Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1874-06-17
Labor and Growth.

An Essay read before Golden Grange, stoWo'JnneS
ny MRS. EMILY N. emLETT.
labor and growth are written by the hand OIL
God everywhere upon the broad pages Of nature
As plainly in the tiny violet that sends its irail
roots into the bosom of its mother earth that it
NAV cheer us with its beauty, as in the giant
oak of the forest. The coral insect, the eease-
less labOrs of which are laying the foundation
for new continents in the vast ocean, is but an
other form Of labor and growth. We find thro'
every department of nature the invariaoie lesson
is taught that activity and growth are insep-
arabic; that with man every step upward de-
mands an effort. Physical strength is always
in proportion to the amount of action or exer-
else Of muscles and limbs. provided the body is
in A healthy condition. The same is true of all
the faculties of the mind. 1t is only effort that
will give that growth and strength God de-
signed us to possess and which will enable US to
fulfill LIES mission faithfully, Although at
times we seem to be standing still, yet every
experience of life is calculated to urge us onward
and every noble endcayor is just so surely a
growth of some of the G~od-given faculties. We
have the record that the curse pronounced upon
man for disobedience was labor, but w find that
such are often blessings in disguise, and as |
view it, labor is the first grea, stepping-stone to
all that is truly great and noble in humanity.
But by labor We mean not drudgery, nor that
work alone which calls into action the physical
man, but that which is perhaps the most difficult
of all-the proper cultivation of the inner fac
ulties of our natures,-the development Of the
true man and woman within us intellectually,
morally, and religious'y. The body has so many
wants, either real or imaginary, that unknew-
ingly we allow our better faculties to become
dwarfed for want of action and cultivation, sell
fishness too often prcdominating over bcneyo-
lence and other kindred virtues. Life is grand
if we but understood its real worth and our own
capabilities, and, as quantity written by the
poet
He docs the best,
Who excels all the rest,
In making the lot of humanity blest.
i Is, HE Is u VAST ncIu III NHiCu uuNiCo hhu Clito
are continually springing up around us, while
each one well performed adds q flower to our
and gives additional strength for the
succeeding, and perhaps moro arduous work.
Duties we have, that are imperative in their
demands for muscle, brain, and soul force, and
are the great lessons in the school of hui
nanity and unless properly learned, will rctard
)ur development for usefulness in the present,
and will be presented to us by the great Teacher
10 be learned over in the future. labor has
within itself the element of an aristocracy no.
by far than that gained by wealth and title.
Could we but sec its benefits. the important part
t is to perform, and is performing in humon
progress, VIC might be justified in pointing the
niger of scorn at the droncs of society, whose
are worse than useless. The time is in
minds, will bcsiegc the ~strongliolds of
wealth and aristocracy and with open palms
nd imperative voices demand of them their
GOLDEN laurels, not of wealth, but of honor.
As members of the order of Patrons of Hus-
let us labor for the highest good of each
'ther, and though wearied and careworn we
urn our steps hithcr, in our social communings,
he kindly interchange of thought. and the har-
nony which may ever exist, we are refreshed
md strengthened for further duty. And may
our work tell nobly for humanity by awakening
n the public mind a more just appreciation of
he true worth of the laboring classes.