The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-05-01
NOBILITY OF MECHANICS.
BY MISS NJ. Z. WENTWORTH.

Toll on, sun-burnt mechanic God has placed
thee in thy lot, perchance, to guide the flying car
that whirls on from scene TO scene, from friend
to friend; bind down the warning waves of ocean,
tempest tost; or chain the red artillery Of heaven.
Toll on! Without thy power, earth, though her
sands were one vast Pactolus of gold, would be a
waste of tnseled tears and glittering grief; and
want, and wo, and splendid misery, would CLEAN
out from all her treasured mines. Rich soils would
perish in their richness, and the fruits Of seasons
changing die ungathered from the harvest
Toll on! Jehovah was workman too. "ln the
beginning God created heaven and EARTH" and from
confused chaos sprang this perfect world-the per-
feet workmanship of the eternal, uncreated Power.
Up rose the mighty armament; and back the sullen
surges swept submissive tanned, each to their sew
eral bounds. And then he set great ights--the go-
rous sun to bless the day; the timid moon to wear
at night the mildest lustre of the radiant orb. He
painted heaven with mingled blue and white and in
the vaulted arch modest star peeped out seeming,
by the majesty of sun and moon, like stray lily
breathing, in its lore of meek and blushing lowell
ness, on the gay tnts of opening bud and rich vo-
luptuous blossom.
TILL clustering clinging to the spacious canopy they
read, in the calm waters of the sea, the story OF
their radiant loneliness. From thence assured they
fear nor sun nor moon, but faithfully distil their
pensive light. Old tossed her crescent spray
and from her hidden depths creatures of life came
up, anu new uuoNS the cdTtI-WinScu IOWlh anu
birds, and flying fish, and the great whale, dark en-
peror Of the sea.
And God created man Six days he labored
and the seventh he reposed; while from the sea- the
earth, the air, and all that in them is, went up
chorus ofecsatc praise to God the first, the eternal
architect.
Toll on sun-burnt mechanic heard We of him
whom babbng Jews despise1 The manger-born
of NAZARETH Exalted to be prince DER death and
helP Read we not, in the book, of the untaught
apprentice who laid his hand upon Tiberias' rugged
name, and it was stilled'
Toll on Drink from the dews that heaven dis
tils fragrant flowers the bursting buds the blessed
air, is untold wealth to the hard proved and bronzed
mechanic. Rich Golfers bring snare, canker and
corrosion. Gods wealth is yours, wealth to
which decaying gold is vanity and dross.
Toll on Proud peer and prince, and pedant,
sage, statesman and priest now claim the tribute OF
a tomb, which fain would drive away the greedy
worm; and splendid eloquence and hooking tears
are shed and spent above the dust which lies as
common as the plebeian herd. The grave is the
great leveller. Blest grave Grave of the tanned
mechanic spirit speaks from thence, and will
ling ears may learn some task, which monuments
Of gold have not power to teach. Proud man
learned mango sit above that tomb, and weep to
think that when olden time shall tire the sun 90
out with WEAKNESS, oblivon's sulen surge shall
sweep away your greatness and your chivalry,
above "the wreck Of matter and the crush of worlds
the handiwork of Gods own noblemen shall live,
mmutable the purposes of Jehovah, while time
his empire holds, eternal as eternity.