Two Men

Maoriland Worker, Volume I, Issue 8, 20 April 1911, Page 18

Two Men

Two" men I honour, and no thirdFirst, the toil-worn craftsman thati with earth-made implement laboriously conquers the earth, and makes herman's. Venerable to nic is the hard hand; crooked, coarse. Venerable too is the rugged face, all weather-tanned,, besoiled, Avith its rude intelligence; for it is tho face of a man living; man. like. Hardly-entreated brother! For uswas thy back so bent, for us were thy straight limbs and fingers so deformed ; thou Avert our conscript, on Avhom the lot fell, and fighting our battles Avertso marred. A second men I honour, and still more highly; him who is seen toiling; for the spiritually indispensable—not daily bread, but the bread of life. If the Door and humble toil that Aye have food! must not the high and glorious toil for him in return, that he might have light, have guidance, freedom, immortality? These two, in all their degrees, 1 honour ; all else is chaff and dust, which let the AA-ind blow whither its listeth. —Carlyle^