viii PREFACE. 



hindrance to any steady mechanic or day-labourer 

 that wishes to have one of his own. 



The difference between the knowledge obtained 

 from books and that gathered from observation, 

 is immense. In the former you are taking it 

 diluted or at second hand, at least. In the lat- 

 ter, you have it direct, with all its inspiration, 

 from the " fountain head " or great source of all 

 knowledge. It is superficial and easily forgotten 

 in the one case ; while in the other it becomes part 

 and parcel of your intellectual nature, which no- 

 thing can destroy. In the one instance, you may 

 become a very " book-worm " and yet know but very 

 little your mind " cribbed, cabined, and confined " 

 with the ideas, prejudices, and systems of other 

 men. In the other, the illimitable expanse of nature 

 opens its glorious vista to your enchanted vision ; 

 your spirit bounds with delight ; you press for- 

 ward ; you drink from the fountain ; your whole 

 being is saturated with divine impressions ; you 

 are grasping the sublimest truths and realising the 

 highest bliss of which our common humanity is 



