COTTAGE COMFORTS

Introduction.

1. IT is my intention, like some other writers of the present day, to number my paragraphs, that they may be the more easily referred to, as occasion requires.

2. It is very desirable that the labouring classes of society should be respectable and comfortable in their circumstances; that they should be able to provide themselves with decent habitation, wholesome food, and suitable raiment. The happiness of every benevolent person is advanced by observing and by promoting the happiness of those around him; and in proportion as its population is thriving and contented, in that proportion is a nation secured both against invading foes, and internal discord.

3. The well-being of all persons, and especially of the labouring classes, greatly depends upon themselves; upon their own exertions; their own management; and their own dispositions. If any plain reasonable hints can be suggested, which inay assist them in the better regulation of these, such hints deserve to be kindly received, attentively considered, and cheerfully acted upon.

4. Many books have been written on such subjects. Some of them have been too expensive, or too learned for general use; and seem rather calculated to point out to gentlemen and farmers, how they may benefit their tenants and labourers. These are exceedingly good in their place, but they do not discourage a cheap and familiar work, like the present, which aims to set those people on contriving how they may benefit themselves. There are other works, addressed to the labouring classes themselves, written in a style sufficiently familiar, furnished at a moderate expense, and which contain much sound and judicious information and reflection; but in which are artfully mixed up many things of a very objectionable nature and tendency. Some things are put together which have no real, natural, or necessary connexion with each other; and some are set in opposition, as if they could not exist together, which in reality are in perfect harmony and agreement. Such writers perfectly well know

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this to be the case, and must be fully conscious of misrepre senting things on purpose to mislead their readers, and to serve a party.

5. From both these classes of writers, whatever may be met with suitable to the design of the present work, will be freely borrowed and brought into it. Those who mean well, will be glad that any of their remarks should be brought more within the reach of those persons for whose use they were designed; and the displeasure of that class is not regarded, who, while they pretend to build the poor man a comfortable cottage, would secretly undermine the very foundation upon which it stands. The present writer has no motives to conceal, no party to serve. The only design in this little work, is to bring forward a few observations, suggested by common sense, and appealing to the common sense of the reader. Common sense is a most valuable quality, and happily it is one in which the labouring classes are not deficient. If what is here set down, or any part of it, is not agreeable to common sense, let it be rejected. If that is the worst that comes of a book, no great harm is done. If it should in any shape or degree promote the Cottager's comfort and respectability, its end will be answered, and the Author's labour well repaid.

CHAP I.

Of Moral Character.

6. My design is, to treat of Cottage comforts, and the means of promoting them. Let us, then, begin at the beginning, and see that we lay a good foundation. This foundation can be no other than a good moral character; for it is in vain to talk of comfort, where there is a lazy, drunken, tyrannical husband; or an idle, slatternly, artful, or quarrelsome wife; or where their character for dishonesty, or other vice, is such as shuts them out from the employment and respect of their more opulent neighbours.

7. A good character arises from the cultivation of good moral habits. A man is honest, just, and upright in all his dealings he establishes a character for honesty; he is accounted a person to be trusted. He always speaks the truth;— his word is taken, nobody thinks of doubting it. He does

every one a kindness, as opportunity offers; he stirs up no strife; bears no ill-will;-he gets the character of a quiet, peaceable, and good neighbour.

8. When we speak of such and such virtues as suited to the iabouring classes, we do not intend any thing disparaging or degrading, as though we were recommending a meaner class of virtues—no such thing-the same virtues are suitable to all; without them, a lord cannot be either respectable or happy, but he may exist. A labourer, on the other hand, knows that his character is his bread; and perhaps it is well for him that he has this motive, as well as others, to influence him in the pursuit of what is right.

9. Such a character as is essential to the comfort and respectability of a cottager and his wife, should be formed in early life; for if once they are married, and vice and misery have taken possession of their dwelling, it will be a very hard matter to drive them out. The good qualities, therefore, which we shall speak of, are such, as it is earnestly to be desired that young people may constantly cultivate, and that they may have them formed into settled habits, before they think of settling themselves for life.

10. Those young persons, who a few years hence will constitute the great body of the labouring class of society, we expect now to find either i. domestic service, in apprenticeship, or in the house of their parents, assisting the father in his calling, or the mother in her domestic cares. We shall speak of such moral habits as those circumstances will call into exercise, such as will establish for the individual a good character in them.

11. Integrity is the first moral virtue, the basis of all that is valuable in character. For suppose one was inquiring the character of a servant, and should be told that she was acttive, cleanly, good tempered, and possessed a dozen other good qualities, who would reckon her character worth any thing if it must be added,' but she is not honest?" Well, then, let young people who wish to be respectable and happy through life, begin by cultivating the strictest integrity in all their dealings. By honesty, I do not mean merely abstaining from such acts as, if detected, would expose to a halter or a prison, but a nice feeling of principle, that would shrink from the smallest and most secret fraud, or act of unjust gain. Shew me a youth, who, if an account is made out, a shilling, or a penny in his favour, points it out, and returns it as soon as the error is detected or, who when tempted by companions to take some little perqusite not expressly allowed

steadily refuses to make use of the smallest part of his master's or his parent's property, without express permissior and I will shew you one, who possesses the first requisite to respectability and happiness. A person of another cast, who takes every little mean advantage that presents itself; who now and then takes a pinch of tea, or a sip of wine, or one apple out of a heap, or one penny out of a till, goes the way to ruin and misery. If a person surrounded with plenty, yields to such temptations, what may they not be led to, when pinched with want, and surrounded by a starving family? And if a child does not hold sacred the property of a parent, is it likely that that of a husband or wife will be more so? And, in the married life, what happiness can there be without mutual confidence? If property is disposed of by one party, without the concurrence of the other, or if even such a suspicion exists, comfort soon forsakes that dwelling.

12. I promised to enliven my remarks with anecdotes. Take the following, as shewing the value of strict integrity, both to character and success in life.

13." A nobleman, lately travelling in Scotland, was asked for alms in the High-street of Edinburgh, by a little ragged boy: he said he had no change: upon which the boy offered to procure it. His lordship, in order to get rid of his importunity, gave him a piece of silver, which the boy conceiving was to be changed, ran off for the purpose. On his return, not finding his benefactor, who he expected would have waited, he watched for several days in the place where he had received the money, pursuing his occupation. At length the nobleman happening again to pass that way, he accosted him, and put the change he had procured into his hand, counting it with great exactness. His lordship was so pleased with the boy's honesty, that he has placed him at school, and means to provide for him.”

14. There was a poor, but honest widow-woman, who had a large family; she brought them up to work hard all the week, and go decently dressed to church on the Sunday; she often found it difficult to fit them out, but though their clothes were so patched, that it was hard to tell which was the masterpiece, yet there was never a hole to be seen in them; and, let them be ever so coarse, they were sure to be clean. One of her boys worked for a gentleman farmer, in the parish, and one day his master said to him, 'Here, Will, are a couple of pair of old smallclothes for you, I know your mother is a tidy woman, and makes the best of an old thing. Will car. ried them home highly delighted, and good naturedly wished

his mother to mend one pair up for his younger brother; but she thought it a pity to cut them smaller, so mended one pair o serve Will for Sundays, and put the others carefully by. Nearly two years elapsed, and at length, the first pair being completely gone by for bettermost, the second were inquired after; the careful mother brought them down to repair, and on turning out one of the pockets, discovered a five pound note. She immediately took it to the gentleman, and said, with great simplicity, that she had brought back the banknote that was left in his honour's pocket. He thanked her, and said, he should never have missed it; he greatly commended her honesty, but suffered her to return home without any other reward, than that which she found in her own bosom, the consciousness of having performed a right action. She did not expect any other, therefore she was not disappointed, but went home very contented and cheerful, and completed her mending job by the time her son returned from work. Mother,' said he, as he entered the cottage, 'the 'squire wants to speak to you, and you and I are ordered to go up together in half an hour; what can he want of us? I'm sure I have done nothing to have anger about.' • We shall hear when we get there,' answered his mother, not without some suspicion of the nature of his business with them; but little anticipating the substantial proof she was to receive of his approbation of her conduct. Will having cleaned himself, accompanied his mother to the farm; in the hall were assembled, all the work people, beside two or three neighbouring gentlemen. On the entrance of Mrs. Coles and her son, the master related to all present, the affair of the bank-note; he then replaced it in his pocket-book, and took out one of double value, which he presented to the poor widow, and added, that both from the conduct of her son since he had been employed on the farm, and from the circumstance of his having been brought up under so good a mother, he felt the fullest confidence in his integrity, and should appoint him as his bailiff, to manage the affairs of a small farm, a few miles distant. The widow and her son, as may be supposed, were overcome with joy and gratitude, and the company present seemed disposed to divide their applause between the honesty of the peasant, and the generosity of the master."

15. " Joseph was sent on an errand to Mr. Russell's, the great linen-draper's shop, and had a pound note given him to get changed. It was just at dusk that he took the money; he wrapped it carefully in a piece of paper and as soon as he got home, he counted it by the candle, to see that all was right;