The Pedler of Dust Sticks by Eliza Lee Cabot Follen
page 19 of 45 (42%)
page 19 of 45 (42%)
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living himself, and he also remembered what had been his greatest
trials in his days of poverty. He determined to save his workmen from these sufferings as much as possible. He recollected and still felt the evils of a want of education. He could never forget how with longing eyes he had used to look at books, and what a joy it had been to him to go to school; and he resolved that his children should be well instructed. The garden of knowledge, that was so tempting to him, and that he was not allowed to enter, he resolved should be open to them. He gave them the best instructors he could find, and took care that they should be taught every thing that would be useful to them--the modern languages, music, drawing, history, &c. Henry had found the blessing of being able to labor skilfully with his hands; so he insisted that all his children should learn how to work with their own hands. "My daughters," he said, "in order to be good housewives, must know how every thing ought to be done, and be able to do it. If they are poor, this will save them from much misery, and secure them comfort and respectability." He insisted that those of his sons who engaged in his business should work with the workmen, wear the same dress, and do just as they did; so that the boys might be independent of circumstances, and have the security of a good living, come what would. Thus every one of his children had the advantages which belong to poverty as well as those of riches. Their father said to them, that if they knew what work was, they would know what to require of those who |
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