THE STORIES OF MRS. MACNAB, THE STAIRHEAD BATT NON-INTERVENTION, LOOKING FOR A HOUSE, THE AFFECTIONS, DIGNITY OF LABOUR, HEART'S EAS TO THE READER. GENTLE READER, In preparing this Volume, containing a rather peculiar mixture of Lectures and Stories, I have done my best to provide you with a pleasant book, which I hope will repay you for the time devoted to its perusal. The Lectures contain not a little of the experience I have acquired in fighting the "battle of life," the aim having been to give an agreeable mixture of both head and heart, which will be wholesome and useful, especially to the young. In writing the Stories the chief aim was amusement. If they contain a few morals, it is because true pictures of everyday life must of necessity be full of moral lessons to all who can look at them aright. The arrangement of the Volume was suggested by the fact, that almost every night when I have lectured I have been called upon to tell a story. It will give me great pleasure to hear of "good readers" reading these Lectures and Stories at social gatherings. Wishing you all good, I am, GLASGOW, December, 1863. Yours truly, GEORGE ROY. CONTENTS. Friendship: its Development and Influence-Love in all its Stages LECTURE THE DIGNITY OF LABOUR, The First Great Worker-Adam and Eve's First Work-Adam's First House-Labour and Idleness Contrasted-Illustrations of the true Dignity of Work-The Russian Peasant-The Sea-side The Storm-The Lawyer-The Surgeon-The Mechanic-A Noble City, Edinburgh—The Requirements of a Dignified Life, Truth, Honesty, Temperance, and Activity Whittington-Men from the Ranks-Glasgow Men-Edinburgh Men―The Workman's Joys— Woman's Work-False Education-Margaret Hail-Charlotte— Marguerite-Florence Nightingale-Distributive Labourers-The Children of Genius-Noble Workers, Russell, Argyle, and Shaftes- |