title: Laravel 4 using query builder for LEFT() mysql string function
body: <p>I'm wondering how to create a LEFT() string function using Laravel's query builder. This is what I'm going for and what returns the correct results for me. </p>
  
  <p>MySQL version </p>
  
  <pre><code>SELECT id, title, LEFT(body, 141) AS body FROM posts
  </code></pre>
  
  <hr>
  
  <p>attempt at query builder</p>
  
  <pre><code>$posts = Post::select('title', 'id', DB::raw('left("body", 141)'))-&gt;orderBy('created_at')-&gt;get(3);
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>I don't revieve any errors and I can use <code>{{ $post-&gt;title }}</code>, but when I try to use the <code>{{ $post-&gt;body }}</code> then I see nothing. </p>