The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1845-04-18
From the Boston Courier.
~ Patch ON Both Kuccs nnd Gloves On.D

When was boy, it was my fortune
TO breathe for a long time, what some
writer calls the "bracing air Of poverty"
My mo,her-light lie the turf upon the
form, which once enclosed her strong and
gentle spirit-was what is commonly
called an ambitious woman, for tina, quail.
ity which overurns thrones and supplants
dynas,ies, finds 4 legitimate sphere in the
humblesl abode, that the shadow of pow
erty ever darkened. The struggle be-
tween the wish to keep up appearances
and the pinching grippe of necessity pro.
duces endless shifts and contrivances, at
which, were they told, some would smile,
and some, TO whom they would recall
their own experiences, would sigh. Blu,
lie, me not disturb that vale of oblivion,
which shrouds from profane eyes the
hallowed mysteries of poverty.
On one occasion it was necessary to
send me upon an e.rand TO neighbor
in better circumstances than ourselves,
and before whom it was necessary that !
should be presented in the best possible
aspect. Great pains were accordingly
taken to give smart appearance TO my
patched and dlapidaled wardrobe, and to
conceal the rents and chasms which the
envious tooth Of time had made in them
and by way of throwing over my equip
ment a certain SAVIOR and sprnkling Of
gentllty, my red and ,oil-hardened hands
were enclosed in the unfamiliar casing of
pair Of gloves, which had belonged to
my mother in days when her years were
fewer and her heart lighter.
sailed forth on my Grand, and on
my way encountered much older and
bigger boy, who evidently belonged TO a
family which had all our down-dragging
poverty, and none Of our uprising wealth
Of spirit. His rags fairly nui,ered in the
breeze; his bat was constructed on the
most approved principles Of ventilation /;
and his shoes, from their venerable anti
guilty, might have been deemed pair of
fossil shoes-the very ones on which
Shem shuilled into the ark. He was an
impudent varlet, with daredevil swag-
ger in his gait, and sort of "I'm as good
as you" leer in his eye-lhe very whelp
10 throw stone at a well dressed horse
man, because he was well dressed-to
tear boys ruille, simply because it was
clean. AS soon as he saw me, his eye
detected the practical inconsistencies
which characterized my costume, and Ia.
king me by the shoulders, turning me
round with no gentle hand, and survey
ing me from head to foot, exclaimed, with
a scornful laugh Of derision, ga patch
on both knees and glores on ~
Istill recall the sting of wounded feel
ing which shot through me at these
words. TO parody celebrated line of
the immortal Tuscan:
That day wore my gloves no more.
But the lesson, thus rudcly enforced,
sunk deep into my mind. and, in after
life, have had frequent occasion 10 make
practical application of the words of my
rugged friend, when have observed the
practical inconsistencies which SO often
mark the conduct of mankind.
When, for instance, see parents care
fully providing for the ornamental educa.
, ton Of their children, furnishing them
with teachers in music, dancing and
drawing, bu. giving no thought to that
) moral aad religious training, from which
the true dignity and permanent happiness
. Of life alone can come. never. teaching
them habits Of sell-sacri6ce and self-dls-
cipline and self-con,rol, bu. rather by
their example instructing them in evil
speaking, in unchari,ablaness, in envy,
and in falsehood. l think, with sigh, OF
, The patch on both knees and gloues on.
, When | see family living in a cold
: and selfish solitude, not habi,ually war
, ming their houses with the glow Of hap
! py faces, but lavishing that which should
, furnish the hospitality of a whole year
, upon the profusion of single night,
] think of the patch on both knees ana
SOoto o''
! When | see house proiusely furnish
: ed with sumptuous furniture, rich cur
S ,alns, and luxurious carpets, but with nc
9 books, or none but few tawdry ANIMALS
! am reminded Of The patch on both knee.
, and gioues on.
2 When | see man sacrificing peace o
( mind. and health Of body TO tho insane
I pursuit., of wealth, living in ignorance o
, the character of the children who are
h growing up around them, cutting them
: selves of from the highest and pures
i pleasures Of their natures. and so peryer
n ling their humanity, that which wa'