ECONOMY. 
19 
are not treated like the humbler esculents, which, 
though they may be biennials, are cultivated only till 
they have perfected their root, and often cut down at 
top for this purpose, so that most would not know them 
in their flowering season. 
I do not mean to prescribe rules to strong and valiant 
natures, who will mind their own affairs whether in 
heaven or hell, and perchance build more magnificently 
and spend more lavishly than the richest, without ever 
impoverishing themselves, not knowing how they live, 
— if, indeed, there are any such, as has been dreamed; 
nor to those who find their encouragement and inspira¬ 
tion in precisely the present condition of things, and 
cherish it with the fondness and enthusiasm of lovers, 
— and, to some extent, I reckon myself in this number; 
I do not speak to those who are well employed, in 
whatever circumstances, and they know whether they 
are well employed or not; — but mainly to the mass of 
men who are discontented, and idly complaining of the 
hardness of their lot or of the times, when they might 
improve them. There are some who complain most 
energetically and inconsolably of any, because they are, 
as they say, doing their duty. I also have in my mind 
that seemingly wealthy, but most terribly impoverished 
class of all, who have accumulated dross, but know not 
how to use it, or get rid of it, and thus have forged 
their own golden or silver fetters. 
If I should attempt to tell how I have desired to 
spend my life in years past, it would probably surprise 
those of my readers who are somewhat acquainted with 
its actual history; it would certainly astonish those who 
