Economy

wcountry,fuelisanencumbrance.Asforahabitat,ifIwerenotpermittedstilltosquat,ImightpurchaseoneacreatthesamepriceforwhichthelandIcultivatedwassold—namely,eightdollarsandeightcents.Butasitwas,IconsideredthatIenhancedthevalueofthelandbysquattingonit. Thereisacertainclassofunbelieverswhosometimesaskmesuchquestionsas,ifIthinkthatIcanliveonvegetablefoodaloneandtostrikeattherootofthematteratonce,—fortherootisfaith,—Iamaccustomedtoanswersuch,thatIcanliveonboardnails.Iftheycannotunderstandthat,theycannotunderstandmuchthatIhavetosay.Formypart,Iamgladtohearofexperimentsofthiskindbeingtriedasthatayoungmantriedforafortnighttoliveonhard,rawcornontheear,usinghisteethforallmortar.Thesquirreltribetriedthesameandsucceeded.Thehumanraceisinterestedintheseexperiments,thoughafewoldwomenwhoareincapacitatedforthem,orwhoowntheirthirdsinmills,maybealarmed. Myfurniture,partofwhichImademyself,andtherestcostmenothingofwhichIhavenotrenderedanaccount,consistedofabed,atable,adesk,threechairs,alooking-glassthreeinchesindiameter,apairoftongsandandirons,akettle,askillet,andafrying-pan,adipper,awash-bowl,twoknivesandforks,threeplates,onecup,onespoon,ajugforoil,ajugformolasses,andajapannedlamp.Noneissopoorthatheneedsitonapumpkin.Thatisshiftlessness.ThereisaplentyofsuchchairsasIlikebestinthevillagegarretstobehadfortakingthemaway.Furniture!ThankGod,IcansitandIcanstandwithouttheaidofafurniturewarehouse.Whatmanbutaphilosopherwouldnotbeashamedtoseehisfurniturepackedinacartandgoingupcountryexposedtothelightofheavenandtheeyesofmen,abeggarlyaccountofemptyboxes?ThatisSpaulding’sfurniture.Icouldnevertellfrominspectingsuchaloadwhetheritbelongedtoasocalledrichmanorapooronetheowneralwaysseemedpoverty-stricken.Indeed,themoreyouhaveofsuchthingsthepooreryouare.Eachloadlooksasifitcontainedthecontentsofadozenshantiesandifoneshantyispoor,thisisadozentimesaspoor.Pray,forwhatdowemoveeverbuttogetridofourfurniture,ourexuvi?atlasttogofromthisworldtoanothernewlyfurnished,andleavethistobeburned?Itisthesameasifallthesetrapswerebuckledtoaman’sbelt,andhecouldnotmoveovertheroughcountrywhereourlinesarecastwithoutdraggingthem,—dragginghistrap.Hewasaluckyfoxthatlefthistailinthetrap.Themuskratwillgnawhisthirdlegofftobefree.Nowondermanhaslosthiselasticity.Howoftenheisatadeadset!“Sir,ifImaybesobold,whatdoyoumeanbyadeadset?”Ifyouareaseer,wheneveryoumeetamanyouwillseeallthatheowns,ay,andmuchthathepretendstodisown,behindhim,eventohiskitchenfurnitureandallthetrumperywhichhesavesandwillnotburn,andhewillappeartobeharnessedtoitandmakingwhatheadwayhecan.Ithinkthatthemanisatadeadsetwhohasgotthroughaknotholeorgatewaywherehissledgeloadoffurniturecannotfollowhim.IcannotbutfeelcompassionwhenIhearsometrig,compact-lookingman,seeminglyfree,allgirdedandready,speakofhis“furniture,”aswhetheritisinsuredornot.“ButwhatshallIdowithmyfurniture?”Mygaybutterflyisentangledinaspider’swebthen.Eventhosewhoseemforalongwhilenottohaveany,ifyouinquiremorenarrowlyyouwillfindhavesomestoredinsomebody’sbarn.IlookuponEnglandto-dayasanoldgentlemanwhoistravellingwithagreatdealofbaggage,trumperywhichhasaccumulatedfromlonghousekeeping,whichhehasnotthecouragetoburngreattrunk,littletrunk,bandboxandbundle.Throwawaythefirstthreeatleast.Itwouldsurpassthepowersofawellmannowadaystotakeuphisbedandwalk,andIshouldcertainlyadviseasickonetolaydownhisbedandrun.WhenIhavemetanimmigranttotteringunderabundlewhichcontainedhisall—lookinglikeanenormouswenwhichhadgrownoutofthenapeofhisneck—Ihavepitiedhim,notbecausethatwashisall,butbecausehehadallthattocarry.IfIhavegottodragmytrap,Iwilltakecarethatitbealightoneanddonotnipmeinavitalpart.Butperchanceitwouldbewisestnevertoputone’spawintoit. Iwouldobserve,bytheway,thatitcostsmenothingforcurtains,forIhavenogazerstoshutoutbutthesunandmoon,andIamwillingthattheyshouldlookin.Themoonwillnotsourmilknortaintmeatofmine,norwillthesuninjuremyfurnitureorfademycarpet,andifheissometimestoowarmafriend,Ifinditstillbettereconomytoretreatbehindsomecurtainwhichnaturehasprovided,thantoaddasingleitemtothedetailsofhousekeeping.Aladyonceofferedmeamat,butasIhadnoroomtosparewithinthehouse,nortimetosparewithinorwithouttoshakeit,Ideclinedit,preferringtowipemyfeetonthesodbeforemydoor.Itisbesttoavoidthebeginningsofevil. NotlongsinceIwaspresentattheauctionofadeacon’seffects,forhislifehadnotbeenineffectual:— “Theevilthatmendolivesafterthem.” Asusual,agreatproportionwastrumperywhichhadbeguntoaccumulateinhisfather’sday.Amongtherestwasadriedtapeworm.Andnow,afterlyinghalfacenturyinhisgarretandotherdustholes,thesethingswerenotburnedinsteadofabonfire,orpurifyingdestructionofthem,therewasanauction,orincreasingofthem.Theneighborseagerlycollectedtoviewthem,boughtthemall,andcarefullytransportedthemtotheirgarretsanddustholes,tolietheretilltheirestatesaresettled,whentheywillstartagain.Whenamandieshekicksthedust. Thecustomsofsomesavagenationsmight,perchance,beprofitablyimitatedbyus,fortheyatleastgothroughthesemblanceofcastingtheirsloughannuallytheyhavetheideaofthething,whethertheyhavetherealityornot.Woulditnotbewellifweweretocelebratesucha“busk,”or“feastoffirstfruits,”asBartramdescribestohavebeenthecustomoftheMucclasseIndians?“Whenatowncelebratesthebusk,”sayshe,“havingpreviouslyprovidedthemselveswithnewclothes,newpots,pans,andotherhouseholdutensilsandfurniture,theycollectalltheirwornoutclothesandotherdespicablethings,sweepandcleansetheirhouses,squares,andthewholetownoftheirfilth,whichwithalltheremaininggrainandotheroldprovisionstheycasttogetherintoonecommonheap,andconsumeitwithfire.Afterhavingtakenmedicine,andfastedforthreedays,allthefireinthetownisextinguished.Duringthisfasttheyabstainfromthegratificationofeveryappetiteandpassionwhatever.Ageneralamnestyisproclaimedallmalefactorsmayreturntotheirtown.—” “Onthefourthmorning,thehighpriest,byrubbingdrywoodtogether,producesnewfireinthepublicsquare,fromwhenceeveryhabitationinthetownissuppliedwiththenewandpureflame.” Theythenfeastonthenewcornandfruits,anddanceandsingforthreedays,“andthefourfollowingdaystheyreceivevisitsandrejoicewiththeirfriendsfromneighboringtownswhohaveinlikemannerpurifiedandpreparedthemselves.” TheMexicansalsopractisedasimilarpurificationattheendofeveryfifty-twoyears,inthebeliefthatitwastimefortheworldtocometoanend. Ihavescarcelyheardofatruersacrament,thatis,asthedictionarydefinesit,“outwardandvisiblesignofaninwardandspiritualgrace,”thanthis,andIhavenodoubtthattheywereoriginallyinspireddirectlyfromHeaventodothus,thoughtheyhavenobiblicalrecordoftherevelation. FormorethanfiveyearsImaintainedmyselfthussolelybythelaborofmyhands,andIfound,thatbyworkingaboutsixweeksinayear,Icouldmeetalltheexpensesofliving.Thewholeofmywinters,aswellasmostofmysummers,Ihadfreeandclearforstudy.Ihavethoroughlytriedschool-keeping,andfoundthatmyexpenseswereinproportion,orratheroutofproportion,tomyincome,forIwasobligedtodressandtrain,nottosaythinkandbelieve,accordingly,andIlostmytimeintothebargain.AsIdidnotteachforthegoodofmyfellow-men,butsimplyforalivelihood,thiswasafailure.IhavetriedtradebutIfoundthatitwouldtaketenyearstogetunderwayinthat,andthatthenIshouldprobablybeonmywaytothedevil.IwasactuallyafraidthatImightbythattimebedoingwhatiscalledagoodbusiness.WhenformerlyIwaslookingabouttoseewhatIcoulddoforaliving,somesadexperienceinconformingtothewishesoffriendsbeingfreshinmymindtotaxmyingenuity,IthoughtoftenandseriouslyofpickinghuckleberriesthatsurelyIcoulddo,anditssmallprofitsmightsuffice,—formygreatestskillhasbeentowantbutlittle,—solittlecapitalitrequired,solittledistractionfrommywontedmoods,Ifoolishlythought.Whilemyacquaintanceswentunhesitatinglyintotradeortheprofessions,Icontemplatedthisoccupationasmostliketheirsrangingthehillsallsummertopicktheberrieswhichcameinmyway,andthereaftercarelesslydisposeofthemso,tokeeptheflocksofAdmetus.IalsodreamedthatImightgatherthewildherbs,orcarryevergreenstosuchvillagersaslovedtoberemindedofthewoods,eventothecity,byhay-cartloads.ButIhavesincelearnedthattradecurseseverythingithandlesandthoughyoutradeinmessagesfromheaven,thewholecurseoftradeattachestothebusiness. AsIpreferredsomethingstoothers,andespeciallyvaluedmyfreedom,asIcouldfarehardandyetsucceedwell,Ididnotwishtospendmytimeinearningrichcarpetsorotherfinefurniture,ordelicatecookery,orahouseintheGrecianortheGothicstylejustyet.Ifthereareanytowhomitisnointerruptiontoacquirethesethings,andwhoknowhowtousethemwhenacquired,Irelinquishtothemthepursuit.Someare“industrious,”andappeartolovelaborforitsownsake,orperhapsbecauseitkeepsthemoutofworsemischieftosuchIhaveatpresentnothingtosay.Thosewhowouldnotknowwhattodowithmoreleisurethantheynowenjoy,Imightadvisetoworktwiceashardastheydo,—worktilltheypayforthemselves,andgettheirfreepapers.FormyselfIfoundthattheoccupationofaday-laborerwasthemostindependentofany,especiallyasitrequiredonlythirtyorfortydaysinayeartosupportone.Thelaborer’sdayendswiththegoingdownofthesun,andheisthenfreetodevotehimselftohischosenpursuit,independentofhislaborbuthisemployer,whospeculatesfrommonthtomonth,hasnorespitefromoneendoftheyeartotheother. Inshort,Iamconvinced,bothbyfaithandexperience,thattomaintainone’sselfonthisearthisnotahardshipbutapastime,ifwewilllivesimplyandwiselyasthepursuitsofthesimplernationsarestillthesportsofthemoreartificial.Itisnotnecessarythatamanshouldearnhislivingbythesweatofhisbrow,unlesshesweatseasierthanIdo. Oneyoungmanofmyacquaintance,whohasinheritedsomeacres,toldmethathethoughtheshouldliveasIdid,ifhehadthemeans.Iwouldnothaveanyoneadoptmymodeoflivingonanyaccountfor,besidethatbeforehehasfairlylearneditImayhavefoundoutanotherformyself,IdesirethattheremaybeasmanydifferentpersonsintheworldaspossiblebutIwouldhaveeachonebeverycarefultofindoutandpursuehisownway,andnothisfather’sorhismother’sorhisneighbor’sinstead.Theyouthmaybuildorplantorsail,onlylethimnotbehinderedfromdoingthatwhichhetellsmehewouldliketodo.Itisbyamathematicalpointonlythatwearewise,asthesailororthefugitiveslavekeepsthepolestarinhiseyebutthatissufficientguidanceforallourlife.Wemaynotarriveatourportwithinacalculableperiod,butwewouldpreservethetruecourse. Undoubtedly,inthiscase,whatistrueforoneistruerstillforathousand,asalargehouseisnotproportionallymoreexpensivethanasmallone,sinceoneroofmaycover,onecellarunderlie,andonewallseparateseveralapartments.Butformypart,Ipreferredthesolitarydwelling.Moreover,itwillcommonlybecheapertobuildthewholeyourselfthantoconvinceanotheroftheadvantageofthecommonwallandwhenyouhavedonethis,thecommonpartition,tobemuchcheaper,mustbeathinone,andthatothermayproveabadneighbor,andalsonotkeephissideinrepair.Theonlyco?perationwhichiscommonlypossibleisexceedinglypartialandsuperficialandwhatlittletrueco?perationthereis,isasifitwerenot,beingaharmonyinaudibletomen.Ifamanhasfaith,hewillco?peratewithequalfaitheverywhereifhehasnotfaith,hewillcontinuetoliveliketherestoftheworld,whatevercompanyheisjoinedto.Toco?perate,inthehighestaswellasthelowestsense,meanstogetourlivingtogether.Ihearditproposedlatelythattwoyoungmenshouldtraveltogetherovertheworld,theonewithoutmoney,earninghismeansashewent,beforethemastandbehindtheplow,theothercarryingabillofexchangeinhispocket.Itwaseasytoseethattheycouldnotlongbecompanionsorco?perate,sinceonewouldnotoperateatall.Theywouldpartatthefirstinterestingcrisisintheiradventures.Aboveall,asIhaveimplied,themanwhogoesalonecanstartto-daybuthewhotravelswithanothermustwaittillthatotherisready,anditmaybealongtimebeforetheygetoff. Butallthisisveryselfish,Ihaveheardsomeofmytownsmensay.IconfessthatIhavehithertoindulgedverylittleinphilanthropicenterprises.Ihavemadesomesacrificestoasenseofduty,andamongothershavesacrificedthispleasurealso.TherearethosewhohaveusedalltheirartstopersuademetoundertakethesupportofsomepoorfamilyinthetownandifIhadnothingtodo,—forthedevilfindsemploymentfortheidle,—Imighttrymyhandatsomesuchpastimeasthat.However,whenIhavethoughttoindulgemyselfinthisrespect,andlaytheirHeavenunderanobligationbymaintainingcertainpoorpersonsinallrespectsascomfortablyasImaintainmyself,andhaveevenventuredsofarastomakethemtheoffer,theyhaveoneandallunhesitatinglypreferredtoremainpoor.Whilemytownsmenandwomenaredevotedinsomanywaystothegoodoftheirfellows,Itrustthatoneatleastmaybesparedtootherandlesshumanepursuits.Youmusthaveageniusforcharityaswellasforanythingelse.AsforDoing-good,thatisoneoftheprofessionswhicharefull.Moreover,Ihavetrieditfairly,and,strangeasitmayseem,amsatisfiedthatitdoesnotagreewithmyconstitution.ProbablyIshouldnotconsciouslyanddeliberatelyforsakemyparticularcallingtodothegoodwhichsocietydemandsofme,tosavetheuniversefromannihilationandIbelievethatalikebutinfinitelygreatersteadfastnesselsewhereisallthatnowpreservesit.ButIwouldnotstandbetweenanymanandhisgeniusandtohimwhodoesthiswork,whichIdecline,withhiswholeheartandsoulandlife,Iwouldsay,Persevere,eveniftheworldcallitdoingevil,asitismostlikelytheywill. Iamfarfromsupposingthatmycaseisapeculiaronenodoubtmanyofmyreaderswouldmakeasimilardefence.Atdoingsomething,—Iwillnotengagethatmyneighborsshallpronounceitgood,—IdonothesitatetosaythatIshouldbeacapitalfellowtohirebutwhatthatis,itisformyemployertofindout.WhatgoodIdo,inthecommonsenseofthatword,mustbeasidefrommymainpath,andforthemostpartwhollyunintended.Mensay,practically,Beginwhereyouareandsuchasyouare,withoutaimingmainlytobecomeofmoreworth,andwithkindnessaforethoughtgoaboutdoinggood.IfIweretopreachatallinthisstrain,Ishouldsayrather,Setaboutbeinggood.Asifthesunshouldstopwhenhehadkindledhisfiresuptothesplendorofamoonorastarofthesixthmagnitude,andgoaboutlikeaRobinGoodfellow,peepinginateverycottagewindow,inspiringlunatics,andtaintingmeats,andmakingdarknessvisible,insteadofsteadilyincreasinghisgenialheatandbeneficencetillheisofsuchbrightnessthatnomortalcanlookhimintheface,andthen,andinthemeanwhiletoo,goingabouttheworldinhisownorbit,doingitgood,orrather,asatruerphilosophyhasdiscovered,theworldgoingabouthimgettinggood.WhenPhaeton,wishingtoprovehisheavenlybirthbyhisbeneficence,hadthesun’schariotbutoneday,anddroveoutofthebeatentrack,heburnedseveralblocksofhousesinthelowerstreetsofheaven,andscorchedthesurfaceoftheearth,anddriedupeveryspring,andmadethegreatdesertofSahara,tillatlengthJupiterhurledhimheadlongtotheearthwithathunderbolt,andthesun,throughgriefathisdeath,didnotshineforayear. Thereisnoodorsobadasthatwhicharisesfromgoodnesstainted.Itishuman,itisdivine,carrion.IfIknewforacertaintythatamanwascomingtomyhousewiththeconsciousdesignofdoingmegood,Ishouldrunformylife,asfromthatdryandparchingwindoftheAfricandesertscalledthesimoom,whichfillsthemouthandnoseandearsandeyeswithdusttillyouaresuffocated,forfearthatIshouldgetsomeofhisgooddonetome,—someofitsvirusmingledwithmyblood.No,—inthiscaseIwouldrathersufferevilthenaturalway.AmanisnotagoodmantomebecausehewillfeedmeifIshouldbestarving,orwarmmeifIshouldbefreezing,orpullmeoutofaditchifIshouldeverfallintoone.IcanfindyouaNewfoundlanddogthatwilldoasmuch.Philanthropyisnotloveforone’sfellow-maninthebroadestsense.Howardwasnodoubtanexceedinglykindandworthymaninhisway,andhashisrewardbut,comparativelyspeaking,whatareahundredHowardstous,iftheirphilanthropydonothelpusinourbestestate,whenwearemostworthytobehelped?Ineverheardofaphilanthropicmeetinginwhichitwassincerelyproposedtodoanygoodtome,orthelikeofme. TheJesuitswerequitebalkedbythoseIndianswho,beingburnedatthestake,suggestednewmodesoftorturetotheirtormentors.Beingsuperiortophysicalsuffering,itsometimeschancedthattheyweresuperiortoanyconsolationwhichthemissionariescouldofferandthelawtodoasyouwouldbedonebyfellwithlesspersuasivenessontheearsofthosewho,fortheirpart,didnotcarehowtheyweredoneby,wholovedtheirenemiesafteranewfashion,andcameverynearfreelyforgivingthemalltheydid. Besurethatyougivethepoortheaidtheymostneed,thoughitbeyourexamplewhichleavesthemfarbehind.Ifyougivemoney,spendyourselfwithit,anddonotmerelyabandonittothem.Wemakecuriousmistakessometimes.Oftenthepoormanisnotsocoldandhungryasheisdirtyandraggedandgross.Itispartlyhistaste,andnotmerelyhismisfortune.Ifyougivehimmoney,hewillperhapsbuymoreragswithit.IwaswonttopitytheclumsyIrishlaborerswhocuticeonthepond,insuchmeanandraggedclothes,whileIshiveredinmymoretidyandsomewhatmorefashionablegarments,till,onebittercoldday,onewhohadslippedintothewatercametomyhousetowarmhim,andIsawhimstripoffthreepairsofpantsandtwopairsofstockingserehegotdowntotheskin,thoughtheyweredirtyandraggedenough,itistrue,andthathecouldaffordtorefusetheextragarmentswhichIofferedhim,hehadsomanyintraones.Thisduckingwastheverythingheneeded.ThenIbegantopitymyself,andIsawthatitwouldbeagreatercharitytobestowonmeaflannelshirtthanawholeslop-shoponhim.Thereareathousandhackingatthebranchesofeviltoonewhoisstrikingattheroot,anditmaybethathewhobestowsthelargestamountoftimeandmoneyontheneedyisdoingthemostbyhismodeoflifetoproducethatmiserywhichhestrivesinvaintorelieve.Itisthepiousslave-breederdevotingtheproceedsofeverytenthslavetobuyaSunday’slibertyfortherest.Someshowtheirkindnesstothepoorbyemployingthemintheirkitchens.Wouldtheynotbekinderiftheyemployedthemselvesthere?Youboastofspendingatenthpartofyourincomeincharitymaybeyoushouldspendtheninetenthsso,anddonewithit.Societyrecoversonlyatenthpartofthepropertythen.Isthisowingtothegenerosityofhiminwhosepossessionitisfound,ortotheremissnessoftheofficersofjustice? Philanthropyisalmosttheonlyvirtuewhichissufficientlyappreciatedbymankind.Nay,itisgreatlyoverratedanditisourselfishnesswhichoverratesit.Arobustpoorman,onesunnydayhereinConcord,praisedafellow-townsmantome,because,ashesaid,hewaskindtothepoormeaninghimself.Thekindunclesandauntsoftheracearemoreesteemedthanitstruespiritualfathersandmothers.IonceheardareverendlectureronEngland,amanoflearningandintelligence,afterenumeratingherscientific,literary,andpoliticalworthies,Shakespeare,Bacon,Cromwell,Milton,Newton,andothers,speaknextofherChristianheroes,whom,asifhisprofessionrequireditofhim,heelevatedtoaplacefarabovealltherest,asthegreatestofthegreat.TheywerePenn,Howard,andMrs.Fry.Everyonemustfeelthefalsehoodandcantofthis.ThelastwerenotEngland’sbestmenandwomenonly,perhaps,herbestphilanthropists. Iwouldnotsubtractanythingfromthepraisethatisduetophilanthropy,butmerelydemandjusticeforallwhobytheirlivesandworksareablessingtomankind.Idonotvaluechieflyaman’suprightnessandbenevolence,whichare,asitwere,hisstemandleaves.Thoseplantsofwhosegreennesswitheredwemakeherbteaforthesick,servebutahumbleuse,andaremostemployedbyquacks.Iwanttheflowerandfruitofamanthatsomefragrancebewaftedoverfromhimtome,andsomeripenessflavorourintercourse.Hisgoodnessmustnotbeapartialandtransitoryact,butaconstantsuperfluity,whichcostshimnothingandofwhichheisunconscious.Thisisacharitythathidesamultitudeofsins.Thephilanthropisttoooftensurroundsmankindwiththeremembranceofhisowncast-offgriefsasanatmosphere,andcallsitsympathy.Weshouldimpartourcourage,andnotourdespair,ourhealthandease,andnotourdisease,andtakecarethatthisdoesnotspreadbycontagion.Fromwhatsouthernplainscomesupthevoiceofwailing?Underwhatlatitudesresidetheheathentowhomwewouldsendlight?Whoisthatintemperateandbrutalmanwhomwewouldredeem?Ifanythingailaman,sothathedoesnotperformhisfunctions,ifhehaveapaininhisbowelseven,—forthatistheseatofsympathy,—heforthwithsetsaboutreforming—theworld.Beingamicrocosmhimself,hediscovers,anditisatruediscovery,andheisthemantomakeit,—thattheworldhasbeeneatinggreenapplestohiseyes,infact,theglobeitselfisagreatgreenapple,whichthereisdangerawfultothinkofthatthechildrenofmenwillnibblebeforeitisripeandstraightwayhisdrasticphilanthropyseeksouttheEsquimauxandthePatagonian,andembracesthepopulousIndianandChinesevillagesandthus,byafewyearsofphilanthropicactivity,thepowersinthemeanwhileusinghimfortheirownends,nodoubt,hecureshimselfofhisdyspepsia,theglobeacquiresafaintblushononeorbothofitscheeks,asifitwerebeginningtoberipe,andlifelosesitscrudityandisoncemoresweetandwholesometolive.IneverdreamedofanyenormitygreaterthanIhavecommitted.Ineverknew,andnevershallknow,aworsemanthanmyself. Ibelievethatwhatsosaddensthereformerisnothissympathywithhisfellowsindistress,but,thoughhebetheholiestsonofGod,ishisprivateail.Letthisberighted,letthespringcometohim,themorningriseoverhiscouch,andhewillforsakehisgenerouscompanionswithoutapology.Myexcusefornotlecturingagainsttheuseoftobaccois,thatInevercheweditthatisapenaltywhichreformedtobacco-chewershavetopaythoughtherearethingsenoughIhavechewed,whichIcouldlectureagainst.Ifyoushouldeverbebetrayedintoanyofthesephilanthropies,donotletyourlefthandknowwhatyourrighthanddoes,foritisnotworthknowing.Rescuethedrowningandtieyourshoe-strings.Takeyourtime,andsetaboutsomefreelabor. Ourmannershavebeencorruptedbycommunicationwiththesaints.Ourhymn-booksresoundwithamelodiouscursingofGodandenduringhimforever.Onewouldsaythateventheprophetsandredeemershadratherconsoledthefearsthanconfirmedthehopesofman.Thereisnowhererecordedasimpleandirrepressiblesatisfactionwiththegiftoflife,anymemorablepraiseofGod.Allhealthandsuccessdoesmegood,howeverfaroffandwithdrawnitmayappearalldiseaseandfailurehelpstomakemesadanddoesmeevil,howevermuchsympathyitmayhavewithmeorIwithit.If,then,wewouldindeedrestoremankindbytrulyIndian,botanic,magnetic,ornaturalmeans,letusfirstbeassimpleandwellasNatureourselves,dispelthecloudswhichhangoverourownbrows,andtakeupalittlelifeintoourpores.Donotstaytobeanoverseerofthepoor,butendeavortobecomeoneoftheworthiesoftheworld. IreadintheGulistan,orFlowerGarden,ofSheikSadiofShiraz,that“Theyaskedawiseman,sayingOfthemanycelebratedtreeswhichtheMostHighGodhascreatedloftyandumbrageous,theycallnoneazad,orfree,exceptingthecypress,whichbearsnofruitwhatmysteryisthereinthis?HerepliedEachhasitsappropriateproduce,andappointedseason,duringthecontinuanceofwhichitisfreshandblooming,andduringtheirabsencedryandwitheredtoneitherofwhichstatesisthecypressexposed,beingalwaysflourishingandofthisnaturearetheazads,orreligiousindependents.—FixnotthyheartonthatwhichistransitoryfortheDijlah,orTigris,willcontinuetoflowthroughBagdadaftertheraceofcaliphsisextinct:ifthyhandhasplenty,beliberalasthedatetreebutifitaffordsnothingtogiveaway,beanazad,orfreeman,likethecypress.” COMPLEMENTALVERSES ThePretensionsofPoverty “Thoudostpresumetoomuch,poorneedywretch, Toclaimastationinthefirmament Becausethyhumblecottage,orthytub, Nursessomelazyorpedanticvirtue Inthecheapsunshineorbyshadysprings, Withrootsandpot-herbswherethyrighthand, Tearingthosehumanepassionsfromthemind, Uponwhosestocksfairbloomingvirtuesflourish, Degradethnature,andbenumbethsense, And,Gorgon-like,turnsactivementostone. Wenotrequirethedullsociety Ofyournecessitatedtemperance, Orthatunnaturalstupidity Thatknowsnorjoynorsorrownoryourforc’d Falselyexaltedpassivefortitude Abovetheactive.Thislowabjectbrood, Thatfixtheirseatsinmediocrity, Becomeyourservilemindsbutweadvance Suchvirtuesonlyasadmitexcess, Brave,bounteousacts,regalmagnificence, All-seeingprudence,magnanimity Thatknowsnobound,andthatheroicvirtue Forwhichantiquityhathleftnoname, Butpatternsonly,suchasHercules, Achilles,Theseus.Backtothyloath’dcell Andwhenthouseestthenewenlightenedsphere, Studytoknowbutwhatthoseworthieswere.” T.CAREW