Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1869-05-01
THE DIGNITY OF LABOR.
A Short Chapter for Young Men with
Sun.Burncd Faces.

A well-dressed young man, who
lives some miles from the city, called |
at grocery store the other day with
pair Of saddle-bags on his arm
and calling the merchant aside, told
him that he had six pounds of but
ter on his arm, which he wished to
leave for sale. He conyersed in a
low, hurried tone, and seemed abash-
cd at being in such small business
as selling butter. The merchant did
not want to buy the butter himself,
but promised to dispose of it at the
highest market price. When the
young man left, the butter was ex.
amined and found to be of the very
best quality-rich, yellow and hard
such as is never seen at any hotel
or restaurant, or common boarding
house; better worth dollar per
pound than the common lard, -four
and chalk mixture, yclept butter, is
worth ten cents, and far superior to
any ofyo r G Jshen or Western butter.
Yet that young man was ashamed to
be seen selling the butter, which,
perhaps his mother had churned,
while he was building fences or chop
ping wood, and repining at his lot -
We have seen hundreds of such
young men, and look upon them as
the nobility of the land, the pride
and hope of the nation. But many
of them are mistaken sadly in their
ideas of responsibility and true man
Illness. 1t is better far to work at
the veriest drudgery and be out of
debt, than to strut in fine clothes, as
many do in the crowded cities, and
be in debt for board and washing,
and everything else. The sooner
the young men of the South break
the trammels of custom and folly and
accept the means of working out
their own glorious destiny the better
for them and all around them. Fol-
lowing the plow is as honorable as
any Of the learned professions. This
is practical age when men have to
make their mark by welding material
forces, and nothing ensures more
satisfactory return than welding a
pair Of horses hitched to big turn.
ing pillow. 1t also gives health and
appetite, firm muscles and sound
sleep.
Young man, b. inging to market the
products of your honest toll is as hon
orable in the eyes Of all sensible peo-
pie as standing behind the counter,
and all the day long taking down and
putting back calicoes, silks, and cor
sets for every pocvish visitor who
chooses to worry you. Perhaps you
envy the young men of the city their
white hands, small boots and fashion
ably cut clothing? There you are
wrong. You are as good as they are,
and have more common, hard sense,
and nine chances to one you have
read more good books. You are O
thinker necessarily, and your idess
are clear and practical. Your call.
ing is as noble as any secular bust
ness. Away with your fastidious
ideas and dread of sun-burned brow
for that is the insignia of royal man.
hood, BE contcnted with your lot
and make it an enviable one by i'm
proving the soil and your mind at the
same time, Build up home aut
make cheerful place, where king
might be glad to find refuge onC
drink fresh buttermilk. And ncve
again shrink from the gaze Of tn,
beauty or dandy when you come tt
town to sell six pounds Of yellow
butter. Yours is the glorious miss
ion to rebuild the fortunes Of tn,
country Mcmphis Lodcor.