works

left hand picks up the brick as the right scoops out the proper amount of mortar

, first pushing it to pile then filling  the trowel, a shake downward with a faster stop sets the mortar in place

 as the brick base is presented face up to be dressed for application, 

The trowel can now be turned upside down without dropping mortar        

  The edge slides along the brick to receive the first of four edge deposits,

 all done in one move as the bricklayer thinks of yesterdays and tomorrows.

 He uses the now empty trowel to shave off the excess mortar as he adjusts the brick to almost touch the stretched line,  

He then repeats the entire process as his mind wanders pastures of high waving grass.

 Three more bricks and he is ready to apply a new bed of mortar for four more bricks. 

His normal output is a thousand bricks a day.

All of which are placed within reach between tubs of mortar that are filled as quickly as they are emptied. 

The only thing bricklayers are allowed to wait for are break whistles.

    Sometimes one will drive by a building and say "I helped build that"

 Most times

 not