idleness of advocating reform on a basis of personal predilection. Enough
to set my own thoughts in order, without seeking to devise a new economy
for the world. But it is much to see clearly from one's point of view,
and therein the evil days I have treasured are of no little help to me.
If my knowledge be only subjective, why, it only concerns myself; I
preach to no one. Upon another man, of origin and education like to
mine, a like experience of hardship might have a totally different
effect; he might identify himself with the poor, burn to the end of his
life with the noblest humanitarianism. I should no further criticize him
than to say that he saw with other eyes than mine. A vision, perhaps,
larger and more just. But in one respect he resembles me. If ever such
a man arises, let him be questioned; it will be found that he once made a
meal of blackberries--and mused upon it.



XVI.


I stood to-day watching harvesters at work, and a foolish envy took hold
upon me. To be one of those brawny, brown-necked men, who can string
their muscles from dawn to sundown, and go home without an ache to the
sound slumber which will make them fresh again for to-morrow's toil! I
am a man in the middle years, with limbs shaped as those of another, and
subject to no prostrating malady, yet I doubt whether I could endure the
lightest part of this field labour even for half an hour. Is that indeed
to be a man? Could I feel surprised if one of these stalwart fellows
turned upon me a look of good-natured contempt? Yet he would never dream
that I envied him; he would think it as probable, no doubt, that I should
compare myself unfavourably with one of the farm horses.