Fine anti-slavery people you are, forsooth! who think it is right not only to make slaves, but accursed slaves, of other people, that you may slip your dainty necks out of the collar!
“Ah, but we thought Christ’s yoke had no collar!”
It is time to know better. There may come a day, indeed, when there shall be no more curse;—in the meantime, you must be humble and honest enough to take your share of it.
So what can you do, that’s useful? Not to ask too much at first; and, since we are now coming to particulars, addressing myself first to gentlemen,—Do you think you can make a brick, or a tile?
You rather think not? Well, if you are healthy, and fit for work, and can do nothing better,—go and learn. [[114]]
You would rather not? Very possibly: but you can’t have your dinner unless you do. And why would you so much rather not?
“So ungentlemanly!”
No; to beg your dinner, or steal it, is ungentlemanly. But there is nothing ungentlemanly, that I know of, in beating clay, and putting it in a mould.
“But my wife wouldn’t like it!”
Well, that’s a strong reason: you shouldn’t vex your wife, if you can help it; but why will she be vexed? If she is a nice English girl, she has pretty surely been repeating to herself, with great unction, for some years back, that highly popular verse,—