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III
WEALTH
Who shall tell what did befall；
Far away in time； when once；
Over the lifeless ball；
Hung idle stars and suns？
What god the element obeyed？
Wings of what wind the lichen bore；
Wafting the puny seeds of power；
Which； lodged in rock； the rock abrade？
And well the primal pioneer
Knew the strong task to it assigned
Patient through Heaven's enormous year
To build in matter home for mind。
From air the creeping centuries drew
The matted thicket low and wide；
This must the leaves of ages strew
The granite slab to clothe and hide；
Ere wheat can wave its golden pride。
What smiths； and in what furnace； rolled
（In dizzy aeons dim and mute
The reeling brain can ill compute）
Copper and iron； lead； and gold？
What oldest star the fame can save
Of races perishing to pave
The planet with a floor of lime？
Dust is their pyramid and mole：
Who saw what ferns and palms were pressed
Under the tumbling mountain's breast； ｜P988
In the safe herbal of the coal？
But when the quarried means were piled；
All is waste and worthless； till
Arrives the wise selecting will；
And； out of slime and chaos； Wit
Draws the threads of fair and fit。
Then temples rose； and towns； and marts；
The shop of toil； the hall of arts；
Then flew the sail across the seas
To feed the North from tropic trees；
The storm…wind wove； the torrent span；
Where they were bid the rivers ran；
New slaves fulfilled the poet's dream；
Galvanic wire； strong…shouldered steam。
Then docks were built； and crops were stored；
And ingots added to the hoard。
But； though light…headed man forget；
Remembering Matter pays her debt：
Still； through her motes and masses； draw
Electric thrills and ties of Law；
Which bind the strengths of Nature wild
To the conscience of a child。
_Wealth_
As soon as a stranger is introduced into any compations which
all wish to have answered； is； How does that man get his living？ And
with reason。 He is no whole man until he knows how to earn a
blameless livelihood。 Society is barbarous； until every industrious
man can get his living without dishonest customs。
Every man is a consumer； and ought to be a producer。 He fails
to make his place good in the world； unless he not only pays his
debt； but also adds something to the common wealth。 Nor can he do
justice to his genius； without making some larger demand on the world
than a bare subsistence。 He is by constitution expensive； and needs
to be rich。
Wealth has its source in applications of the mind to nature；
from the rudest strokes of spade and axe； up to the last secrets of
art。 Intimate ties subsist between thought and all production；
because a better order is equivalent to vast amounts of brute labor。
The forces and the resistances are Nature's； but the mind acts in
bringing things from where they abound to where they are wanted； in
wise combining； in directing the practice of the useful arts； and in
the creation of finer values； by fine art； by eloquence； by song； or
the reproductions of memory。 Wealth is in applications of mind to
nature； and the art of getting rich consists not in industry； much
less in saving； but in a better order； in timeliness； in being at the
right spot。 One man has stronger arms； or longer legs； another sees
by the course of streams； and growth of markets； where land will be
wanted； makes a clearing to the river； goes to sleep； wakes up rich。
Steam is no stronger now； than it was a hundred years ago； but is put
to better use。 A clever fellow was acquainted with the expansive
force of steam； he also saw the wealth of wheat and grass rotting in
Michigan。 Then he cunningly screws on the steam…pipe to the
wheat…crop。 Puff now； O Steam！ The steam puffs and expands as
before； but this time it is dragging all Michigan at its back to
hungry New York and hungry England。 Coal lay in ledges under the
ground since the Flood； until a laborer with pick and windlass brings
it to the surface。 We may well call it black diamonds。 Every basket
is power and civilization。 For coal is a portable climate。 It
carries the heat of the tropics to Labrador and the polar circle： and
it is the means of transporting itself whithersoever it is wanted。
Watt and Stephenson whispered in the ear of mankind their secret；
that _a half…ounce of coal will draw two tons a mile_； and coal
carries coal； by rail and by boat； to make Canada as warm as
Calcutta； and with its comfort brings its industrial power。
When the farmer's peaches are taken from under the tree； and
carried into town； they have a new look； and a hundredfold value over
the fruit which grew on the same bough； and lies fulsomely on the
ground。 The craft of the merchant is this bringing a thing from
where it abounds； to where it is costly。
Wealth begins in a tight roof that keeps the rain and wind out；
in a good pump that yields you plenty of sweet water； in two suits of
clothes； so to change your dress when you are wet； in dry sticks to
burn； in a good double…wick lamp； and three meals； in a horse； or a
locomotive； to cross the land； in a boat to cross the sea； in tools
to work with； in books to read； and so； in giving； on all sides； by
tools and auxiliaries； the greatest possible extension to our powers；
as if it added feet； and hands； and eyes； and blood； length to the
day； and knowledge； and good…will。
Wealth begins with these articles of necessity。 And here we
must recite the iron law which Nature thunders in these northern
climates。 First； she requires that each man should feed himself。
If； happily； his fathers have left him no inheritance； he must go to
work； and by making his wants less； or his gains more； he must draw
himself out of that state of pain and insult in which she forces the
beggar to lie。 She gives him no rest until this is done： she
starves； taunts； and torments him； takes away warmth； laughter；
sleep； friends； and daylight； until he has fought his way to his own
loaf。 Then； less peremptorily； but still with sting enough； she
urges him to the acquisition of such things as belong to him。 Every
warehouse and shop…window； every fruit…tree； every thought of every
hour； opens a new want to him； which it concerns his power and
dignity to gratify。 It is of no use to argue the wants down： the
philosophers have laid the greatness of man in making his wants few；
but will a man content himself with a hut and a handful of dried
pease？ He is born to be rich。 He is thoroug