“Have you ever found me unreasonable?” ticked my friend.  “Have you ever seen even my hand tremble, as it pointed out to you so many hours in which you have been earnestly interested?  I am not excited even by my own existence, and I claim nothing extravagant.  There will always be some things that we may not be able to make advantageously.  Absolute independence of the rest of the world is no more possible than desirable.  But everything which tends to increase instead of diminishing a vital dependence is nationally dangerous.  I think, if you will consider me attentively, you will agree that I ought to know that trade is everywhere controlled by positive laws; nor will any wise watch expect them to be long or willingly disregarded by the most enthusiastic patriotism.  Knowing that, we do not need to go far to discover why so many important conveniences are still made for us by foreign hands.  The immense and compact population of Europe compels a marvellous division of labor, whereby the detail of work is more perfected, and it also forces a low rate of wages, with which in a new country sparely peopled like ours the manufacture of the same wares can scarcely compete.  This is the great practical difficulty; but it can be obviated in two ways.  If a people assume that the fostering of its own manufactures is a cardinal necessity, it can secure that result either by the coarse process of compulsory duties upon all foreign importations, or by developing the ingenuity and skill which will so cheapen the manufacture itself as to make up the difference of outlay in wages.

“Then, if the work is as well done and as cheaply furnished”——­ticked my watch, a little proudly and triumphantly.

“Then it needs only to be known, to be universally and heartily welcomed,” said I.  “Patriotism and the laws of trade will coincide, and there will be no excuse for depending longer upon the foreign supply.”

“But the fact must be made known,” ticked my watch, thoughtfully.

“It certainly must,” I answered.

“Well, it is a fact that a man can get a better watch more cheaply, if he buys an American instead of a foreign one.”

Friendship and gratitude inspired my reply.

“I will put my mouth to the ’Atlantic Trumpet,’—­I mean ’Monthly,’—­and blow a blast.”

“That is not necessary; but as we are very near the station at West Newton where we leave the railroad, and as I have endeavored to show you the national importance of doing everything for ourselves that we reasonably can, you will probably interest your hearers more, if you give them a little description of your visit to my birthplace.  Excuse me, but I have watched you pretty constantly for two years, and, if you will be governed by me, as you have generally been during that time, you will not undertake any very elaborate mechanical description, but say a few words merely of what you are going to see.”

This sensible advice was but another proof of the accuracy of my watch.