No Work the Hardest Work
In Chapter 1 of The Golden Road, Cecily chides Dan for his laziness.
“Well, that’s an argument,” admitted Dan. “The less work you can get along with the better, in my opinion. No, Felicity, you needn’t say it. I know exactly what you want to say, so save your breath to cool your porridge. I agree with you that I never work if I can and anything else to do.”
“‘Remember it is harder still
To have no work to do,”‘
quoted Cecily reprovingly.“I don’t believe THAT,” rejoined Dan. “I’m like the Irishman who said he wished the man who begun work had stayed and finished it.”
No Work the Hardest Work
Anonymous, Goodrich’s Fifth School Reader
1. Ho ! ye who at the anvil toil, and strike the sounding blow,
Where from the burning iron’s breast the sparks fly to and fro,
Still answering to the hammer’s ring, and fire’s intenser glow i
Oh ! while you feel it hard to toil and sweat the long day through,
Remember it is harder still to have no work to do.
2. Ho! ye who till the stubborn soil, whose hard hands guide the plow,
Who bend beneath the summer sun with burning cheek and brow I
You deem the curse still clings to earth from olden tune till now;
But while you feel it hard to toil and labor long hours through,
Remember it is harder still to have no work to do.
3. Ho! ye who plow the sea’s blue field, who ride the restless wave;
Beneath whose gallant vessel’s keel there lies a yawning grave;
Around whose bark the wintry winds like fiends of fury rave I
Oh! while you feel it hard to toil and labor long hours through,
Remember it is harder still to have no work to do.
4. Ho! all who labor, all who strive! you wield a lofty power;
Do with your might, do with your strength, fill every golden hour!
The glorious privilege to do is man’s most noble dower
Oh! to your birthright and yourselves — to your own souls be true.
A weary, wretched life is theirs who have no work to do.
