who lags1 for dread of daily work, and his appointed task would shirk,commits a folly and a crime; a soulless2 slave- a paltry knave-a clog3 upon the wheels of time.
with work to do, and store of health, the man"s unworthy to be free,who will not give, that he may live,his daily toil for daily fee.
no dread of toil have we or ours;
we know our worth and weigh our powers;
the more we work the more we win:
success to trade!
1lags: hangs behind; idles.
2soulless: without spirit or ambition. 3 clog: hindrance.
success to spade!
and to the corn that"s coming in! and joy to him who, o"er his task,remembers toil is nature"s plan1;who, working, thinks and never sinkshis independence as a man.
who only asks for humblest wealth, enough for competence2 and health,and leisure, when his work is done, to read his bookby chimney-nook,or stroll at setting of the sun; who toils, as every man should toil,for fair reward, erect and free; these are the men- the best of men-these are the men we mean to be.
-charles mackay
1 toil is nature"s plan: there is no idleness in nature. 2 competence: what is sufficient for one"s needs.
