WALT WHITMAN Photocopies Burroughs, John, "Work and Wait," 1856 Box 2 Folder 3 Work and Wait. "Accuse not nature she has done her part, Do thou but thine And be not diffident of wisdom" — Milton This world is a vast theatre created for exertion, or as Shakspeare says a stage whereon we all act a part in the great drama of life. The claims that humanity have upon us as members of one great family strongly urge the necessity of us "acting well our part." We come into the world endowed with infinite susseptabilities created in the image of God – not like him in the perfection and development of our nature; but like him as the green bud is like the full expanded blossom. He has placed within this "temple shrine of clay" a spark of pure Divinity; which should shine brighter and brighter until "the perfect day," And it is this heavenly principal that gives world. They are the pillars of the state, the bulworks of the church. They ever stand firm upon their principles and the fluctuating names of party polatic or the howling blast of popular opinion, changes not the calm tenor of their ways, but with an eye single to the great object of life they press forward slowly but surely along the pylgrims pathways. We want more such men, more men who educate themselves for the right discharge of the great duties of life, men who can "act well their part, for here all all the honor lies" J Burroughs, Roxbury Del Co. [??] [??opersto??] [Ser?] July 14th 1856 Transcribed and reviewed by contributors participating in the By The People project at crowd.loc.gov.