“First day.—Received from Sheffield a dainty ‘well-poised little
hammer’ and three sharp-pointed little chisels: felt quite cheerful
about porphyry-cutting.
“Second day.—Sent to the village in the morning for a slab of
freestone; employed man in the afternoon to chisel a hole in it, and to
fix the porphyry therein with plaster-of-Paris; drew a straight line,
thinking it wiser not to begin with an asterisk; turned the points of
two chisels without making the least impression on my line;—the process
turned out to be skating, not engraving. Tried the third chisel, and,
after diligent efforts, made a cut equal in depth to about two grains
of sand. This is the Hamite bondage of art. Felt an increasing desire
that the Master should try it, and a respect for the ancient Egyptians.
Bore patiently the scoffs of the Amorites.
“Third day.—Sent chisel to the village to be hardened. Was recommended
a lead hammer. Finally, a friend went to the village and brought back
with him an iron hammer and two shorter chisels. Was asked by an
Amorite gardener how I was ‘getting on’—unconcealed pleasure on his
part to hear that I was not getting on at all. Later, accomplished a
beautifully irregular star-fish, which looks mashed out rather than
cut, not the least like ‘sharp cliff-edged harbours,’ as the Master
kindly supposes. I begin to feel for the ancient Egyptians: they must
have got a great deal of porphyry-dust into their eyes. I shall rise in
the morning to dulled points and splintered chisels; but ‘when you have
cut your asterisk, you will know,’ etc., and this is not the voice of a
syren, (see ‘Eagle’s Nest,’) but of my honoured Master.... A terrible
suspicion occurs to me that he thought no one would or could cut it!
Obedience is a fine thing! How it works in the midst of difficulties,
dust, and worst of all—doubt!
“Fourth day.—I think porphyry-cutting is delightful work: it is true
that I have not done any to-day, but I have had my chisels sharpened,
and two new ones have arrived from the blacksmith this evening, made
out of old files. Also, I have covered my chisels with pretty blue
paper, and my hammer with blue-and-white ribbon. I feel the importance
of the step gained. Surely I may rest righteously after such labour. If
they sing ‘From Egypt lately come,’ in church, I shall think it very
personal.
“Fifth day.—My piece of porphyry is now enriched by a second star-fish,
with a little more backbone in it, and two dividing lines. I worked on
the lawn this morning, under the chestnut tree;—the derision of the
Amorite gardener (who was mowing the grass with a scythe) was
manifested by the remark ‘Is that-t all!’ I told him about the Egyptian
tombs, but he probably thinks me mildly insane; he however suggested a
flat edge instead of a point to a chisel, and I will try it.
“Sixth day.—Had lead hammer cast, and waited for chisel.
“Seventh day.—With third hammer and seventh chisel will surely charm
the porphyry.
“But, no! my latest asterisk is jagged in outline instead of sharp. I
wonder what attempts others have made. Any one living in or near a
blacksmith’s shop would have an advantage, for the chisels are always
wanting hardening, or rectifying in some way; and my blue papers soon
disappeared. If obedience for the sake of obedience is angelic, I must
be an exalted creature. One Amorite’s suggestion was, ‘You would do a
deal better with a softer material.’ This was the voice of the tempter.
“What is gained?—(besides a lifelong affection for porphyry)—a
knowledge of one more thing that I cannot do; an admiration (to a
certain extent) of those who could do it; and a wonder as to what the
Master will require next of (amongst others) his faithful and obedient
disciple.”