Lessons From a Carpenter’s Tools

A beautiful poem written by the late Mr. Albert Ramsey….

While I watched a certain tradesman as he gathered up his tools,

packed his chisels, saws, and hammer and folded up his rules,

A picture came before me, and its parallel I’ll show

How these tools could teach us wisdom in our service here below.

These tools all had an owner, and for each a price was paid.

The owner wisely chose them for the purpose they were made.

Each one was used when needed to complete some grand design,

And as I looked upon them, this lesson came to mind.

Suppose a conversation could be heard within the box.

Each scolding the old Hammer for the way he bangs and knocks.

Says the Chisel, “Take a look at me! My head, as you can see,

Is the garget of that hammer. Why’s he always banging me?

For almost everything I do, he hits me on the head.

Could there not be something softer to do the work instead?”

“Why is it,” says the Hammer, “That you all find fault with me?

I am wielded by my owner, it is plain for all to see.

I wish I were the plumb line with nothing much to do

But hang around the others and be numbered with the crew.”

The Nails all vow to go on strike, their tempers all aflare:

“Tis plain to all unbiased minds, we’re driven to despair.”

Then says the sharp-edged Chisel, while pointing to his head,

“We’ll eliminate the Hammer and get something in his stead.”

Up speaks the Saw with whimpering voice, “Will none my view-point see?

When there’s any cutting off to do, why’s it always left to me?

The Square and Pencil draw a line and say they’re always right,

And if I do not follow them then my teeth cannot be straight.

And that old File is awful rough; I much prefer the Knife,

For he and I, in character, are very much alike.”

The Plane, with sweet majestic voice, speaks up and asks permission

If he can have a word with all to smooth the rough condition.

“My plan is this — I always wait until you all are through.

And after I have done my part I leave things just like new.

Now why behave unseemly? I feel my way is right;

Why can’t you all be just like me? You’d sure be more polite.”

Up spoke the Saw and Hammer that had laboured hard all day,

While Mr. Plane sat on the bench without a ward to say.

“We feel you wrong us greatly by taking such a view,

For you’re mostly always idle, while we have work to do.”

And so they came together to figure out a way,

That they could work together and make the business pay.

And this was the conclusion that was reached among the tools.

“Our thoughts of one another is the reckoning of fools.

The Master owns each one of us, we are not all the same,

Each has his own peculiar work to bring the Master gain.”

Each saw the other in new light and harmony did reign.

Each did respect the other, although not all the same.

The Nail to hold together; the Square to keep things straight;

The Pencil for a guideline; the Plane to make things right;

The Chisel and the Hammer found their teamwork great delight

As they viewed the finished product — the mortise holding tight.

And as they viewed the rough old File, in honour they did pledge

To give him all the credit for keeping them on edge.

Now may my simple musings provoke you to compare

The parallel with Christian in their worship, work and prayer.

How similar is our behaviour to this box of silly tools.

When we see it, let us judge it as “the reckoning of fools.”

We all need one another and there’s none of us the same,

So let us work together to increase the Master’s fame.