Sanders' Union Fourth Reader Part 38

2. Ho, ye who till the stubborn soil, Whose hard hands guide the plow, Who bend beneath the summer sun, With burning cheek and brow!--Ye deem the curse still clings to earth From olden time till now; But, while ye feel 'tis hard to toil And labor all day through, Remember, it is harder still _To have no work to do_!

3. Ho, ye who plow the sea's blue field, Who ride the restless wave, Beneath whose gallant vessel's keel There lies a yawning grave, Around whose bark the wint'ry winds Like fiends of fury rave!--Oh, while ye feel 'tis hard to toil And labor long hours through, Remember, it is harder still _To have no work to do!_ 4 Ho, ye upon whose fevered cheeks The hectic glow is bright, Whose mental toil wears out the day, And half the weary night, Who labor for the souls of men, Champions of truth and right!--Although ye feel your toil is hard, Even with this glorious view, Remember, it is harder still _To have no work to do!_ 5. Ho, all who labor,--all who strive Ye wield a lofty power; Do with your might, do with your strength, Fill every golden hour! The glorious privilege _to do_ Is man's most n.o.ble dower. Oh, to your birthright and yourselves To your own souls be true! A weary, wretched life is theirs, _Who have no work to do!_

QUESTIONS.--1. What incident suggested these thoughts to the writer? 2.

Who toil at the anvil? 3. Who till the stubborn soil? 4. Who plow the sea's blue wave? 5. Who toil mentally? 6. Who labor for the souls of men? 7. What is man's most n.o.ble dower? 8. What is said to all these different laborers? 9. What is the meaning of the suffix _less_ in the word _restless?_ See SANDERS & McELLIGOTT'S a.n.a.lYSIS, page 140, Ex. 187.

LESSON XLV.

E LIC' IT, draw forth.

IN TEL' LI GENT, knowing; well-informed.

RE FRAIN, hold in, or keep back.

IG NO RA' MUS, ignorant person.

RE TORT', reply; answer back.

IN DEL' I BLY, in a way not to be effaced.

MYS' TE RIES, profound secrets.

AB SORB' ED, engrossed; occupied.

MOR TI FI CA' TION, deep disappointment.

OB STA CLE, hinderance; impediment.

RE VOLT ED, shrank back.

POR' ING, earnestly perusing.

EM I NENCE, distinction.

IN FOR MA' TION, knowledge.

IL LIT' ER ATE, ignorant; unlearned.

PRO FES' SION, business; employment.

DIS' CI PLIN ED trained; instructed.

CON TEMPT' U OUS, scornful; hateful.

AN TAG' O NIST, opponent; adversary.

THE AMBITIOUS APPRENTICE.

1. "How far is it from here to the sun?" asked Harmon Lee of his father's apprentice, James Wallace, intending by the question to elicit some reply that would exhibit the boy's ignorance.

2. James Wallace, a boy of fourteen, turned his bright, intelligent eyes upon the son of his employer, and replied, "I don't know, Harmon. How far is it?"

3. There was something so honest and earnest in the tone of the boy, that, much as Harmon had felt disposed, at first, to sport with his ignorance, he could not refrain from giving him a true answer. Still, his contempt for the ignorant apprentice was not to be concealed, and he replied, "_Ninety-five millions of miles_, you ignoramus!" James did not retort; but, repeating over in his mind the distance named, fixed it indelibly upon his memory.

4. On the same evening, after he had finished his day's work, he obtained a small text-book on astronomy, which belonged to Harmon Lee, and went up into his garret with a candle, and there, alone, attempted to dive into the mysteries of that sublime science. As he read, the earnestness of his attention fixed nearly every fact upon his mind. So intent was he, that he perceived not the flight of time, until the town-clock struck ten.

5. He lay down upon his hard bed, and gave full scope to his thoughts.

Hour after hour pa.s.sed away, but he could not sleep, so absorbed was he in reviewing the new and wonderful things he had read. At last, wearied nature gave way, and he fell into a slumber, filled with dreams of planets, moons, comets, and fixed stars.

6. The next morning the apprentice boy resumed his place at the work-bench with a new feeling; and, with _this_ feeling, was mingled one of regret, that he could not go to school as well as Harmon.

"But I can study at night, while he is asleep," he said to himself.

7. Just then Harmon Lee came into the shop, and, approaching James, said, for the purpose of teasing him, "How big round is the earth, James?"

"_Twenty-five thousand miles,_" was the quick reply.

8. Harmon looked surprised, for a moment, and then responded, with a sneer,--for he was not a kind-hearted boy, but, on the contrary, very selfish, and disposed to _injure_ rather than _do good_ to others,--"Oh!

how wonderfully wise you are all at once! And no doubt you can tell how many moons Jupiter has? Come, let us hear."

9. "Jupiter has four moons," James answered, with something of exultation in his tone.

"And, no doubt, you can tell how many rings it has?"

"Jupiter has no rings. Saturn has rings, and Jupiter belts," James replied, in a decisive tone.

10. For a moment or two Harmon was silent with surprise and mortification, to think that his father's _apprentice_, whom he esteemed so far below him, should be possessed of knowledge equal to his, and on the points in reference to which he had chosen to question him,--and that he should be able to convict him of an error, into which he had purposely fallen.

11. "I should like to know how long it is since you became so wonderfully wise," said Harmon, with a sneer.

"Not very long," James replied calmly. "I have been reading one of your books on astronomy."

12. "I should like to know what business _you_ have to touch one of _my_ books! You had better be minding your work."

"I did not neglect it, Harmon; I read at _night_, after I was done with my work; and I did not hurt your book."

"I don't care if you _didn't_ hurt it. You are not going to have _my_ books, I can tell you. So, you just let them alone."

13. Poor James's heart sank within him at this unexpected obstacle, so suddenly thrown in his way. He had no money of his own to buy, and knew of no one from whom he could borrow the book, that had become so necessary to his happiness. "Do, Harmon," he said, "lend me the book; I will take good care of it."

"No; I will not. And don't you dare to touch it," was the angry reply.

14. James Wallace knew well enough the selfish disposition of Harmon, to be convinced that there was now but little hope of his having the use of his books, except by stealth; and from that his naturally open and honest principles revolted. All day he thought earnestly of the means whereby he should be able to obtain a book on astronomy, to quench the ardent thirst he had created in his own mind.

15. He was learning the trade of a blind-maker. Having been already an apprentice for two years, and being industrious and intelligent, he had acquired a readiness with tools, and much skill in some parts of his trade. While sitting alone, after he had finished his work for the day, it occurred to him that he might, by working in the evening, earn some money, and with it buy such books as he wanted.

16. By consent of his employer, he succeeded in getting a small job, from one of his neighbors; and, in a short time, by working evenings, he obtained sufficient money to purchase a book of his own, and had a half dollar left, with which he bought a second-hand dictionary. Every night found him poring over his books; and, as soon as it was light enough in the morning to see, he was up and reading. During the day, his mind was pondering over the things he had read, while his hands were diligently employed in the labor a.s.signed him.

17. It occurred, just at this time, that a number of benevolent individuals established, in the town where James lived, one of those excellent inst.i.tutions, an Apprentices' Library. To this he applied, and obtained the books he needed. And thus, did this poor apprentice boy lay the foundation of future eminence and usefulness. At the age of twenty-one, he was master of his trade; and, what was more, had laid up a vast amount of general and scientific information.

18. Let us now turn to mark the progress of the young student, Harmon Lee, in one of the best seminaries in his native city, and afterwards at college. The idea that he was to be a lawyer, soon took possession of his mind, and this caused him to feel contempt for other boys, who were merely designed for trades or store-keeping.

19. Like too many others, he had no love for learning. To be a _lawyer_ he thought would be much more honorable than to be a mere mechanic; and, for this reason _alone_, he desired to be one. As for James Wallace, the poor illiterate apprentice, he was most heartily despised, and never treated by Harmon with the least degree of kind consideration.

20. At the age of eighteen, Harmon was sent away to one of the eastern universities, and there remained until he was twenty years of age, when he graduated, and came home with the honorary t.i.tle of Bachelor of Arts.

On the very day that James completed his term of apprenticeship, Harmon was admitted to the bar.

21. From some cause, James determined he would make law _his_ profession. To the acquirement of a knowledge of legal matters, therefore, he bent all the energies of a well disciplined mind. Two years pa.s.sed away in an untiring devotion to the studies he had a.s.signed himself, and he then made application for admission to the bar.

22. Young Wallace pa.s.sed his examinations with some applause, and the first case on which he was employed, chanced to be one of great difficulty, which required all his skill; the lawyer on the opposite side was Harmon Lee, who entertained for his father's apprentice the utmost contempt.

23. The cause came on. There was a profound silence and a marked attention and interest, when the young stranger arose in the court-room to open the case. A smile of contempt curled the lip of Harmon Lee, but Wallace saw it not. The prominent points of the case were presented in plain, but concise language to the court; and a few remarks bearing upon its merits being made, the young lawyer took his seat, and gave room for the defense.