Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1838-02-01
MESCELEIA AN .
TRUE NOBILITY OFLABOR.
by THE REV. oRvILLE DEWEY.


How many natural ties are there be-
tween even the humblest scene of labor,
and the noblest affections Of humanity:
In this view the employment of mere
muscular strength is ennobled. There
is a central point 10 every mans life,
around which all his cares and tolls re-
volve. 1t is that spot which is conse,
Grated by the names OF wife, and chill
dren. and home. A secret, an almost
inperceptibie influence from that spot
which is like no other OH earth, steals
into the breast of the virluous laboring
man, and strengthens every weary step
of his toll. Every blow that is struck
la the workshop aud the field has an echo
in that holy Slrine Of his affections. II
he who fights to protect his home. rises
10 the point of heroic virtue, no less
may he who labors his life long, to pro-
vide for that home. Peace be within
those domestic walls, and prosperity be-
meath those humEle roofs. But should
it ever be otherwise: should time ever
come when theinvader's step approaches
TO touch those sacred thresholds, see
IN the labofs that are taken for them,
that wounds will be taken Cor them TOO,
l see in every honest workman around
me, hero.
So material do deem this point
the true nobility OF labor, mean-that
| would dwell upon it a moment longer
and in larger view. Why, then. in
the great scale Of things. is labor ordain.
ed for us? Easily had il so pleased the
great Ordsiner, might it have been dis
Pensed with. The world itself might
have been mighty machinery for the
production Of all that man wants The
motion of the globe upon its axis, might
have been the power TO move that world
OF machinery. Ten thousand wheels
within wheels might have been at work;
ten thousand processes, more curious and
complicated than man can devise, might
have been going forward without mans
aid; houses might have risen like an ex,
halation,
with the sound
Ofdulcet symphonies aud voices sweet,
Built like u temple
gorgeous furniture might have been pla-
ced in them and soft coUches and luxu-
rious banquets spread by hands unseen;
and man, clothed with fabrics Of natures
weaving, richer than imperial purple,
might have been sent to disport himself
d. these EIysian palaces. Fair scene"
imagine you are saying; fortunate for
us, had it been the scene ordained Tor
human life" But where then, tell me,
had been human energy, perseverance,
patience, virtue, heroism Cut off with
one blow from the world, and man
kind bad sunk to q crowd, nav far be-
meath crowd Of Asiatic vouptuaries.
No 1t had not been fortunate. Better
that the earth be given 10 man as dark
mass whereon to labor. Better that
rude and unsightly materials be provided
IN the ore bed and forest, for him TO
fashion into spleudor and beauty. Bet
ter, say not because OF that spiendor
and beauty, but because the act Of crea-
ting them is better than the things
themselves; because exertion is nobler
than enjoyment because the laborer is
greater than and more worthy Of honor
than the idler. l call upon those whom
address to stand up for that nobility
OF labor. It's heavens great ordinance
for human improvement Let not that