Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1859-01-07

Manual Labor

Those vOcaiions that involve largo de-
rrce Of hard toll, are too much deicsicd by
the young To escape manual eIertion, is
their mania, and in their enthusiasm, they
discern ease and ailuencc on the profession
al domain. where even the means OF sub
.i.tencc have u he delved on, with artihec,
hv many. In some Of our smAlle-, villages
are frequently two or three doctors, and A'
many attorneys; IN some cases, at least
made greedy by want. In the mercantile
business. thousands have sunk their all, yc'
thousands madly rush TO on the vacuum
a. Il the trade was Incl with gold. Many
a farmer, son, with a capital sufficient
united with industry in agriculture
have made Ailucnt men, have embarked IN
trade, their investment, sunk, and their
prime Of life rolled away, infinitely poorer
than when they bcgan.
DO not wish TO invoke a prejudice
aeaius, the professions, or any urrieh, call
in-. or 70 eulosizc labor. Tho merchant
constitutes an essential port in the wheel OF
the busiusss world, the lawyer will b nee
c-.ary 50 long as the encrOaehment' Of vic
ions men are felt the physician indi'pcn'
sable until disease Is extinct. Bot let Us
contrast the two occupations; the one that
involves manual labor, agriculture with
,he other that is considered 70 cmboly cas,
aal pleasure. a professional OF mercini,l,
life. The farmer. It is true. works-work'
hard, in the sun, ia ;he rain, ia the cold
and drift. OF snow bu, amid hi' work b,
enjoys the bright sun. the genial shower,
anI winters c1ll-lhey are all blessings
from his Creators hand rs he stands in
hi, fields, he may see Natures God every.
vherc-,he babblips brook. the singing
bird, the green vrrlure and towering tire,
proclaim with solemn grandeur thc exist
cncc Of Deity The hr.oG prospect. elii,
ierins ~ the morning light Of spring,
sparkling with the b,am, Of summer, ur "a.
ding into the sombrc hue Of autumn, IN.
spires ham with cnthusiasm, and impAr,s a
cou6iancc in hi, God A comfortable inde,
pcndcncc he can secure, aud the wreath oI
intelligence he can twine around his brow
ior bllk' and ar, arc open 70 bun. On ih,
other hand. the merchant deal. no, with na.
turc, but fallen men he - always IN col
,i,iln with ir,achery and a,pucc. he mus
forever guard asa,u,, fraud, which make
him suspicious Of hi, fellow men.
Tho physician passes from an ulcer sor,
20 a loA,h,ome disease. always with decay
ins humanity. lli, consolation Is. that o..
can alleviate human Suffering More de
nal .uil b. the lawyers task. for the ulcer
OF the soul he i called upon to probr
Guilt Is ever arraycd before him, aud pollu
ton is in the air be b.yathes.
Then, how few Of profession becom
rich men While with the farming commu
nifty. those who DO not thrive, would .,ary
with a profession. Il not that vocation
that involves manual labor the one 70 d
preferred. tor the strength that it imP'rt
TO ,he nerve and muscle? Tor the religion
halo with which It cnshrines its yoary
for the yast fund Of kuoWlelse that j, elicit
from the most successful Of il, dcvotces, an,
f9r the afIlucnee that d, more generally con
fers? Man was made for labor. Labor
both Of head and hands, elevates the maj
aud makes him noble