fforts, some of which we are
bound to make. If we knew how big the mountain is we might despair of
digging it down by spadefuls, though the faith that digs is the one that
can say with best hopes for obedience, "Be thou removed and cast into the
sea." Few children would have courage to begin the alphabet as a step to
learning if they knew what a long and heavy road is to be trudged beyond.

And it may be remarked that in returning to one's post of duty after a
time of "leave," there is at first a disposition rather to generalize
about what ought to be done than to set to work and do it. It is
natural, indeed, that before putting on the harness once more we should
take a look at the collar and buckles, and at the load to be drawn, and
it may be allowable to the soldier, while on his way to rejoin the ranks,
to take just a glance at the line of march before he falls in.

Theorizing is soon cut short, however, by the clamour of work waiting to
be done, and the absorbing interest felt in doing it, and perhaps too
soon we forget all doubts as to whether the direction of our labours is
after all the best, or whether time might not be saved by improving the
instruments of our work, the object of using them being still the same.

Now there is a reflection suggested each time in frequent foreign travel
which lasts longest on my mind after returning to England--"How is it
that our lowest classes seem to be lower than the lowest abroad?"

Whether they are so or not is another question; but in all our great
towns there is a mass of human beings whose want, misery, and filth are
more patent to the eye, and blatant to the ear, and pungent to the
nostrils, than in almost any other towns in the world. Their personal
liberty is greater, too, than anywhere else. Are these two facts related
to each other? Is the positive piggery of the lowest stratum of our
fellows part of the price we pay for glorious freedom as guaranteed by
our "British Constitution"? and do we not pay very dearly then? Must the
masses be frowsy to be free?

The highest class of society can _enjoy_ the benefits of our mode of
government, with their rank and wealth secured, and _prestige_ added. In
return they surrender indeed the pleasure of downright tyranny and a
small quota of their ample gold.

The middle class also can _enjoy_ their freedom from oppression, and a
nominal share in politics, and they pay by hard work for this.

But the wretched beings