Ernest Bourner Allen

“ Unspeakably touching is it, however, when I find both dignities united; and he that must toil outwardly for the lowest of man’s wants, is also toiling inwardly for the highest. Sublimer in this world know I nothing than a peasant saint, could such now anywhere be met with. ”

“ These talks are not given on the supposition that the toilers are in some imaginary class below the average. They are not talks to, but talks with, the toilers. They are talks with all those who in shop or store, home or schoolroom, office or field, are working for bread.
I. All toil is noble. We need to revise our notions. The brain and the hand work on an equality, and the honest handling of pen or spade is noble. Carlyle fittingly says: “Two men I honor and no third. First, the toil-worn craftsman that with earth-made implement laboriously conquers the earth and makes her man’s. ”

“ Venerable to me is the hard hand, crooked, coarse; venerable, too, is the rugged face all weather-tanned, bespoiled, with its rude intelligence, for it is the face of a man living man-like. A second man I honor, and still more highly ”