PENSYLVANIA 103 



out of poverty or in the hope at least of finding better 

 fortune, able to grow rich with less trouble. Many of 

 them, indeed very many of them, have seen their de- 

 sires fulfilled, although at first they were obliged to 

 bind themselves out for a term of years so as to pay 

 the cost of the voyage, if, as it often happened, they 

 did not bring with them property in that amount. From 

 very insignificant beginnings the most of them have 

 come to good circumstances, and many have grown 

 rich. For here the poor man who is industrious finds 

 opportunities enough for gain, and there is no excuse 

 for the slothful. Where a German settles, there com- 

 monly are seen industry and economy, more than with 

 others, all things equal his house is better-built and 

 warmer, his land is better fenced, he has a better gar- 

 den, and his stabling is especially superior; everything 

 about his farm shows order and good management in 

 all that concerns the care of the land. The Germans 

 are known throughout America as an industrious 

 people, but particularly those of them that come over 

 from Europe, and in all the provinces it is desired 

 that their numbers increase, they being everywhere 

 valued as good citizens, and I daresay that Pensyl- 

 vania is envied for the greater number of them settled 

 there, since it is universally allowed that without them 

 Pensylvania would not be what it is. The greater part 

 of the German emigrants were originally of humble 

 origin and meagre education, nor have they or their 

 descendants greatly changed in their principles of ac- 

 tion. On the whole they show little or no zeal to bring 

 themselves up in any way except by small trade or 

 handicrafts or farming. To use their gains for allow- 

 able pleasures, augmenting the agreeableness of life, 



