It will be readily admitted that there are few branches of National Education so important as that which is concerned in teaching the young to use their means of living to the best purpose, not merely as concerns the 'getting through' of their existence, but as concerns their real physical well-being, their independence, and their moral eleva tion. Though the science of social life be one, the alphabet of which, at least, should be early taught, its importance has been, for the most part, sadly overlooked. Other sciences may be taken up with profit even late in life; but, for the vast majority of mankind, the science of living must be studied in the beginning of life in order to prove of any real and practical use throughout its course. It is with this view that the present volume has been compiled. It does not profess by any means to exhaust, in the form of Reading Lessons, any one of the topics it treats; but it does aim at filling the minds of the young with such a knowledge of common-sense principles as may save them from the disappointment, and often from the actual social ruin, which so many daily undergo from want of timely knowledge how to direct their lives. In this volume, therefore, I have preferred to give, in as popular a form as possible, a series of Readings, selected from the best known authors, on the subject of Social Economy. They are intended to illustrate the advantages, the duty, and the need of timely thrift, and to bring clearly before the young the best means of securing it. Difficulties and dangers besetting some of the best efforts now made for securing independence have been pointed out, and the safest methods of thrift explained. I have to express my cordial acknowledgments to the authors (whose names are appended to the extracts) and to their publishers, who have kindly permitted me to draw so much of my material from their valuable works. NORTH WALTHAM RECTORY, WILLIAM LEWERY BLACKLEY, |