The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1845-05-17
NOBILITY OF MECHANICS.
BY MISS M. E. WENTWORTH.


1; Toll on, sun-burnt mechanict God
has placed thee in thy lot, perchance, to-
guide the flying car that whirls US ON
from scene to scene, from friend to-
friend; bind down the warning waves
Of ocean, tempest lost; or chain the red
artillery of heaven.
Toll on! Without thy power, earth,
though her sands were one vast Pacto-
lus of gold, would be waste Of tiRseL,
led tears and gfittering grief, and want,
and wo, and splendid misery, would
gleam out from all her treasured mines.
Rich soils would perish IN their rich
ness. and the fruits of seasons changing
die ungathered from the harvest.
Toll on! Jehovah was workman
too. SIN the beginning God created
heaven and earth;' and from confused
chaos sprang this perfect world--the
perfect workmanship Of the eternal,
uncreated Power. Up rose the mighty
armament; and back the sullen surges
swept, submissive, tanned, each to their
several bounds. And then he set great
lights--the glorious sun to bless the
day; the timid moon to wear at night
the miIdest lustre of the radiant orb
He painted heaven with mingled blue
and white; and in the vaulted arch a
modest star peeped out, seeming, by
the majesty Of sun and moon, like
stray lily breathing, in its lore Of meek
and blushing loveIiness, on the gay tints
of opening bud and rich voluptuous
blossom.
Wondering, there dawned another,
and third, till, clustering, clinging to-
the spacious canopy, they read, in the
calm waters Of the sea, the story of
their radiant lovelines. From thence
assured, they fear nor sun nor moon,
but faithfully distil their pcnsive light.
Old ocean tossed her crescent spray,
and from herhidden depths creatures of
life came up, and flew above the earth
winged fowls and birds, and flying
fish, and the great whale, dark emperor
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 cho-
rus Of ecstatic praise to God, the first,
the eternal architect.
Toll on! sun-burnt mechanic; heard
ye of him whom babbling Jews des-
pise? The manger-born of Nazareth?
Exalted to be prince DER death and
hell? Read ye not, in the book, of the
untaught apprentice, who laid his hand
upon Tiberias's rugged name, and it
was stilled?
Toll on! Drink from the dews that
heaven distils, fragrant flowers, the
bursting buds, the blessed air, is untold
wealth to the hard browed and bronzed
mechanic. Rich Golfers bring snare,
canker and corrosion, Gods wealthIs
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 mocking
tears are shed and spent above the dust
which lies as common as the plebeian
herd. The grave is the great eveller.
Blest grave! Grave of the tanned me-
chanic! A spirit speaks from thence,
and willing ears may learn some task,
which monuments OF gold have not a
power to teach. Proud man--learned
mango sit above that tomb,and weep
to think that when olden time shall tire,
the sun go out with WEAKNESS, obliv-
ions su!len 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, immutabe as the
purposes of Jehovah, while time his
empire holds, eternal as eternity.