brass dress

smooth

been made, the monarch said to him, "What do you sell, Mr. B—?" The honest engineer answered, "Sir, we sell that which kings are fond of,-power."

4. So, as we have seen, the power of a carpenter is in his hand; and the machines moved by that power are in his chest of tools. It is the object of every tool which he possesses to save labor and material, and promote correctness and regularity.

5. Without some tool, the carpenter's work could not be done at all by the human hand. It would be a great labor to do with a knife what is done very quickly and easily by a hatchet. The labor of using the hatchet, and the waste which it makes, are saved twenty times over by the saw.

6. But when the more delicate operations of the carpenter are required; when he uses his planes, his molding-tools, his chisels, his bevels, and his centerbits, what an immense amount of labor is saved, and how beautiful is the work, which, without such implements for working, would be rough and imperfect!

LESSON LXXXIV.

sim-ple
a-shamed

pol-ished

ar-ti-cle

ex-act-ness
del-i-cate

per-fect-ly

ap-pear-ance un-der-take

THE VALUE OF MACHINERY.

THERE

HERE is an article employed in dress which is at once so necessary and so beautiful that the richest lady in the land uses it; and yet it is so cheap

that the poorest laborer's wife is able to buy it. It is an article of universal use, and thousands are engaged with the machinery in making it.

2. But if the machinery were to stop, and this article were made by human hands alone, it would cost so dear that only the rich could afford to use it.; and it would become at the same time so rough in its appearance that they would be ashamed of using it. The article we mean is a pin.

3. A pin is made of brass. Suppose the most skillful workman to have a lump of this metal by his side, and to undertake with common tools to make it into pins. He must hammer it upon an anvil to get it thin enough; but he could not make it, as the machine does, perfectly round. Then his pins, when hammered out by hand, would have rough edges, which would tear the clothes.

4. But the simplest machinery makes the wire for the pins smooth enough for the most delicate silk or muslin. This is done by drawing it quickly through round holes of steel; and not only the head of the pin is shaped by machinery, but the points cut and polished, and the pins stuck into papers and folded with exactness.

5. This shows the value of assisting human labor by fit and well-contrived machinery, which will not only do the work quicker and better than the hand alone, but will do it at far less cost. The pins which are made in the United States alone, every week, would weigh about twenty thousand pounds. A ton of copper is used each day.

COMMERCE.

O man, however industrious or ingenious he may be, can produce every thing that he wants; but he can produce of some things more than he wants. To obtain those supplies, then, which he can not raise or make for himself, he must exchange his own products for those of others, either directly or indirectly.

2. This exchange between one country and another, or between different parts of the same country, is called trade or commerce. But this can not exist without labor. Something must be produced before it can be exchanged; and if a man produces only

the bare amount needed for himself he will have nothing for exchange.

3. The commerce of the United States is very large, and is a great source of national prosperity. We send to foreign countries the products of our fisheries, our forests, our farming, and our manufactures; and we call these exports. The articles which we bring here from abroad are called imports.

4. In 1860 the value of our exports was about four hundred millions of dollars, and that of our imports three hundred and sixty-two millions. In 1861 the imports were larger than the exports. As a people, we are becoming too fond of foreign silks, laces, jewelry, and other luxuries. This fondness makes us proud and extravagant.

5. The knowledge of navigation is necessary to carry on the business of commerce. A person who had not this knowledge could not conduct a vessel safely, even in pleasant weather; and, in a storm, would be sure of losing both ship and cargo. But, with a good craft, and skill to manage it, a sailor feels as safe on the sea as on the land.

6. This exchange of products between different people and countries, of which we have been speaking, shows the mutual relation and dependence which God has established for the human race. It helps to

make nations and races who are separated by distance acquainted with each other, and tends to unite their interests.

7. The duties which are laid by Congress upon articles of commerce bring a large revenue to the

Government. The laws which fix and regulate these duties are called tariff laws. In 1860 the value of this revenue was over fifty-three millions of dollars.

8. The expenses of the Government have been so greatly increased by the war that large taxes upon persons, property, and business, are now necessary. Those who love their country, and wish to save it from ruin, will not complain of having to bear their share of the public burden.

9. The resources of the United States are almost boundless. There is great wealth already, and great capacity for future production. Our agriculture, our mines, our manufactures, and our commerce, managed with skill and industry by a free, intelligent, and united people, will, with God's blessing, give us a large prosperity.

What is commerce? What is said of our commerce? What do we send to foreign countries? What are these called? What are imports? Tell the value of our exports in 1860. Give the amount of our imports. What is necessary to commerce? What does mutual exchange show? What brings large revenues to Government? How large was this revenue in 1860? What are tariff laws?

BLESS

LESSON LXXXVI.

BLESS THE LORD.

Psalm ciii.

LESS the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.

2. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: