34 BANQUET TO THE 



enough for a man to leave the world better than he 

 found it. 



There is another thing. Such work gives strength. 

 It is a good thing to take the touch of earth. There 

 was deep significance in the old fable of Antaeus, 

 who in the wrestle against all comers took on new 

 life whenever he touched the earth, and his final 

 adversary only prevailed by lifting him into the air. 

 But nobody ever got our friend into the air! When 

 wearied with the various strifes of chance and fate, 

 he turned to the earth and sprung up with new vigor 

 every time. Such work reacts on character. A 

 growth in grace, so to speak, runs along parallel 

 with this development of nature. While one is thus 

 working amidst the laws of life, and bringing out the 

 thousand utilities that lie hidden in the earth, it is 

 but a natural analogy that he should bring out also 

 those expressions of infinite beauty and service that 

 lie in the possibilities of the human soul. Who can 

 look on this expressive countenance, and not feel that 

 he has found this grace, and realized this exceeding 

 great reward ? We rejoice in this honored old 

 age, this youth, rounded, beautified, and sweetened 

 into supreme manhood ; and we rejoice also that it 

 shall remain for after times an example and inspi- 

 ration for all who would live true lives, and win 

 the honor that comes here and hereafter to noble 

 character. 



