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A Sketch From A Note Book

A Sketch From A Note Book image A Sketch From A Note Book image
Parent Issue
Day
26
Month
June
Year
1847
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

I have sometimes thought tlinl the ftest eflusions o f brain are lost to the public, through the timidity or bashfuLnc.-s of t lio most rnfined and ntel'lecttitfl ixicn and womci) in llie country. Tliey understand theirown prodWlions, and aro afiaid of bcir.g snoered nt. Thougli I presuma nnt lo clnsa myself oilljer witli the intellec'.ual or ihe refined - yet, having sêen the building of alinost every nouse wUiyli now compones this great metropolis, I tliink I must liave been slow, indeed, not to have loarned somotliinR from fhfi oxpprience of men and manners of ihe last hall' century ; besid';s, I tliink it the duly of every man and womau wlio knows anv thing whereby '.hey may benefit their fel - lows, to say so. So much for an apology. In tak ing a retrospect while I sat in my door, in the coo] of the day, I thouglit were I to live my life over ngain, I would jus! manage my treaty of pcacc with ihe lasses in the same mode and form whicli I pursued fifty years ago ; therelbre, Í will describe the proces., nnd say untu thee - "go thou nnd do likewise." When I emerged f rom the hut wherein I firsl drew breath, '-I looked on the daughlors of men anl saw that thoy were fair;" 1 resolved ihat as sonn as l could earn one shilling sterling (2ï cenlsj1 ier day, I would entet inio co-partnership for üfe with one of these beautiful artic'es. VVIrnt God makes beautiful is for man to admire. Perceiving Ly statislical tables that ihe God of paturé sent the same namberof men and women annually into the world, I therefore '.hought itmustbo his law, that evcry man should have fifs mate at once, and leavo consequences and provisions for the future to Ilim uho hangs crea'ion on his arm, and fee is her at his board. It is forty-eight yenrssince 1 ratified that trenty of peace, love and amity, and n?ver, for one moim nt, did I repent it ; nor diJ I ever lac!; a loaf ín the pnntry, or a dollar in my rurse ; if God sent another moutb ho ahvnys sent food to fill it. With regard to courlship - it is the easiest thing in tlie world: love is tho languag? of nnture , tho veriest fooi, if hn can't pronounoe it, can speak it wilh his eyes, and women are r.ice interpreters. When first thinking of these important uíIuir-,1 resolved never to spend un hour ín private conversntion tvith any young woman until 1 was determined to take to myself a wife; and, in tic next p! ice, never to spend an hour with ar.y. except shc was the onc, above all othors in'lhe world, I wished to make my wife. On this principie I practised, and I prosperad, ïhere iu nothing lo bc gained by dang'ing aftcr sensible wo.Ticn tot a twelve month, talking unmeaning stuf?; woids without knowledge. Yuu misiake the sex, if you e.xpect to gain their favor bythismeans; .whüc you think thev are laugbi.'ig at your sraall wit, thev are smilingat your great folly. If you wi-h to gain the eteom of a sensible wpnian, (ar.d let me teil you that they have more wit, in general, than half the men) you must speak to her in the words of Iruth nnd so berness. Afier llirce or four sittings, ('as the porfrout maker saysj lell her your intenlions at once, like a man, r.oi like n blubbering sch'iolboy ; and f t'ieru is seven ounces of comaion sense in your carease, she willbe yours in one month 5 and if you behave like a man of sen-e, while you walk t igcther by ihc way, yoú f honey-moon will never wane, but grow brighter nnd briglitcr, till you put up at the last inn by the wajside - the grave. [laving now got mnrricc!, devote the leisure hours of your time to nourih nnd cherish your wife; leave polit'cs, whig and lory, to the pure democracy, they will make as many presidents fbf you gratis as will serve for a lile timp. ti thy cïrcutnrtaacea are easy, and tbon art fond of out-doors amusonicnts, let jour wife be vuur constant compinion - it is i nkind, unmanly, and unpolitc to leave her moping alone, while tliou art abroad, (inding thinc own pleasures ; if it s thy lot tocarn thy bread by the sweat of thy brow, wlicn the labor of the day is past, devote tlie cvening to tne cotnpnny 01 uiy wife ; if lliere are no extra cares to pre vent, walk together in one of llie boaulifal parks, or go to liear a lectura f whcro it is gratis) - thus you wil! learn somothing and make a long evening seem short. If thy wife is ongnged rrpairing tliy garmenls, or smoothing thy line, thon sit by the tablo (one candle will sirvo boiïi) and read to her the news of the day, or some useful book ; if children are to bo cared for, stay at home and do your part ; if one isfretful, take iton your knee and sing to it "Auld Lang Synej" if the other stirs i 11 tlio eradle, put your foot on the rocker - this will lighlcn ihe cares of your partner, nnd bring'a sinileonlhe face you ara wout to admire ; verily, in ttiis house tliere is peace- I spe;ik from forty cigh-t yenrs experipnee. l ninkc another ie mark, in wliich my pwperience bears me out. 1 say there is jnoro true hnppiness in the families of thö sober, industrious and intelligent journeyiiirii carpenterj in New York (and we tidve thonsandcj ofsuch) than is tobe found in (en times len thousand of the dwellers in Park Place, Leroy Place, Clinton and College Place, ar any other place whore men and wotnen tratnple on the laws of nature- luws made ly ihe-God of Nature, ' Le obeyad a penalty ncurTrfiough trué happinesdwclls chiefly wrtb all sober journeymen,for the folfowing reasons-Thecause, go w'ncre he will, lmving a saw, axo and hammer, he will find einploy tuent ; if work is slack in wintei, he makes boxes in his own house, for crackers, segars, and shipping stores. The -real comforts of üfe being ensily obtaind, he can live as wcll as those who are in gilc'ed palaces. Masons, and others who cannot work in the time of fros!, havo not this advantage. The prudent mechínio participates with h3 partner, in all the joysand sorrows of the farnily - the rich, having no thought of to-moi row, are strangers to the finest feelngs of nnturej their wealth procures il, tin a substitute for every {hing - depriving ihe child of iis natural right, and the mother of one of the kindest affections of her lieart. In this, tiie wife of the peasant is happier than the mother of a prince. I speak uf journeymen mechanics,because I knuw by experience, that his van!sand ca-os are less frequent and much lighter thnn those of his mnstSr. The former performs his work and receives his wages ; the laiter carries a load of care on ; his shoulders, and not the least is, where to get mon'jy to pay his men on Saturday. I think if every man knew his neighbor's iroubles, we would find that God has divii!ed hat are termed physical evils in a very equal ratio. The rich man has more thnn beart enn wish, buisee him in the interior of hls palace - (ake a glance at theroctjsses of ias heart - he is racked with pride, envy, gout, dyspepsia, and a thousand imnginary artificial wants whicl never visit the habilaiion of the poor. As I am sprak ing of young men of moderato circumstances, vvho expect, tind no doubt many of thein wil], become merchnnt princos to the next gcneration- I advisc you fo tako a wife, as the fk'st and best siep in commencing business. If your's is a retail business, if possible, have your dwelling under the same roof - and if l!:ere is a room at the back of the store, so much the beller. Have the door thrtt looks into the store, made of glass, so that vvhen you are out on business, your' wife can sit and sew by said wind uw, and see what is going on in the store. Never leave your .store except on business. Morse, foot, or hurdle races, fisliing, fowling and sailing parties will never pny your rent. Should you meet Vith an nccident, which ofien occurs on iheso occasions, ns getting a leg or arm brokc, for instance, your first exclamnlioti would bo - "What business had I liere " When }-ou ave out on business, hurry back to your store ns soon as possibie. Dou't stand in the street talking politics, newf, or any thing, except it may bc something wherein yoür interest is conceined. Forty-five years ago, wherr I f.rst eommenced tiading, my wife was my storekreper, my book, my housekeepcr, my cook, my every thing. One morning, returning from Fly Market, foot of Maiden Lane, 1 met at the corner of William and Libe.ty strects with a friend. At that timo Bonaparte was in the full tide of mansïrtugfiter, killing et lhe rate of half a milüon per annum ; that morning an arrival had brought news of his progress. We stopped probably ten minj utcs. reliearsing the matteh Whenlgot to my store I enquired of my wife if any one had asked fur me. "Ves," she replied, "Mr. C n callod in to pay his bil!, but wished to see yourself." That nigbt he clcared for Texas. Thus ï lost tliirly dollars by standing in the street, when I might have been in my store. - ?er af ter, when a friend wished me to slop in the street, "NTot here," says I, '■but go to my store, and you may there talk all dav il vou nlease." Again : as thou art only bcginning the world, therefore refrain from purchasin'g costly furniture, and flyas you would th plague all temptations to purchasing plate. Perliaps your wif'c attends a tea-wniter COmi ny at l!:o house of Mrs. Van Pelt Mr. Van Pelt is an old established, thriving trailer. On tlio table is a silver teïpol, sugar bowl ind tongs. You go to seo your wife home - slie looks sad ; and on the way she nevcr opens her mouth. Maving got home, she takes Ijer stand at
the glass while untying her ha:. Hef Inte i pretty face is now as long as a bean-pole. She looks as sober as i church mouse ; you are distrcssed on her nccount ; in the most soothing inanner you enquira what is ihe maller with your dear Maria ; she looks as if she had lost all her friend.s ; for one minute she wont sjieak, and perhaps she hegins lo cry. Now be cool, lake it easy, and acquit thyself like a man. Tho tearsare the grane shot which t'ne ladies a]vays tfnrry in ihc fountain of sparïling eyesj with it ihey mow down tbeir opponent as fust as did ihe ines óf Brfnapaita on the plains of VYgratn. We bafe wholc hog, hal!'-al.,-. mul half-liorse men in Tenncssce ;,,',:! Kentticky ; ihey w'-ll stand before . six'-baiTcl revolving pistols ; bui there is not tm men from Plymouth Ilock to the shores of the Pacific tliat enn stnnd the shot from a woman's oye. As 1 ndvised abovo, keep cool for a space, and say notbing; sit on a chítir near enongh to be heard ; cover your face with sackcloth, whimper and cry a little, just by iho way of galvanic sympathyi Vs soon aa she hears you cry, her tender lieart vi!l releret, and instnntly become your nnnfoiler. Now you wil] hear thal ibis muckle ado about ha'thirig was on!y u sinrin in a toa-pot- tliis liateful ieapot,ihis Bugar bowl and niük pot. "I am sure. Mr. Snodgrass, yon can ailbrd measilver teagot as well as Mr. Van Pelt can liis Wife,'! vSoc. Now another chrystal teer is rolling across her pretty eyes - ÜDii't look on theni- you'll be shot; for her s;ike, for your onmi sake, for the sake of the ri.sing generalion, doirt givt. up the fhip : draw close your chair ; comnieno1 a mild and soothing speech, sprinkled now and tbcn with some of ihe elogani extracis, meiaphors and epithets, with which you wcre wont to address your denr Maria itn days before marriage. liegin tlie exordium as follows :- "Yon kñow, iriy dear, thal Mr. Van Pelt has long been eslablished n a profitable and certain business- has made a fortune and is now or. the point of reliring ; whereas, we are only beginning with a small capital. I can't conduct my business without borrowing money ÍVom the banks - (bank dis'jounts.) When 1 borrow S100 from ihe bank, I pay seven dollars every year kiteret. VVere we io get the silver teapot, milk pot, silgar bowl and tongs, they would cost nearly, or may be, over 8"30ü. Now, the interest on $300 is -9-21 per anmiin ; ihis would b'.iy you n good slimmer and i goul winter hat, and a thousnnd limes rat her would I lcok on your pretty face under a.handsome hat, than to see you pouring tea from a silver tpa-pot to wet the tnouth of those who tniglit go home and lnugh at what they wou!. i cali our extravagance." I believe your wife isa sensible woman, and will relent al once. No merchant should buy platbtül once lie can carry on his business without bank discounts; but silver tea and table spoons I have fonnd in the long run to be the cheopest ; Brittania mntal .poons, being easily obtained, are little cared for, nndsoon get losl. I now havesilver tea spoons in my house, nnd in daily use, which 1 bouglit 4ó yenrs ngo, and Inble spoons which I bought 30 years ogo- but my wife ahvnvs counted thcm when they went into ihe kitehen - had them hroughi up anH put ín lier own hands - tlvis we i,nc lost only ono íea-spoon siiice ve coramenced house keeping. Now, ladies, lilis is the way to keep house. - Nursing wooly French puppies, gingling half t'ie day on a piano, and running round to mak e calis, wil! never inake your husbar.d rich.

Article

Subjects
Signal of Liberty
Old News