PROGRESS OF SOCIETY.

PEOPLE who take long journeys, pass through towns full of men and houses; they cross rivers in boats, and they ride over roads and bridges; they see fields enclosed by walls and fences, and the fresh earth turned up by the plough; the cattle feeding in the pastures, and the mills grinding the corn.

If they go far enough, they may come to places where there is no street, nor road, where the footsteps of men, and the print of the horse's hoof, cannot be found; where the rocks are covered with briars, and the wild animals sport under the tall trees. Once the pleasant country which we live in, was like this.

When there are too many people in the countries inhabited by men; when they have not all food enough, or clothes enough, or work enough; they suffer from hunger, from cold, and idleness. But they hear of the places where there are no men, which God has provided for them.

Many of the poor go thither, with some wise and industrious persons, to take care of them, and to tell them what they shall do. By working very hard for many years, they, and their children, raise houses over their heads, and get every thing comfortable to eat and to wear. At first there are no churches, nor schools, nor theatres, nor coaches, nor fine clothes. In time the people get rich enough to have these things.

Mr. Barlow one day invented a play for his children, on purpose to show them this; it was

called the Colonists. Colonists are the people who go to live together in a new country. Mr. Barlow was the founder of the colony.

er is a beginner.

Found

Profession is a man's busi

ness or trade.

THE COLONISTS.

"Come," said Mr. Barlow, to his boys, "I have a new play for you. I will be the founder of a colony, and you shall be people of different trades and professions, coming to offer yourselves to go with me- –What are you, Arthur ?”

A. I am a farmer, sir. Mr. B. Very well! Farming is the chief thing we have to depend upon. The farmer puts the seed into the earth, and takes care of it when it is grown to the ripe corn; without the farmer we should have no bread. But you must work very hard; there will be trees to cut down, and roots to drag, and a great deal of labour. A. I shall be ready to do my part.

Mr. B. Well, then, I shall take you willingly, and as many more such good fellows as you can find. We shall have land enough; and you may fall to work as soon as you please. Now for the next.

Beverly. I am a miller, sir.

Mr. B. A very useful trade! our corn must be ground, or it will do us little good, but what must we do for a mill, my friend?

B. I suppose we must make one.

Mr. B. Then we must take a mill wright

with us, and carry mill stones.

Charles. I am a carpenter, si.

Who is next?

Mr. B. The most necessary man that could offer. We shall find you work enough, never fear. There will be houses to build, fences to make, and chairs and tables besides. But all our timber is growing; we shall have hard work to fell it, to saw planks, and to shape posts. C. I will do my best, sir.

Mr. B. Then I engage you, but you had better bring two or three able hands along with you. Delville. I am a blacksmith.

Mr. B. An excellent companion for the carpenter. We cannot do without either of you. You must bring your great bellows, and anvil, and we will set up a forge for you, as soon as we arrive. By the by, we shall want a mason

for that.

Edward. I am one, sir.

Mr. B. Though we may live in log houses at first, we shall want brick work, or stone work, for chimneys, hearths, and ovens, so there will be employment for a mason.

bricks, and burn lime?

Can you make

E. I will try what I can do, sir.

Mr. B. No man can do more. I engage you. Who is the next?

Francis. I am a shoe maker.

Mr. B Shoes we cannot do well without, but I fear we shall get no leather.

F. But I can dress skins, sir.

Mr. B. Can you? Then you are a clever fellow. I will have you, though I give you double wages.

George. I am a tailor, sir.

Mr. B. We must not go naked; so there will be work for the tailor. But you are not above

mending, I hope, for we must not mind wearing patched clothes while we work in the woods. G. I am not, sir.

Mr. B. Then I engage you, too.

Henry. I am a silversmith, sir.

Mr. B. Then, my friend, you cannot go to a worse place than a new colony to set up your trade in.

H. But I understand clock and watch making

too.

Mr. B. We shall want to know how time goes, but we cannot afford to employ you. At present, you had better stay where you are. Jasper. I am a barber, and hair dresser.

Mr. B. What can we do with you? If you will shave our men's rough beards once a week, and crop their hairs once a quarter, and be content to help the carpenter the rest of the time, we will take you. But you will have no ladies to curl, or gentlemen to powder, I assure you.

Lewis. I am a doctor.

Mr. B. Then, sir, you are very welcome; we shall some of us be sick, and we are likely to get cuts, and bruises, and broken bones. You will be very useful. We shall take you with pleasure.

Maurice. I am a lawyer, sir.

Mr. B. Sir, your most obedient servant. When we are rich enough to go to law, we will let you know.

Oliver. I am a schoolmaster.

Mr. B. That is a very respectable profession: as soon as our children are old enough, we shall be glad of your services. Though we are

hard working men, we do not mean to be ignorant; every one among us shall be taught reading and writing. Until we have employment for you in teaching, if you will keep our accounts, and read sermons to us on Sundays, we shall be glad to have you among us. Will you go?

O. With all my heart, sir.

Mr. B. Who comes here?

Philip. I am a soldier, sir; will you have me? Mr. B. We are peaceable people, and I hope we shall not be obliged to fight. We will learn to defend ourselves, if we have occasion. Robert. I am a gentleman, sir.

Mr. B. A gentleman! And what good can you do to us?

R. I mean to amuse myself.

Mr. B. Do you expect that we should pay for your amusement?

R. I expect to shoot game enough for my own eating; you can give me a little bread and a few vegetables; and the barber shall be my

servant.

Mr. B. The barber is much obliged to you. Pray, sir, why should we do all this for you? R. Why, sir, that you may have the credit of saying, that you have one gentleman at east in your colony.

Mr. B. Ha, ha, ha! A fine gentleman truly. Sir, when we desire the honour of your company we will send for you.

EVENINGS AT HOME.

EXPLANATIONS.

Wright-right-write-rite. Four words of