The Woodstock age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1844-1845, 1845-02-27
BODY AND MIND.
BY CARLYLE.


Two men | honor, and no third. First,
the toll-worn craftsman, that. with earth
made implement, laborlously conqures the
earth, and makes her mans. Venerable,
to me is the hard hand, crooked, coarse;
wherein, Notwithstanding, lies cunning
virtue, indeGeasibly royal, as Of the scepre
Of this planet. Venerable, too, is the rug
ged face, all weather-tanned besolea,
with its rude intelligence; for it is the face
OF man living man-like. Oh, but the
more venerable for thy rudeness, and even
because we must pity as well as love thee!
Hardly entreaed brother! For us was thy
back so bent for us were thy straight limbs
and fingers SO delormed thou vert our
conscript, on whom the lot fell, and fight
ing our battles vert so marred. For in
the too, lay 4 God-crealed form, but it was
not TO be untolded; encrusted must it stand
with the thick adhesions and defacements
of labor; and thy body, like thy SOUL was
not to know freedom. Yet toll on, toll on,
THOU art i'll thy duty, be ont oft who may;
thou to.lest for the altogether Indispensable,
for daily bread
A second man | honor, and still more
highly; him who is seen loiling for the spir-
ltnaIIy indlspensible-not daily bread, but
the Bread of Life. Is not lie too, in his
duty, endeavoring towards inward harmo-
uy-revcaling this by act and by word,
through all his outward endeavors, be they
high or low! Highest OF all when his out
ward and inward endeayor are one; when
We can name him artist; not earthly crafts
man only, but inspired thinker, that with
heaven-made implement conqueres heaven
for us. If the poor and humble toll that
we may have food, must rot the high and
glorious toll for HIM in return, that he
may have Light, Guidance, Freedom. In
mortality! These two in all their degrees
| honor; all else is chat and dust which let
the wind blow whether it listelh.
Unspeakably touching is it, however,
when | find both digutics united; and
he who must toll outwardly for the
lowest Of mans wants, Is also :oiDg in
wardly for the highest. Sublimer III this
world know | nothing than the peasant
saint, could such anywhere now be met
with. Such a one will take thee back to
Nazareth itself; thou wilt see the splendor
of heaven spring forth from the humblest
depths Of earth like light shining in great
darkness.
And again, it is not because of his toll
thai | lament for the poor; we must all toll
or steal, (howeyer we name our stealing, }
which is worse; no faithful workman finds
his task pas'ime. The poor man is hun
CRY and athirst, but for him also there is
food and drink; he is weary and heavy-Ia-
den but for him also the heavens send sleep,
and ofthe deepest; in his smoky crib a
clear dewey heaven of rest envelopes him,
and flfully girnmerngs Of cloud-skirtcd
dreams. But what DO mourn over, is that
the lamp ofhis soul should 90 ont; tina, no
ray of heavenly, or even earthly knowledge
should visit him; but only in the hagsard
darkness, like two spectres, Fear and in
dignalion. Alas, while the body stands so
broad and brawny, must the soul be blind
ed dwaried, supplied, almost annihilaied.
Alas, was this, too, breath Of God; be-
slowed in heaven, bat on earth never to be
unrlded! That there should one man die
ignorant who had capacity for knowledge,
this | call tragedy, were it too happen
more than twenty times in minute, as by
some computations it does.
Shall not the Judge of all the earth do
right! What knowest thou, 0 man, of
what thou see'st so darkly! That little light
so indistnct to thy sight, may be rejoced
over by the angels in heaven. The sing
lie step in The right path may lead to an Gu
during weight of glory. Our Lord said 10
his disciples, BLESSED are We poor, for
yours is the kingdom Of heaven"