Scotland/Scots > Licht frae the smiddy o' Saunders Dinwuddie

46 A CHRISTIAN WORKSHOP.
they do weel for themsel’s. They are carefu’,
eident, and laborious. A’ the ’prentices when
journeymen bide wi’ me, if I ha’e room for them,
say they’re a’ just like my ain bairns as it were.’’
“ Do you carry out the plan of subdivision of
labour, Saunders?”
“My ’prentice lads, Sir, learn a’ the kinds o’
wark done in my shop. They can turn their
hand to onything that fa’s in their way. They
are no stinted to ae thing and nae mair, sae they
are qualified, in due time, to be foremen, or
maisters themsel’s. Some o’ them are managers
o’ great warks, wi’ great salaries, far greater men
now than their auld maister, Saunders Din-
wuddie.”
“If all masters, Saunders, acted as you do
there would not be so many noble establishments
for the carrying on of trade and traffic and
merchandise. Capital would not accumulate so
rapidly, neither would employment be provided
for such multitudes. ”
“ Something in what ye say, Sir; but I’m no sure
if it wouldna’ be better for baith maister and man
if a drag were put on the wheels o’ capital, as ye
ca’ it, lest in the hands o’ jugglin’ stockjobbers,
and folk o’ that kind, the chariot rush down hill
ower fast, and sae cowp and whummle wi’ a smash
at the bottom some day. I speak as an auld-
fashioned man, Sir ; but I think the ‘ ca' cannie,
live and let live ’ fashion o’ ancient times was
fully asguid as the ‘ deil-may-care Jehu-lihe-drivin”
o’ the present day. A’ kindness, affection, love,
and guid-will amang men, ay, and even common
humanity, are slauchtered an’ offered up as