The Guard

LABOR.

There can be nothing more absurd than the prejudice, which exists in the minds of many people against manual labor, particularly in a slave community. Labor is honorable in all. In every well ordered society, there must be a diversity of occupations and pursuits; all cannot follow what are usually termed the learned professions, and the mechanic or tiller of the earth, is as necessary to every community as the doctor or lawyer. His business is as honorable and he is as much entitled to the respect and notice of his fellow citizens. If he be intelligent and virtuous, as he may be, for he is not exposed to many of the temptations of professional life, there is no society to which he is not equal, and entitled to enter and enjoy. Many a young lady who turns up her nose at an honest, sensible working man, is made miserable by marrying a professional gentleman, so called, whose indolence leaves her to suffer, whose vices taint the circle in which he moves, and whose capacity disgraces his profession.