And, in justice to my workmen, I ought to say, without the use of ardent spirits or ever having a side of leather stolen.

"A glance at this table will at once convince any one that the advantages of such an establishment are not confined to the amount of value produced. The labor employed directly or indirectly may be set down at two hundred men daily. The ramified branches of business and trade that it fosters; the comfort, refinement, and intelligence, of which it becomes the centre; and its final influence upon the growth and populousness of the surrounding district, cannot, I think, be too highly estimated."

After presenting much more that would interest the reader, particularly many valuable tables of various kinds, Mr. Pratt thus closes his communication.

"Desirous of contributing my mite to the industrial occupations of life, I have thrown together, in my plain matter-of-fact manner, only such facts and figures as it appeared to me would be of service to my brother mechanics; and if they prove so, I shall feel amply rewarded for the trifling contribution thus made to the general stock of knowledge-as the design of life is to be USEFUL.

This account opens to view the wonder-working power which has wrought such a change in the wilderness, and given to Prattsville its three thousand inhabitants, its three beautiful churches, its bank of $100,000 capital, owned by the worthy founder of the village, and doing an annual business of a million of dollars, its general happiness resulting from a love of labor which pervades all classes of its citizens, and its rank among other thrifty villages of New York.

It surely displays no ordinary foresight and energy to conceive and successfully carry forward an enterprise like this, dispensing its blessings upon thousands in the immediate vicinity of its operations, and upon multitudes more remote! It is a luxury at times, even for the student, to turn from the contemplation of profound genius or refined cultivation, to the plain practical man, whose business has been the daily round of hardy industry, yet whose labors have yielded an abundant harvest. While it is due to our numerous readers among the various laboring classes in this working republic, occasionally to introduce one from their number, eminent for virtuous and industrious habits, it is at the same time both in accordance with our original plan, and consistent with the liberal spirit of our Monthly.

Mr. Pratt's tannery takes the lead of all others in this country, both in respect to the extent of its operations and the improvements in the art of tanning leather. Every thing about the establishment bears evidence of thriftiness and energy. Order and harmony prevail among the workmen. The sabbath is respected, and temperance. frugality, and good morals are recommended by the worthy proprietor, and practiced by those in his employ.

Though deprived of the advantages afforded even by our common schools of the present day, and forced to pick up, in mature

age, here a little and there a little, to make up for early deficiencies, Mr. Pratt has acquired much historical and practical knowledge on the chief subjects that effect the interests of mankind. He asks for no higher complement than to be called a plain matterof-fact man, a thorough going business man, a working man. He possesses shrewdness and a great degree of good common sensea virtue of rare cultivation even in educated men. His success in business, the result of constant vigilance and energy, together with his fair dealing with his neighbors and acquaintances, has made him highly respected at home and abroad. In 1836 he was elected as a representative to Congress and discharged his duties in that body with honor to himself, and to the satisfaction of his constitutents. In 1838 he declined a reëlection to the same important station, but accepted the nomination, and was reëlected in November 1842. The active business habits of Mr. Pratt were carried with him into that body, as evinced by his well known efforts in making improvements in the public buildings at Washington, and the numerous reports which he submitted to the consideration of the House, during the term of his public service. The public as well as the private life of Mr. Pratt, we are happy to learn, is in the highest degree respectable.

Let us look for a moment at the elements of his success, and draw from a living witness motives for self-exertion.

ter.

Active industry has always been a prominent trait in his charac

The first time we met him we were impressed with the fact that he seldom loses any time. A gentleman sat relating to him some interesting anecdotes, which required no particular attention on his part, and to which he could give respectful heed, and at the same time accomplish something. Mr. Pratt after a slight apology occupied himself by putting his signature upon a new quantity of bank notes. Not because they were specially needed at that moment, but, as he intimated, to save time. The circumstance, though trivial, is characteristic of the man, and shows that he puts a proper estimate upon the value of time. It is by appropriating every moment of time, that he has been able to accomplish so much: This is, in fact, the true secret of success. Some men work with astonishing rapidity at intervals, and effect a great deal in a small space, but after all lose so much by habitual indolence, that they make very little headway, while others of less force, but by constantly applying it, attain unto eminence. "It has been my motto," says Mr. Pratt, "that to will and to do are one and the same thing." But to do, with him, is an ever present action, and his volition constantly keeps up that energy which has been to him the chief element of success.

Another important element of his success was singleness of purpose. Mr. Pratt seldom attempts but one thing at a time, and this he thoroughly accomplishes before proceeding to any thing else. To select, as he did, one grand object of pursuit and keep the eye steadily fixed upon it, is the surest, nay almost the only

means of acquiring wealth or station. Thousands fail in business by attempting too many things at once, or by turning from one thing to another before anything is fairly accomplished.

Generosity is another prominent trait of his character. While he has literally strown the path of the poor with many of the comforts of life, these favors have redounded to his own prosperity. Never have the poor applied to him for aid and been turned empty away. Even the stranger, when overtaken by want, hath repeatedly shared in his bounties, and gone on his way rejoicing. For the last twenty years, his donations to different benevolent objects, have averaged over one thousand dollars per annum, amounting to a much larger yearly sum within a few years past. He is, notwithstanding the profuse hand with which he scatters, steadily increasing in wealth, thus demonstrating the Bible doctrine, that the liberal soul shall be made fat. Mr. P. is a model of persevering industry, and his success in life only illustrates what may be accomplished by others who will make similar exertions. The healthful tone of our government encourages industry and tends to elevate the poor man who desires to rise to an eminent position in society. Let the example of him whose character we have here so briefly and imperfectly drawn, stimulate the young to make like exertions to overcome want and rise to the enjoyment of similar blessings.

THE GOLD PEN.

BY J. S. HARVEY.

The Age of Gold is at hand-he that doubts it can have no faith in omens. There are those who affirm it has come already -that we live in a golden age of avarice. I mean

so beautifully dreamed of by the ancient poets, in distinction from the brazen, and iron ages. "The Pen" has become golden! that instrument more powerful than the sword, more wonder working in fact than the enchanter's wand in fable-which has done, and is yet to do so much for human happiness-is now made of polished gold. Beautiful invention! Whisper me, Fancy, of what features in American literature is this predictive? Of brilliancythat is obvious: the sheen of such a pen ever present to his eye, will, by the principle of association, incite an author to polish his sentences. Of high artistic excellence: nothing is easier than to

write in a slovenly manner with a goose-quill; but now the perfect instrument will shame the imperfect work should a writer allow careless diction to flow from a golden pen. Clearly too, is this invention ominous of solid, pure, imperishable worth in future authorship. Who would write cheap literature with a gold pen? Brilliant powers will be devoted to the best purposes. How "full of meaning" the fact, that of all the implements of art or trade in existence, that of the author alone, is best made of pure gold. Hitherto geese could boast that they furnished the pens with which human wisdom was written: but a new era is dawning-this invention is its orient star! Am I transcendental? Let us then reason upon the subject coolly and succinctly.

A re

The easy flow of composition depends much upon ease of penmanship. Many a thread of argument has been broken by stopping to mend pen: often has the author from the interruption of nibbing his quill, omitted to point his sentences: but now, once upon the track, he need never stop till his ink-stand is dry; so that not a good thought can escape him if he once catch sight of it. Further, no fact is more striking in the psychological history of man than the change of associated ideas to concrete ones. gular catenation of laws and causes, has often produced less effects through reason, than has a casual association of images through the medium of the imagination. Granting that this has always been a prolific source of error and evil-must it forever be so ? May we not at last obtain advantages from the "unreal" that we have failed of extracting from the "real"? And may not this charming association of gold with authorship begin a revolution in its character that reason, conscience, and criticism could not effect? indicating that the golden age of avarice is fading in the west, and that of literature brightening the east? I leave to the reader if this is not good reasoning as the subject admits of; and as good metaphysics as Bishop Berkley's nonsense.

The patriarch of old wished that his doleful complaints might be graven with an "iron pen.' We conclude that was the Iron Age. An era of sharp controversy, factious contention, and paper wars, would be appropriately symbolized by the steel pen. Those ages are vanishing away-retreating like dark clouds in the east, when the sun looks forth and paints upon them the celestial bow. In future may we anticipate that brilliant pens will write sterling sentiments, and win "golden opinions."

"The Pen" is a metonymy widely significant compared with "a pen." Thus we find Scott metonymized under the figure of "the great modern pen." In like manner we speak of “reading an author," instead of his book; while the genius or ability displayed in it, is often, by an easy trope, predicated not of himself but of his pen. This figure will admit of subdivision by the use of a specific adjective:-thus authors may be classified as they of the gold pen, the silver pen, the iron pen or the steel pen.

Many a beautiful gift has never been given solely because the

would-be donor could not decide on a pretty or fitting selection. As this precious gem of art will solve all such perplexities and furnish an appropriate present for every occasion or any person, it is easy to infer that the epoch of gold pens will be distinguished for kind feeling and generosity. In those future happy days, when not a single adult will be found in the United States, barring idiots, who cannot read and write, we expect that these nice articles will become a kind of circulating medium for compliment and friendship. Easily transmissible even by letter, durable, useful as it is, he that cannot think of any thing else to give as a keepsake, will give a pen. Cutlery instruments are reported to divide love, and therefore unsafe presents; a pen would be a perfectly safe gift, and any person to whom it might be unacceptable could not deserve a remembrancer of any kind. That stereotype gift, a silver cup, precious as it is, has ill associations, recalling to thought a bad habit which the human race is determined to break off. Even he who gives his friend a splendid new book is liable to give what is worth but little. Mounted with a heavy gold case, elegantly wrought, such a pen will be an offering beautiful enough for a monarch or a president. Swords of honor, of costliest workmanship, are conferred upon fortunate soldiers. We look for a Golden Age when authors who have gallantly waged war against vice and folly, and done their country good service on the side of truth and virtue, will receive from municipal corporations, or legislatures, presentation pens of exquisite beauty and richness with appropriate devices. Like a sword to the warrior, such a gift will reward them for labors past and invite them to new achievments. STOP WHEN YOU GET THROUGH,"

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should be neatly engraved on the gold pen of every author and authoress. The greatest writers that ever lived have been they who knew what not to write.

A critic might object to this motto that the sentiment is homely, or the style jagged-that it embodies a meagre, mean truism, void of sense or poetry-that it would be as useful as a board put up in Broadway with this inscription-" do not run your heads against this brick wall." No five words in the language, however, convey a shrewder generalization of wisdom. The blunt emphasis of those two harsh monosyllables, "get through," clenches the meaning; and its plain old fashioned Saxon-English style makes this a choicer motto for authorship than the daintiest bit of an Italian sonnet in existence. To say that it amounts to an obvious truism is to express the reason for which I select it. Like the man who hunted all day for his spectacles and found them on his eye-brows, authors have overlooked this maxim because of its obviousness, and disobeyed it because of its familiarity. No one could imagine that Philip of Macedon would long forget he was a mortal man; yet so treacherous was his memory on this point that he employed a slave to cry in his ears daily, "Philip, thou art mortal!”