XXXIV.—LABOR.
FRANCES OSGOOD.
1. Pause not to dream of the future before us;
Pause not to weep the wild cares that come o’er us;
Hark! how creation’s deep musical chorus,[274]
Unintermitting,[275] goes up into Heaven!
Never the ocean-wave falters[276] in flowing,
Never the little seed stops in its growing,
More and more richly the rose-hart keeps glowing,
Till from its nourishing stem it is riven.[277]
2. “Labor is worship!”—the robin is singing;
“Labor is worship!”—the wild bee is ringing;
Listen! that eloquent whisper upspringing,
Speaks to thy soul from out nature’s heart.
From the dark cloud flows the life-giving shower;
From the rough sod comes the soft-breathing flower;
From the small insect, the rich coral bower;
Only man, in the plan, ever shrinks from his part.
3. Labor is life!—’Tis the still water faileth;
Idleness ever despaireth, bewaileth[278],
Keep the watch wound; for the dark dust assaileth[279]
Flowers droop and die in the stillness of noon.
Labor is glory!—the flying cloud lightens;
Only the waving wing changes and brightens;
Idle hearts only the dark future frightens;
Play the sweet keys, wouldst thou keep them in tune.
4. Labor is rest—from the sorrows that greet us;
Rest from all petty vexations[280] that meet us;
Rest from sin-promptings[281] that ever entreat us;
Rest from world Sirens[282] that lead us to ill.
Work—and pure slumbers shall wait on thy pillow;
Work—thou shalt ride o’er care’s coming billow;
Lie not down wearied ’neath woe’s weeping willow:
Work with a stout heart and resolute[283] will.
5. Droop not, though shame, sin, and anguish[284] are round thee;
Bravely fling off the cold chain that hath bound thee;
Look on yon pure heaven smiling beyond thee;
Rest not content in thy darkness,—a clod.[285]
Work for some good,—be it ever so slowly;
Cherish some flower,—be it ever so lowly;
Labor!—all labor is noble and holy;
Let thy great deeds be a prayer to thy God.
[274] Choˊ-rus, a singing together.
[275] Un-in-ter-mitˊ-ting, unceasing.
[276] Falˊ-ters, hesitates; fails.
[277] Rivˊen, rent; torn off.
[278] Be-wailˊ-eth, bemoans; laments.
[279] As-sailˊ-eth, invades; attacks.
[280] Vex-aˊ-tions, troubles.
[281] Sin-promptˊ-ings, temptations to sin.
[282] World-sirens, attractions of the world.
[283] Resˊ-o-lute, firm; unbending.
[284] Anˊ-guish, extreme pain.
[285] Clod, dull, stupid fellow; dolt.