LABOUR
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It is part of the arrangements of Providence, that every man should labor in some way or other; that either with his brain, or by means of his bone and muscle — he should bring out all the capabilities that are in him; that, in short, he should prove himself a man.
If we needed proof of this, we might find it in the fact that man, when he first comes into the world, is the most helpless of all animals. They are more or less fitted to enter at once on their life. The bird finds himself clothed with feathers, the sheep with wool, the dog with hair, without any thought or exertion on their part. Man, on the contrary, must provide himself with clothing; he must, by hunting, fishing, or labor of some sort, procure food for himself. We see that he is compelled to labor, if he is to stay upon the earth at all.
Thus there is no escape from it: we must work, or accept the alternative — die! To many people, this appears to be a grievance, or injustice. Have they ever asked themselves the question, whether it is really so? — whether their opinion is sound or unsound? Until they have done that, they have no right to complain.
But what is the fact? The answer is, that labor is not a curse, but a blessing; that the necessity under which we all lie to exert ourselves, is a something for which we have to be thankful. Consider only: what would we be without labor? Look at those countries which produce the fruits of the earth with scarcely any toil or trouble; the people are not only indolent, but they are incapable of exertion. Their faculties are, as it were, benumbed. They lack manhood; and not unfrequently have no spirit of greatness or generosity. The more nature does for them — the less will they do for themselves. Like the boys who bribe their more diligent schoolmates to help them with their tasks — they are always at the bottom of the class. Nothing short of an earthquake will rouse them; and then they will rush out into the streets and pray to the saints, instead of trying to prop the falling walls. If they would work as well as pray — it would be all the better for them. Constant summer is very pleasant; but if constant summer makes people lazy, they might do well to try the effect of a winter.
On the contrary, look at countries where it is not always summer; where frost and snow, and fog and cloud, come at times to alter the face of nature or the state of the atmosphere. What a manly, vigorous race the natives are! They have to bestir themselves stoutly, if they wish to live with ease or comfort. To what do we owe our roads, canals, bridges, railways, telegraphs, and other great constructions? To labor. Labor provided the means; and hand-labor, directed by brain-labor, wrought the work. Had labor not been going on for hundreds of years within our borders, it is very certain that we would not be in the position that we now are. Labor has been brought to such a pitch that, though we cannot have perpetual summer, we can have, of course, as it pleases Providence, perpetual comfort. And what is more, our faculties are developed, our abilities are made the most of, and there is no enterprise too great for us to undertake.
Labor being a good on a great scale, it follows that it is a good on a small scale. If a whole nation is benefitted, so is each individual of the whole benefitted also. What polishing is to the diamond, such is labor to the man. Labor leads on from thought to thought, from endeavor to endeavor — each advance being but the step towards another. Perfection is the object aimed at; and, as far as is permitted to human skill and ingenuity, many of the results of our labor are perfect.
It is not to be denied that, in certain cases and conditions of society, men may have to labor too much; but this fact does not disprove the other fact, that a man cannot labor without being the better for it. Occupation, whether of body or mind, is, far more than many of us are willing to believe — a prime means of happiness. Do you doubt the fact? Look well at the first person you see who has really nothing to do; the chances are a thousand to one, that you will find him to be in some way or other a very miserable being.
Many who read these lines will remember times when they have risen in the morning weary and dispirited, when life seemed to have no relish. But, being obliged to work, they have found as the work went on, that the cloud which hung about their minds disappeared, that cheerfulness and hope came back again; and still as they continued, so did their contentment increase. There is great virtue in labor; it is a noble means of exercise; and Plato, the philosopher, said that exercise would almost cure a guilty conscience.
"In all labor there is profit," says the wise man. Of course, he meant honest labor; and the man who does his duty honestly and diligently in his vocation, steadily following up the duty which lies immediately before him, such a one adds worth to his character and dignity to his manhood, and, while promoting his own interests, subserves the welfare of others.
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