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Lord Stanley was probably right when he said； in his address to
the Glasgow students above mentioned； that he doubted whether
〃hard work； steadily and regularly carried on； ever yet hurt
anybody。〃
Then； again； length of YEARS is no proper test of length of LIFE。
A man's life is to be measured by what he does in it； and what he
feels in it。 The more useful work the man does； and the more he
thinks and feels； the more he really lives。 The idle useless man；
no matter to what extent his life may be prolonged； merely
vegetates。
The early teachers of Christianity ennobled the lot of toil by
their example。 〃He that will not work；〃 said Saint Paul； 〃neither
shall he eat；〃 and he glorified himself in that he had laboured
with his hands； and had not been chargeable to any man。 When St。
Boniface landed in Britain； he came with a gospel in one hand and
a carpenter's rule in the other； and from England he afterwards
passed over into Germany； carrying thither the art of building。
Luther also； in the midst of a multitude of other employments；
worked diligently for a living； earning his bread by gardening；
building； turning； and even clockmaking。 （9）
It was characteristic of Napoleon； when visiting a work of
mechanical excellence； to pay great respect to the inventor； and
on taking his leave； to salute him with a low bow。 Once at St。
Helena； when walking with Mrs。 Balcombe； some servants came along
carrying a load。 The lady； in an angry tone； ordered them out of
the way； on which Napoleon interposed； saying； 〃Respect the
burden； madam。〃 Even the drudgery of the humblest labourer
contributes towards the general wellbeing of society； and it was a
wise saying of a Chinese Emperor； that 〃if there was a man who did
not work； or a woman that was idle； somebody must suffer cold or
hunger in the empire。〃
The habit of constant useful occupation is as essential for the
happiness and wellbeing of woman as of man。 Without it； women are
apt to sink into a state of listless ENNUI and uselessness；
accompanied by sick headache and attacks of 〃nerves。〃 Caroline
Perthes carefully warned her married daughter Louisa to beware of
giving way to such listlessness。 〃I myself；〃 she said； 〃when the
children are gone out for a half…holiday； sometimes feel as stupid
and dull as an owl by daylight； but one must not yield to this；
which happens more or less to all young wives。 The best relief is
WORK； engaged in with interest and diligence。 Work； then；
constantly and diligently； at something or other； for idleness is
the devil's snare for small and great； as your grandfather says；
and he says true。〃 （10）
Constant useful occupation is thus wholesome； not only for the
body； but for the mind。 While the slothful man drags himself
indolently through life； and the better part of his nature sleeps
a deep sleep； if not morally and spiritually dead； the energetic
man is a source of activity and enjoyment to all who come within
reach of his influence。 Even any ordinary drudgery is better than
idleness。 Fuller says of Sir Francis Drake； who was early sent to
sea； and kept close to his work by his master； that such 〃pains
and patience in his youth knit the joints of his soul； and made
them more solid and compact。〃 Schiller used to say that he
considered it a great advantage to be employed in the discharge of
some daily mechanical dutysome regular routine of work； that
rendered steady application necessary。
Thousands can bear testimony to the truth of the saying of Greuze；
the French painter； that workemployment； useful occupationis
one of the great secrets of happiness。 Casaubon was once induced
by the entreaties of his friends to take a few days entire rest；
but he returned to his work with the remark； that it was easier to
bear illness doing something； than doing nothing。
When Charles Lamb was released for life from his daily drudgery of
desk…work at the India Office； he felt himself the happiest of
men。 〃I would not go back to my prison；〃 he said to a friend；
〃ten years longer； for ten thousand pounds。〃 He also wrote in the
same ecstatic mood to Bernard Barton： 〃I have scarce steadiness of
head to compose a letter；〃 he said； 〃I am free！ free as air！ I
will live another fifty years。。。。 Would I could sell you some of
my leisure！ Positively the best thing a man can do isNothing；
and next to that； perhaps； Good Works。〃 Two yearstwo long and
tedious years passed； and Charles Lamb's feelings had undergone an
entire change。 He now discovered that official； even humdrum work
〃the appointed round； the daily task〃had been good for him；
though he knew it not。 Time had formerly been his friend； it had
now become his enemy。 To Bernard Barton he again wrote： 〃I assure
you； NO work is worse than overwork； the mind preys on itself
the most unwholesome of food。 I have ceased to care for almost
anything。。。。 Never did the waters of heaven pour down upon a
forlorner head。 What I can do； and overdo； is to walk。 I am a
sanguinary murderer of time。 But the oracle is silent。〃
No man could be more sensible of the practical importance of
industry than Sir Walter Scott； who was himself one of the most
laborious and indefatigable of men。 Indeed； Lockhart says of him
that； taking all ages and countries together； the rare example of
indefatigable energy； in union with serene self…possession of mind
and manner； such as Scott's； must be sought for in the roll of
great sovereigns or great captains； rather than in that of
literary genius。 Scott himself was most anxious to impress upon
the minds of his own children the importance of industry as a
means of usefulness and happiness in the world。 To his son
Charles； when at school； he wrote：… 〃I cannot too much impress
upon your mind that LABOUR is the condition which God has imposed
on us in every station of life； there is nothing worth having that
can be had without it； from the bread which the peasant wins with
the sweat of his brow； to the sports by which the rich man must
get rid of his ENNUI。。。。 As for knowledge； it can no more be
planted in the human mind without labour than a field of wheat can
be produced without the previous use of the plough。 There is；
indeed； this great difference； that chance or circumstances may so
cause it that another shall reap what the farmer sows； but no man
can be deprived； whether by accident or misfortune； of the fruits
of his own studies； and the liberal and extended acquisitions of
knowledge which he makes are all for his own use。 Labour；
therefore； my dear boy； and improve the time。 In youth our steps
are light； and our minds are ductile； and knowledge is easily laid
up； but if we neglect our spring； our summers will be useless and
contemptible； our harvest will be chaff； and the winter of our old
age unrespected and desolate。〃 （11）
Southey was as laborious a worker as Scott。 Indeed； work might
almost be said to form part of his