ardon, my good lad; I had often serious thoughts
upon the subject, and I argued as follows:--What is the best profession
in this world of ours?--That of a gentleman; for a gentleman does not
work, he has liberty to go where he pleases, he is not controlled, and
is his own master. Many a man considers himself a gentleman who has not
the indispensables that must complete the profession. A clerk in the
Treasury, or public offices, considers himself a gentleman; and so he is
by birth, but not by profession; for he is not his own master, but is as
much tied down to his desk as the clerk in a banker's counting-house, or
in a shop. A gentleman by profession must be his own master, and
independent; and how few there are in this world who can say so!
Soldiers and sailors are obliged to obey orders, and therefore I do not
put them down as perfect gentlemen, according to my ideas of what a
gentleman should be. I doubt whether the prime minister can be
considered a gentleman until after he is turned out of office. Do you
understand me, boy?"

"O yes, I understand what you mean by a gentleman; I recollect reading a
story of a negro who came to this country, and who said that the pig was
the only gentleman in the country, for he was the only living being who
did not work."

"The negro was not far wrong," resumed the tinker. "Well, after
thinking a long while, I came to the decision that, as I could not be a
perfect gentleman, I would be the nearest thing to it that was possible;
and I considered that the most enviable situation was that of a
travelling tinker. I learned enough of the trade, saved money to
purchase a knife-grinder's wheel, and here I have been in this capacity
for nearly ten years."

"And do you hold to the opinion that you formed?"

"I do; for, look you, work I must; therefore, the only question was, to
take up the work that was lightest, and paid best. I know no trade
where you can gain so much with so little capital and so little labour.
Then, I am not controlled by any living being; I have my liberty and
independence: I go where I please, stop where I please, work when I
please, and idle when I please; and never know what it is to want a
night's lodging. Show me any other profession which can say the same!
I might be better clothed--I might be considered more respectable; but I
am a philosopher, and despise all that; I earn as much as I want, and do
very little work for it. I can grind knives and sci