In the short story ‘Clearing Paths through the Past’ and the poem “To be of Use” by Marge Piercy, both of the authors have a common theme. The passages talk about how good it feels to be hardworking and helpful to others around you. Both passages give examples of jobs and labors that people do to help others, and also the impact it's made on their life. In the short story ‘Clearing Paths for the Past’ the author gives us an example of a man doing things and taking responsibility for things he is in charge of. The main character of the story is having to shovel snow for the kids that walk to school in the winter. The man goes into detail on how his grandfather did so many things for others and it shows that the young man is following in the
