps, of the clerk wbo had fuithfnlly served Stephen Girard fvoni boyhood to manbood, ün the twenty-first auniversary of his birtliday, he went to his inaster and told liim his time was up and he csrtainly expected important promotion in the merchant's service. Uut Stephen Girard said to him : ".Very well, now go and lcurn a rade." "What trade, sir ?" ' ' Good bárrela and butts must be in iemand while you live. Go and learn the cooper's trade and when you have made a perfect barrel bring it to me." The young man went away and learnod the trade, and in time brought to liis old mask'r a splcndid barrel of his own mako. Gii-ard examined it, and gave the maker two thousand dollars for it, and then said to him : ' ' Now, sir, I want you in my countingroom; but henceforth you will not be dopendent upon the whim of Stephen Girard. Let what will come, you have a good trade always in reserve. The young man saw the wisdom and understood. Years ago, when the middle-aged men of to-day v,-eve boys, Ilorace Greeley wrote : " It is n great source of consolation to us that when the public shall be tired of ns as an editor, we can mako a satisfactorylivelihoodat setting type or farming ; so that while our trengtli laste, ten thousand blockheads, taking offeuse at some article they do not understiind, could not drive us into the poorhouso. " Añd so may a man breóme tnily iadèpendent.