188 USEFUL KNOWLEDGE. 



not proceed from the dainty, skilled fingers of women. 

 Many men are unaware of the abilities they possess, 

 until they are forced to utilise them ; but, when 

 thrown on their own resources, with no one to 

 perform for them the minor details of life, it is 

 wonderful how soon they become perfect masters 

 of such an art as that of sewing. This explains, I 

 suppose, why sailors are always so handy, their 

 protracted absence from home forcing them to acquire 

 those useful accomplishments which in general are 

 only possessed by women. No sort of knowledge is 

 a burthen, and, therefore, I always make it a rule to 

 get an insight into all that falls under my observa- 

 tion ; and I should advise others to do the same. 

 He that can put a sole upon his boot, or a shoe upon 

 his horse, is a far more desirable travelling-companion 

 than he who must limp along for want of the former, 

 or lame his horse and impede the journey because he 

 has not the skill to do the latter. 



If the severe weather continued much longer, 

 we should soon have begun to believe that summer 

 was never coming. Cold does not signify much, if 

 the atmosphere is still, for exercise and clothing will 

 then keep a man warm ; but when the icy blast is 

 sufficiently strong to be felt through the thickest 

 covering, the animal heat of the body is soon over- 

 powered. Wind and cold, which are comparatively 

 harmless when separate, do all the mischief when 

 combined. 



I listened with curiosity one day to these men 



