FullReads

“Honor to Labor!”–the mariner sings,
As forth to the breezes his sails he flings;–
“It has made us lords of the boundless deep–
Fearlessly over the waves we sweep!”

“Honor to Labor!”–the traveller cries,
As forth in the rushing tram he flies;–
“We may rival the speed of the bird’s swift wing
As he joyously soars thro’ the skies of Spring,
And the fetterless wind on its pinions free,
Is scarcely more fleet in its course than we!”

“Honor to Labor!”–the student cries,
As he gazes around him with joyful eyes,–
“Honor to Labor!–the teeming press
Pours forth its treasures the world to bless!
From the pictured pages where childhood’s eye
Findeth a world of bright imagery,
To the massive tome ‘mid whose treasures vast,
Lie the time-dimmed records of ages past,
We may wander, and revel, yet ever find
Supplies exhaustless for heart and mind
We may turn to the Past–to the ages fled–
And converse hold with the gifted dead,–
Old climes of historic fame explore,
And gather the gems of their buried lore,–
With Prophet-bards seek inspiring themes,
Or muse alone by old fabled streams,–
With the Poet take our enraptured flight,
And woo the Muse on Parnassus’ height,–
Take fair Philosophy by the hand,
And roam with her through her native land,–
May win from the God-inspired of Earth
Heavenly treasures of priceless worth,–
Till the mental stores of all ages flown,
And all gifted minds, we have made our own.”.

Honor to Labor of body or mind,
That hath for its object the good of mankind!
The Farmer, who cheerily ploughs the soil,
And gathers the fruit of his hopeful toil,–
The strong Mechanic, whose manly brow
Weareth of labor the healthful glow,–
The bold Inventor, beneath whose hands
The useful engine completed stands,–
The Artist, who, with unrivalled skill,
Creations of loveliness forms at will,–
The Teacher, who sows in the minds of youth
Seeds of precious undying truth,–
The pale-faced Student, who, worn with toil,
Consumes o’er his studies the midnight oil,–
The man of Science, with earnest mind,
Who toils to enlighten and bless mankind–
To themselves, their race, and their country true.
Honor, all honor, to such is due!