does, and ten years away from those trial-days, as I stood by his roaring fire, seven grimy workers were scintillating that old shop with flying bits of molten metal, upon whose labor he made a net profit of over three thousand dollars a year."

The product of the mechanic ranks in usefulness and necessity with that of the farmer. As before noted, the two are bound in interest by bonds almost, if not altogether, inseparable. The hammer of the mechanic is in almost as constant use as the farming implement. All are alike producers, the one class directly from land and labor, the other using the products of the land and labor, and in turn putting labor upon them to produce new results. These constituents of society are strong and important arms in the body politic.

The higher grades of mechanism call into vigorous action great scientific requirements and wide practical knowledge. Works for the mechanic's hand are marked out by intellect, often by genius. Thus pyramids have been raised, cities walled and fortified, water highways thrust through desert lands, antipodes brought into communion, iron ships sent out to plow the sea without sail and in the teeth of the gales, and "iron horses" driven over all the civilized lands with their mighty loads of life and property; and finally the telegraph and the telephone devised to facilitate the intercourse of man with man, across land and sea. Genius has devised all these wonderful things within

her teeming brain, and mechanism has but embodied in visible, useful form its vivid imaginings and profound calculations.

As a money-making employment, mechanical products resolve themselves into two branches - completed results, and the manual labor that produces results. Money received for the former goes to the employer, for the latter to the employee. It is not easy, even after careful investigation and taking everything into account, to determine which of the two really accumulates the most money in certain cases. This is no doubt a startling suggestion, since any one would say at once that of course the employer would make the most. But let us see. A little inquiry and figuring will decide, and put the matter in its true light. As a general rule, good mechanics can supply themselves and families with all the absolute necessaries of life, and still save a dollar a day. They do not do this, because they or their families spend uselessly their earnings. If they spent all they gain, and the employer did the same, both would make money equally fast - rather make no money at all. But suppose the mechanic to make that is save-a dollar a day continuously for twenty-five years, and to improve it every half-year at seven per cent: how much would he have? By the tables, twenty-five years' earnings at one dollar per diem give the sum of $20,501. The question now arises, Does each boss mechanic on an average make this sum? Not by any means. The proposition then

is true, that a mechanic can make and accumulate more than the employers as a class actually do make.

As many opportunities for advancement offer in mechanical as in mercantile business. There are two great opportunities. A young man can rise from the hammer to the superintendence or ownership of a large business of the kind; and if he adds an adequate education to his skill, he can shine in the higher class of the engineers, inventors, architects, and sculp

tors.

The apprentice is to be considered in the next chapter. Let us suppose that he has been thoroughly grounded in the knowledge of his business, that he has gone through his allotted time, become a successful journeyman, and finally an independent worker on his own account. He assumes to pay certain amounts in expenditure beyond his personal or family expenses. He wants, must have, business. His sign is His sign is up, his shop open; no one comes. At last a possible customer enters, from need of something or from curiosity, and makes inquiry about an article in the beginner's line. Now is your golden opportunity; for by good management you can secure one business friend, if not customer, and possibly both, if you never see another. By your conversation and manner strive to impress upon him,—

First, that you understand your business.
Second, that you understand his wants.

Third, that you are honest and fair.