The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-06-02
THE CLASS GRAFTON.

Iivered the class grafton at the commence
ment exercises last Thursday Her sub
dect was THE Joy In Working anu
showed careful thought aud preparation,
The address Is given 10 full below:
Honest work IL was, and useful work.
cheerful work that made Adam Bede sing
In his Workshop lie was not round man
gotten into a square hole nor square man
gotten Into round hole, but he was
man doing the work he was best fitted 10
do. The afternoon sun shone down hot
upon tho group OF workmcn gathered In
this workshop. Some OF them were busy
upon doors, windows and wnuscotlng All
worked on in silence until the great clock
began TO strike the hour Of O. then one
threw aside his hammer, another left
nail half driven in and all but one pre-
pared 70 60 home. That one worked on
until he noticed the sound OF work had
ceased, then CHANGING up he said Indignant
ly; Look there. now! can't abide 10
see men throw away their tools the min
ute the clock begins 10 strike as II they
took no pleasure in their work and were
afraid Of doing stroke too much. ] hate
TO SOC a mans arms drop oown as II he
was shot before the clocks fairly through
striking The very glindstone VIII go on
turning bit after you loose IT," Thus
spoke that earnest faithful worker. Adam
Bede, the very mention of whose name
gives Us pleasure lie was the sort OF man
who could sing al his work aud, moreover.
worked with all his heart
Why were some OF these carpenters 80
unlnterested In their work. SO ready 10
throw aside their tools al the 1rst stroke
Of the clock even though their task was
not finished? Why, on the other hand,
was one so engrnsged IN his labor that he
could cOntnue working. unaware that the
lime was IN and night was fast descend
ing upon himf We have. all seen these
everywhere in the business world, In the
school room IN the home circle Why this
dlderenceY There arc many reasons which
bring about this toylcss work Sometimes
ID Is caused by a msu's getting Into
place that does nor 81, he Is too small for
him; perhaps he Is round man gotten
INTO a square hole at any rate he Is not
doing the work be- IS bes' htred 10 do AMI
he can not be happy In AN uncomfortable
position Brave is that man Who can al
lust himself 10 the rlght place The pull
pit lost poor preachers when Emerson ana
Carlgle left tho ministry hut what towers
at strength thc literary world gained, T'ur
ner was a barber and West farmer until
nature made them throw aside the razor
aud the hoe and take up ths brush and
palette II All parents considered as
thouphtfuUv and DTBycr(ntlv tho career OF
thcir sons as ala Be1janiin Vests Quaker
parents there would hc fewer men tryiuG
Ia get into places which dld NOT ~ ana
Love FOR Tor the A task which IS set before
bSiEd hoHsst ol5 Cal56 CART IN Middle
mach % 'tYou must he sure of two thing,
to succeed in yoar work YOU must love
ihS edges n Il waiting 'for pl1ytim5 to he.
gin And the other Is. YOU must MOI he
ashamed OF your work ana think II would
be mnIe honorable 70 YOU 10 be doing
IamcthinE Else. You must have a pride
"a your work and 80 leernipg 10 do IL we'll.
Efate We NOT ali seon workers who disltkg
Il. these who want position 10 honor
lhem Instead al setting 10 work Ia honor
he posltiong How can there be Joyful
Eerk thereT
Another great influence which decides
whether work shall bring JOY or sorrow Is
We We worL for me love We nave 'f for he tssk
reward Tor worS Is light and proper, hut
tue fee should be a secondary consldera.
ton The motive Of an act IL the soul OF
the act Labor Ia drHdGefy or JOY depend
ing upon the motives ana the ideals that
inspire the lahorer. Seeking ideals IS rea
and true living, aud only through this can
lie reach SIS ful fruiti0n. The dRily
routine Of the hardest l9bor IS transformed
into life and delight When some good mo
tive for the labor takes possession 0f The
heart when tho master Goa Longfellow''
"ituidiug or tho ship" received the order
% build "A goolly vessel that shall lauE1
at ali disaster and with wave aud whiri
Wind wrcstic" the poet tells us;
Tho merchants work delighted the master
heard;
For his heart was In his work. and the
heart
Giveth grace unto every art"
There was no pgrleying no delaying. no
bidding In this contract. The merchant felt
that he could trust q man whose henrt was
IN his work, aud the master was delighted
to make his Ideal Of a vessel The Joy OF
lsbor Is contagious; and in the long ho;
days of toll
Ike who listened heard now ana then
The song of the master and his men;
Build me straight, o worthy master
Staunch and strong, a Eoodly vessel
THAT shall LAUGH al ali disaster
And with wave and whirlwlnd wregtle -
There was tho right motive I'm this work
and low was the result
"A man IL relieved and CAV when he
has mis- heart into his work and done his
best" Emerson tells ms Is there. ono of
us who has NOT al some time fpIt tho emo.
lion Of joy and gindncSs because some work
had been well doueP Let me Illustrate
with an Incident frcm the life of Carlyle
He had spent many years In procuring n
Few facts" as he would express H. FOR his
''Freneh Revolution" Yon may hest Judge
what he meant BY a ''few facts" when
remind yeu Of that familiar story connected
with Charles Dickens. Dickens, desiring
90 verify n statement for his Tale OF Two
Cities sent TO Carlyle for a few books Of
reference Imagine his surprise ana aston
tEhfnent When hA taw n drny Iouded with