CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

WHAT TO AIM A T.

Working Men's life not a martyrdom-Dark side of every life-The Times

on the miseries of Dukes-Burdens of working men, however, are

heavy-Providence encourages us to try to lessen burdens and lighten

the curse of toil-Condition of working men greatly improved-Their

condition in former times-Improvement in this century-Less gaiety

but more enjoyment-Improvement of their condition less rapid than

might have been-They should aim at improvement (1.) in SOCIAL COM-

FORT.-Individual effort-United effort-Health-Would enlarged wages

increase dissipation and recklessness?-(2.) In INTELLIGENCE-This

procures respect-Opens new pleasures-Increases intellectual wealth.

Popular education-Evening classes.-(3.) In RELIGIOUS AND MORAL

ATTAINMENT.—Importance of right relation to God-The Son of God-

This path the highest, and open to all-Luxuriant beauty of Nature-

Type of what should be found in the moral and spiritual world,

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CHAPTER II.

WHOM TO FOLLOW.

Is Christianity really a friend to the working man?—The working classes

polled on this question-Spirit of workshops-Hugh Mi'ler's experience

-Reasons for distrust of Christianity-Impressions derived from wrong

sources-From what passes current under that name-And from the

natural feelings of men's hearts-True representation-Christianity

claims to be a Divine remedy for all the evils of sin-Things out of

order-Paradise lost-Christianity proclaims the remedy, and provides

it-Unreasonableness of dislike and distrust-Specific benefits to work-

ing men―(1.) Steadying and strengthening influence-(2.) Protection

and sympathy-(3.) Aid in schemes for mutual help-(4.) Sunshine and

serenity-Home sunshine--(5.) Spirit of hope, .

81

CHAPTER III.

THE SWEAT OF THE BROW.

PAGE

Hugh Miller's reflections on his becoming a mason-Unpleasant aspect of

a life of toil-Temptation to break from its fetters-Blessedness of

loyalty to labour-Work followed by dissipation-Value of self-denying

spirit of industry-Mayhew on London prisons-Dignity of labour,

wherein it lies-"No work the hardest work"-Observation of Mr.

Mason of America on the working classes of England-Connexion be-

tween labour here and service hereafter-Example of Christ-Value of

steadiness and perseverance-George Stephenson-Anecdotes of him-

Truthfulness and integrity-Sympathy between employers and employed

-Sunshine and frost in a garden-Sunshine and frost in a workshop--

Sir Walter Scott-Price's Patent Candle Company-Spirit of Christianity

-The golden rule-Benjamin Franklin-Autobiography of a Working

Man-Specific counsels-Good temper-Value of prayer-Irritation of

others-Profane and rough language-Anecdote of Stephenson-Tyranny

-Spirit of kindness,

53

CHAPTER IV.

A FAIR DAY'S WAGE FOR A FAIR DAY'S WORK.

What is a fair day's wage?-Answer of Political Economy-Wages often

insufficient-Illustrations-Plans proposed-Trades'-unions and strikes

-Their tendency-Two questions, economical and moral-(1.) Econo-

mical Social Science Association's inquiry-Strikes, etc., beneficial

economically to a limited extent; but (2.) Morally injurious as usually

conducted-Their existence springs from uncomfortable and unchristian

relation-Often attended with persecution-Leaders often tyrannical-

Experience of Hugh Miller-Desiderata-" The men must become wiser

and better"-Improvements-CO-OPERATION-Origin at Rochdale-

"Equitable Pioneers"-Opinion of Mr. Hill, Recorder of Birmingham

-Elements of success and of difficulty-Views of Dr. Chalmers about

workmen-Dangers of a worldly spirit-Remark of Mr. Henry Taylor

as to money---Degeneracy of economy,

CHAPTER V.

MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR MONEY.

Importance of attending to expenditure-Delicate ground-Money wasted
on stimulants-Mr. Clay of Preston's calculation-Railway navvies-

83

Cost of railways in drink-What young men might do-Evils to working

men of want of capital-Young workmen should lay past something

every week-Relative accessibility of the thoughtless and the careful to

Divine truth-Miseries of debt-Its evils, social and moral-Counsels

for avoiding debt-INVESTMENTS (1.) Savings' banks-(2.) Friendly

Societies (3.) Annuities—(4.) Life Assurance-(5.) Co-operative

Societies (6.) Building Societies-Economy of Nature, and of Christ

-"Let nothing be lost,"

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CHAPTER VI.

HEALTH WITHOUT DRUGS.

"Better to keep out than to put out"-Ill health among the working

classes-Preventible disease-Causes of it-POLLUTED AIR-Philosophy

of breathing-Need of oxygen for blood-Consequences of want of

oxygen-Black Hole of Calcutta-Emigrant ship-Other causes of con-

tamination of air-Poisonous exhalations— Remedy, ventilation-The

bee-hive-Draughts-WANT OF EXERCISE-FILTH-The skin-The water-

cure-Food-Drinking-Proportion of diseases occasioned by-Effect on

the drinkers-Tea-Air, water, and light-Abundance of-Connexion of

God with disease-Our duty,
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CHAPTER VII.

HOUSES versus HOVELS.

Problem of houses for working classes both easy and difficult-How to be

solved-Devolved on working classes themselves-Importance of the

subject-Influence of dwellings (1.) on health-"The Potteries "-Ex-

tract from Household Words-Construction of houses in case of cholera-

(2.) On morals-Feeling of depression-Influence on temperance-Evi-

dence of a tailor-Influence on chastity-Dwellings in Scotland (3.)

On social feelings and habits-Influence of a home-Hovels not homes-

Effects in the case of women naturally tidy-(4.) On religious habits and

feelings-Remarks of Mr. Horace Mann-REMEDIES-Metropolitan Asso-

ciation and Society for Improving Condition of Labouring Classes-

Houses built by employers-Pilrig model buildings, Edinburgh-Reports

by Mr. Roberts-Houses built in Birmingham, etc.-Description of-

Great success of, among working men-Case of young tradesman of 22

-Helps to temperance-Investment Societies-"The house not made

with hands,"

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CHAPTER VIII.

HOME SUNSHINE.

PAGE

Comfort of a pleasant home-A great blessing-Neglect of the family--

Young criminals-Vast importance of family nurture-Influence of the

mother-Remark of Napoleon-Of Abbot-Anecdote by an old man of

his mother-A drunken mother-Described in ragged homes-Drink

destroys the heart-A good mother-Author of Pearl of Days-Clean-

liness less attended to in Scotland than England-Habits of order and

regularity-Franklin's rule-Training of children-Errors-Right view

of parents' duty-Bringing up children for God-Wide extent of educa-

tion-Habit of prompt obedience-Chastisement-Not to be done in

passion-Value of example-Spending of evening hours-Remarks of

Bushnell on breaking the will of children-Sir T. Fowell Buxton-Have

the best parents the worst children?-Importance of domestic unity, . 190

CHAPTER IX.

READING AND RECREATION.

Cheap books the progeny of the steam-engine-Taste for reading-Books

a source of remarkable enjoyment-Cheap books often hurtful-Objects

of readers, profit and pleasure-Profit should go before pleasure-Effect

of reading merely for pleasure-Cheap novels-Elements of excitement-

Love, mystery, danger, crime-Effect of such reading on the mind and

life-Effect of reading for instruction-Light reading safe when it is

added to solid-Danger of attempting to read too much-Standard books

bear frequent perusal-Working man's library-The Bible-Its value to

him specially-Commentaries-Other religious books-Church history-

Guide books on general literature-History-Natural Science-News-

papers and magazines Recreations-Social and solitary-Dangers of

social relaxation-Purification and elevation of social relaxation among

the great problems of the time-Need of self-control-Home pleasures--

The tavern,

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CHAPTER X.

HOLY REST.

Sabbath, Lord's Day, Sunday, all expressive names-Divine appointment
of Sabbath a blessing to working men-Rest demanded by physiological
laws-Effect of Sunday work; during the war with France; in blast
furnaces-Remark of Lord Macaulay, and of Burke-The Decade versus