TiT inn" " TWnfuil.
WOKIC.
or victims s you sink to the caverns of
oblivion.
Hut to labor for complete results in this
life is not tlio cml and aim of man's exi?
tencc. Work was given him by tins Al
mighty, anil must be for some more en
dm ing purpose. This world is but u great
artist's atelier, and we are but apprentices
who should lnbor faithfully, porseveringly
nnd to the lxjst of our several abilities, to
intelligently and successfully accomplish
what is given us to do; and, us Huskin
says, "It is no man's business whether he
is a genius or not, work he must, whatever
he is, but quietly and steadily, and the
natural and unforced results of such work
will always be the thing God meant l.im
to do, and will be his be.-t. No agonies
op hcartrendings will enable him to do
any better. If he is u great man, they
will be great things, but always if peace.
full done, good and right; and always if
restlessly and ambitiously done, false hol
low and despicable."
But if this be true, why does a man feel
such a natural aversion to work? It is a
fact that all men are constitutionally lazy.
I have yet to see a child who is not afHic
ted with a chronic indisposition to work,
or the young man who does not look with
longing to a time in the futuie when he
shall retire from the duties and cares of a
business life to one of ease. We none of
us love industry for its own sake, nor
would we ever become thoroughly indus
trious without the promptings of outside
motives. We labor to acquire the necessi
ties, comforts or elegancies of life, or to
gratify some ambition. "I believe we were
created lazy for a purpose. If work were
a pleasure, we would value nothing that
we have, for all values have their basis on
cost, and labor is the first cost of every
thing; though through it we are contin
ually longing for a rest lrom our labors.
How many people are toiling through this
world cheered by the prospect of an eter
nal rest beyond ; and entertaining the same
idea of heaven as did the old lady who
I got to heaven I expect to have nothing
to do but justsit around with a clean white
apron on and knit." And no doubt the
good simple mother thought such a stale
would be heaven indeed. TJiough were
she compelled to adopt such a life of in
activity, she, and the class she represents,
would sood think themselves the victims
of the most serious ol practical jokes.
When we have completed our apprentice
ship in this vast work-shop and have be
come fitted for some higher accomplish
ment, we are removed to our propel sphere
of action only to engage in the grand lofty
work our present life of toil his titled us
for. If I have a complete conception of
our future state, eternity will not tax us
much to provide food and raiment, nor
will we be obliged to gel up before day
light to meet the demands of our employ
ers, nor will a great many be troubled as
to where they shall obtain their winter
fuel. A Hip Van Winkle sleep will be
given if needed, and if the orthodox theo
ry is correct, an abundant supply of com
bustibles was laid by, when Lucifer and
a third part of Heaven's host fell.
Whatever is for our best, will be; and
with the old clogs of this earth thrown
oif, and the feeling of renewed everlasting
youth come on, we will consider the work-
given us to do as something to be gratefu.
for, and the use of powers labor has
trained for worthy ends will be out pleas
ure as keenly enjoyed as the gnnics. of
childhood. To me this is a much more
pleasureable state of existence than that
of sitting around the throne, dressed in a
freshly starched robe of white, with a
crown on my head, a palm leaf in my
hand, playing on a golden harp, and sing
ing pennyroyal hymns.
Hut there is another view to bo taken of
this subject, from the standpoint of con
sidering man in his relations to himself
and the world. It is estimated by politi
cal economists that the consumption near,
ly equals the production of each year and
that it equals nearly one-fifth the whole
said to an acquaintance of mine "When I properly of the world. A week or two
