no families to provide for. You are therefore the more able to provide for yourselves. What have you done towards laying up a provision for sickness and a store for wintry old age? Should you live to be old, how do you intend to supply your wants when your physical powers are exhausted? 'Its time enough yet' do some of you say? Yes, and that is the very reason why we are so urgent in our appeal to you now? What will all the persuasion in the world avail when it is too late? Now is the time to do what you have to do for the future. Do then, we implore you, shew by at once becoming enrolled in some Insurance office, that you prefer spending a comfortable old age on funds that have been created by your own labour and forethought, to eking out a miserable existence in a bastile, a disgrace to yourselves and a burden to your country.

very

A MECHANIC.

HINTS TO YOUNG MEN.

ESPECIALLY MECHANICS.

NO. III.

The oldest library of which we have any account, was established among the Egyptians, by king Osymandias; and upon the front it bore this inscription"FOOD FOR THE MIND." This is what books were designed to be; and it is only when they bear this character that they can be used with safety. Aliment taken into the mind operates like aliment taken into the body, by assimilation-it is converted, as it were, into the substance of the soul, and imparts to it of course its own character. A vast quantity of the literature of the present day constitutes mental poison instead of wholesome food. "It has been estimated that the total yearly circulation of the unstamped periodical literature of the working-classes, of a pernicious character, may be set down at from EIGHTEEN TO TWENTY MILLIONS! From these facts it is but too evident that the masses are, to a large extent, recipients of this debasing poison." Besides English productions of this class, foreign works of fiction are being widely circulated. "Recent events in

France have shewn that French novels have all but dissolved the bonds of French society; and Professor Potter, of the United States, has shewn that there, too, the French novels with which that country is deluged, are the seeds of robbery, incendiarism, piracy, and midnight assassination. Now these self-same novels are filling England, and menacing it with the ruin of all that was once its glory and is still its hope." In reading books we often hold closer communion with their characters than we should do by personal intercourse; and "evil communications corrupt good manners" as certainly in one case as in the other. Many, however, who are alive to the dangers of bad company, are insensible to that which flows from bad books; they devour without suspicion everything which promises to gratify curiosity or furnish entertainment, and swallow poison when they should be taking nourishment. I cannot too earnestly urge you to avoid all works of this class it is not more impossible to associate as boon companion with the profligate, and yet escape contamination, than it is to peruse habitually works of a low moral caste, and yet retain high moral purity.

There are a few works of modern date whose materials are drawn from the living world; and which, though worked up by fancy to impart to them the interest of a tale, fulfil to some extent the office of history and inculcate important lessons of truth. But while these and some other peculiarities exempt them from unqualified condemnation and entitle them to a preference among works of fiction, still there is mental danger connected with these. "Constant familiarity, even with such as are not exceptionable in themselves, relaxes the mind that needs hardening, dissolves the heart that needs fortifying, stirs the imagination which wants quieting, irritates the passions which want calming, and above all disinclines and disqualifies for active virtues and for spiritual exercises. Though all these books may not be wicked, yet the habitual indulgence in such reading is a silent mining mischief. Though there is no act and no moment, in which any

open assault on the mind is made, yet the constant habit performs the work of a mental atrophy-it produces all the symptoms of decay; and the danger is not less for being more gradual, and therefore less suspected." Those habituated to the reading of works of imagination, love to move over the pages with railroad speed, and gather a harvest of excited enjoyment without effort: hence they feel a disrelish for such as require fixedness of thought and closeness of attention to render them tributary to their improvement. In my youthful days I read novels to a considerable extent, and feel certain that an injury was inflicted upon my mind which will never be fully repaired. Upon a full and calm reflection on the whole subject, my advice is-avoid such reading altogether. If you indulge in it at all, you will find much difficulty in restraining the habit within due bounds: there is a fascination in well-written works of fiction which gives them a magic power over the soul, and leads the mind captive at will; while every end to be gained from such works can be gained in a far higher degree, in much less time, and with comparative safety, from books of a different character.

THOMAS ASHTON,

OR

MEMOIRS OF A CHARITY SCHOOL BOY.

The object of the "Mechanic's Organ," being, among other things of a like nature, to stimulate and urge forward the youth of the present day in a course of self-improvement-" to shew what the human mind can achieve by perseverance"'—a few memorials of the varied fortunes of a charity school boy cannot be misplaced in its pages, seeing that they will have a two-fold object, and will act both as an encouragement and a warning. It may give additional interest to the subject, if we here declare that the history is not an imaginary one: -in all its main points it is strictly true, and there are many into whose hands these pages may fall, who will have no difficulty in at once identifying the Thomas Ashton of our narrative, with

a party who was but lately among their own acquaintance.

It does not often happen, indeed, that one person rises through so many grades of society-from the lowest state of poverty to a condition of unbounded wealth-as did the charity school boy of whom we write. But instances of a like kind are sufficiently numerous to encourage every one, whatever be his condition, to persevere in that patient course of self-improvement which will at once prepare him to fill any station to which in after life Providence may call him, and also enable him to seize with advantage upon every opportunity which gives promise of success. In this country, we may proudly boast that no man is shut out from honour, wealth, or power. Such are the privileges of the lowest classes of the community, that a child born in the midst of almost hopeless poverty, and brought up in close acquaintance with want and privation, may yet rise, through a patient persevering use of those advantages which are placed within the reach of the most humble, not only to a condition of ease and comfort, and even affluence-of which there are many examples-but also to a position where without presumption he may mix with the highest in the land-and be esteemed for his own merits, a worthy guest at the tables of the great.

Besides it is not the child only to whom these examples hold out encouragement, but also the man. Many instances might be adduced where the most brilliant success has crowned the efforts of those who have not applied themselves to the studies in which they have excelled, until long after the time of youth was past-where the artisan while toiling for his daily bread, has found leisure for mental cultivation, and after a season of unnoticed study, has suddenly come forth like a new planet, and at once taken his place in the first rank of the wisdom of the age.

And as with knowledge, so also with wealth. There have been many who in their childhood pressed down by the heel of poverty, have in after life risen from under the pressure, and arrived at a state of wealth, of the existence of

which in their early days they had no conception. These, however, were necessarily subjected to trials, arising out of their new and intoxicating state, and which unless anxiously watched and strenuously opposed, threatened to prove fatal to those expectations, which seemed justified by their prospect of

success.

In a town of considerable size in one of the Midland counties, about fifty years ago lived a poor, and as far as his means would permit, a dissipated man. The earnings of his labour, if he had been sober and industrious, might have secured for his family a decent maintenance, but unfortunately, like too many of his class, Samuel Ashton forgot the claims which others had upon him, and squandered away at night the greater portion of his daily wages, so that his wife and children were too often left half clothed and less than half fed.

It was in scenes of suffering such as these, that the subject of our narrative was born, and struggled through the early years of childhood: and it might be from the effect of the privations which he then endured that in after-life he was of that weak constitution, which gave way under excitement, and led to his early death. We must not, however, anticipate, but rather proceed regularly with the statement of the manner in which he was enabled to surmount the obstacles that lay in his upward path.

When Thomas Ashton had reached the age of eight or nine years, an opportunity presented itself of placing him at one of those charity schools which are to be found in most of our towns, and where the rudiments of knowledge have been conveyed to many a mind, the powers of which, but for them, would have been locked up in hopeless ignorance, Thomas soon began to take a pleasure in his lessons: his mind was vigorous and active, and rejoiced in the opportunities which its faculties now had of being called into exercise. He was not however destined to remain a sufficient length of time at school to be made what is called a scholar. When he could read and write, and had become acquainted with the first rules of arithmetic, his father took him from

school, under the pretence that it was full time for him to be employed in something more profitable-something which would prepare him for earning his own livelihood. (To be continued.)

WOMAN. NO. I.

HER DESTINY AND HER DEGRADATION,

Woman was undoubtedly designed by Him who made her, to act an important part and fill a wide space in the economy of the present world. Her form, her stature, her features, her beauty, her taste, her lively sensibilities, her mental capabilities-all indicate the important destinies she is fitted to fulfil. It is evident from every characteristic of her nature, that the wisdom of God has qualified her to bear her full and equal part in the great concerns of life. To these indications of nature, revelation adds its authoritative sentence. We learn that woman, as a production of the Almighty hand, was designed to be a help-meet for man, and thus to be a companion and participator of his cares and toils-of his delights and sorrows. And throughout the scriptures we find the most pointed allusion to the dignity and importance of the sex-to the virtues of their hearts, and to the responsibilities annexed to their condition. Yet how has woman been degraded! The superiority of power with which the Creator endowed man, has been abused with regard to the weaker vessel;" and she has been depressed far below her proper level in society. Among all nations this has been the case. savage communities her degradation has ever been proverbial: every menial of fice and drudgery is rudely laid upon her, and after the performance of the most tedious and irksome services, she is more commonly than otherwise treated with brutality and insolence by her unfeeling lord. Even in communities better informed there are proofs of female debasement and oppression. Throughout the half-civilized nations of Asia women are an inferior caste, made such by the institutions of society:

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indeed it is the genius of Paganism and Mohammedanism to strip females of those high and endearing attributes which fit them for the station of wives, and mothers, and mistresses of families. Subject to the caprice, lust, or vanity of their masters, they have few or none of the prerogatives of their sex, and are incapable of moulding for their good the beings to whom they give birth.

If we turn to more enlightened Pagan nations we find that great injustice was done to females. In Greece, the law of seclusion was the badge of female bondage, and the severe condition of virtue: to go abroad into society, or to shine in intellectual accomplishments, was to acquire a character of shame or of infamy. Among the ancient Persians, women were suffered to grow up without the discipline of virtue, and were treated as though the end of their existence was to minister to the voluptuousness of society. In Hindostan, at the present period, education is denied to females by the positive injunctions of the shasters: when married, the wife remains a prisoner and a slave in the house of her husband: she is not permitted to speak to a person of the other sex; never eats with her husband, but partakes of what he leaves. Such is woman in those nations unenlightened by christianity the evident designs of Divine Providence in regard to her have been frustrated or perverted; and she who was ordained to be the equal and dignified companion of man, has become the victim of his cruelties and the slave of his passions.

It is cause for gratitude that in the religion of the Bible, woman is seen as an object of transcendent importance, and that, in countries where this religion has prevailed, she has been in some measure restored to her just and endearing prerogatives. But, still, in the most enlightened nations, we think sufficient attention has not been paid to the vast amount of influence which is exerted by females in the formation of the character of society, nor has the regard to their education been such as to render that influence of the most beneficial kind.

We are not about to advocate the impartation to the female of such tui

tion as refers to the peculiar duties of man; but, we affirm it to be of the greatest importance that she be properly instructed in those departments of knowledge that have reference to her own duties: and that the care bestowed upon her education should bear some proportion to the influence she is destined to exert upon the community at large.

OUR APIARY.

NO. II.

INTRODUCTION CONCLUDED.

In addition to the remarks of M. Latreille, which are deserving of particular attention, may be noticed with equal astonishment the persevering toil and industry of these little insects in collecting the materials of which their beautiful combs-the depository of the luscious spoil-are formed with so much symmetry and regularity. A piece of comb five inches in length and two in breadth, contains no fewer than four hundred perfect hexagonal cells, and from a number of well-attested observations and experiments, it is ascertained that they will in one day, when the weather is fine and genial, form a piece containing 3000 cells, and many instances have come under our own observation in which they have collected five pounds of honey in the same short space of time. This honey, collected and deposited by them, is one of the most delicious substances with which the palate of man can be regaled-it is used as a condiment at the table and also employed in medicine

it likewise forms a beverage called Mead, and from the common practice of the ancient Britons drinking it for a month after marriage, came the expression-honeymoon. Many florists coincide in the opinion that bees are of great use in the fructification of flowers and blossoms of trees.

If amidst all their prosperity and unparalleled industry an accident befal the sovereign, or queen, and she die, the whole community are instantly in commotion and disorder, and all their labours cease; so completely do their attention and affections and their entire