Work and Wages. 623 



gets to shut the gate, makes us all wait for him, and abuses 

 the team, is dear help at any price. 



In speaking of tlie mutual obligations of the hired 

 laborer and his employer, we shall first consider the obliga- 

 tions of the laborer, and afterwards the obligations of the 

 employer. 



There are some things that are expected of a good, hon- 

 est workman. 



First. He must keep his engagements. The man who is 

 always behind his promises probably knows he is promising 

 more work than he can do. I have known men — men of 

 good standing in society, too, — to promise to do a job by 

 such a time, when they well knew they could not do the 

 job, and all the other work promised, by the time agreed 

 upon. The promise was made, not to let the man know 

 when his w^ork would be connnenced and finished, but for 

 the purpose of securing the job, which in English is called 

 a poor promise. The laborer must go to work when he 

 agrees to ; that is his first obligation to his employer. 



Secondly. The laborer must give an honest day's work. 

 It is not right for him to go into his own garden and work 

 an hour in the mornino; and then again at ni2;ht, thus taking 

 from the day's work some strength and time which ought 

 to have been used for the benefit of his employer. When 

 a man hires out by the month or day, he usually asks, and 

 his employer agrees to pay all the man can earn. He is 

 under obligations, therefore, to do all he can for his em- 

 ployer. 



Thirdly. A good laborer will always use his best judg- 

 ment for the advancement of every legitimate interest of 



