Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1875-08-04
Faithful Work.
BI JOEL BENTON.

We often hear of the bayonetS which
think and every nation knows Well
enough now that a gun with Il man behind
it is much better than gun alone. The
" hands which think. also. are much
more effective than those which merely
drudge. Manual labor. no less then ideal,
takes its quality from the ability which
directs it. If You only wish to mix NOR
tar, You must mix your mind with it, too.
if you would achieve the best results.
Though nothing pays better. sincere and
honest work is about rs scarce an article
rs the market affords. Thousands of thrift
less homes only wait for it to lift up BAN
ners of prosperity. The sort which slips
along and shirks its task is not simply too
abundant; there is no employer who
wants it at any price. The men who pay
we'll and pay willingly will pay still bet
ter for absolute fidelity aud care.
One would think that the artisan or me-
chanic or laylaborer would struggle, bv
putting patience and thought into his la
Dor, to make himself Indispensable The
| traya thing is done is of much more i'm
portance relatively than the mere amount
accomplished. OF course an honest or a
very shrewd laborer will not expect TO
gain, in the long run. by shirking any
part of his task; but, if he makes Il differ
er ce III either respect, he had better do
less instead of doing worse than he should.
There are some workers (but they are
few who take the same pains in con-
structlng II wheelbarrow-bearing in mind,
of course. what is fit and appropriate for
its u|c-that n good artisan in another field
employs in budding a carriage And
there is no reason whatever WHY this
should not be done The same amount
of paint and polish is not necessary; the
conditions to be met are, in some res
poets, different; but there is As much re:l-
son why a wheelbarrow should be a per-
feet wheelbarrow as for carriage to be
a perfect carriage.
Among the laments with which Mr.. Rus.
klnS fills his eloquent pages in his later put
very subtle criticisms the want of faith
fulne>s in practical rs well us in artistic
work stands prominent. If there is nceC
of this complaint in England. where every
thing goes slowly, and. as most Amcri
cans are accustomed to think, surely, how
much more must be the reason for com
plaint here. where hurry is the rule
| will not be betrayed now into the
tempting topic of hase and waste il
American life, Us that is full theme by it
self; but let me illustrate what mean by
unflithful work, in just one direction
| have an old place which bears mark:
of AGE and some dilapidation. l wish t'
repair the poorer parts year by year so Il!
gradually to get an improved and yet har
f monious effect. But, let the carpenter b,
ever SO skillful, he is sure. If left to him
, self, to dash through with his task sloven
ly, SO as to add one more piece of ugli
ness-whcreas, my main purpose in hir
, ing hlm was to remove Il biOtch. He wa
t satisfied to make his work look nearly IL
well rs the rest, while | employed him t.
, make it look better
90 through with II similar experience
t when take some article away for repair
A little care and ncatness will make tn,
rough places smooth, and give Il ttstefu
feet. Blu: the artisan says. mentally
q This is old fashioned and well-worn-i