The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1850-10-19
val to the poultry yard as coon ms they get in fen.
Blue Stocking Morality,

Not long ago friend sent US rich, rare pres.
ent, in the shape Of the copy of letter written
twenty years ago, by lady Of great literary dis.
tnction, to her cousin, who now g.accs nne Of the
most honorable official stations in the Empire
State. II was written on the eve Of his marriage,
and accompanied pair Of blue mixed stockings,
knit by herself as present. 1t was sent 10 us
for our private and personal enjoyment; bu. as
no restriction was imposed upon us, and rs the
letter is 20 decidedly unequaled and 30 entirely
rich, we cannot resist the temptation to share the
enjoyment Of it. perusal with our friends
We would only add, tha: it will endure being
read slowly, carefully. and more than once:
DEAR Cousin Herewith you will receive
present of pair Of woocn stockings. knit by nv
own hands; and be assured. dear coz, that my
friendship for you is warm as the material, active
as the nnger-work, and generous US the donation.
but consider this present as peculiarly sp
proprate on the occasion Of your marriaye You
will remark, in the first place that there are two
individuals uuted in one pair, who are to walk
eide by side, guarding against holiness ard giving
comfort as long as they last The thread of their
texture is mixed, and 80, alas, is the thread Of life
In these however, the white is made to predom.
mate, expressing my desire and confidence that
thus it will be with the color Of your existen,e.
No black 81 used for | belve your lives will be
wholly free from the black passions of wrath and
jealousy. The darkest color here is blue, which
is excellent, where we do not naked i, too blue
"Other appropriate thoughts rise to my mind
in regarding these stockings. The most indiHer.
ent subjects, when viewed by the mind, in suit.
able frame, may furnish Instructive inferences, as
saith the poet:
1.-The ron dogs, the fue and ,ongs.
The bellows that have lcethern lungs
The fire. wood. nshes. and the smoke,
Do all 10 righteousness provoke"
| But to the subject. You will perceive that the
tops Of these stockings (by which suppose cou,..
ship TO be represented) are seanisd and by means
Of scanning are drawn into a snarl. but afterwards
comes time when the whole is made ban, and
continues so to the end and final toeng off. By
this wish to take occasion to congratulate your.
self that you are now through with seeming, and
have come to plain reality. Again, as the whole
Of these comely stockings was not made Mt once
but bv the addition Of one little stitch after anoth.
or, put in with skill and discretion, until the whole
presents the fair aud equal price Of work which
you see so, life does not consist of one great ac
ton, but millions Of little ones corbined and SC
may it be with your lives. No stitch dropped
when duties are to be pcrformcd-no widening
made where had principles are to be reproved, OF
economy is to be preserved neither seeming nor
narrouing whete truth and generosity are ques.
ton. Thus every stitch of life made right and
set in the right place--none either too large or
too small, too liget or too loose thus may you
keep on your smooth and even corrse, making
existence one fair and consistent piece--uu,il, 10.
gether, having passed the heel you come to the
very toe Of life and here, in the final narrowing
of, and dropping the coil Of this embIemstical
pair Of companions and confronting associates
nothing appears but white, the token of innocence
and peace, of purity and ght-may you, like
these stockings, the final stitch being dropped
and the work completed, go together from the
place where you were formed, TO a happier state
Of exsterce, a present from earth TO heaven
Hoping that these stockings and adnonitions ms
meet cordial reception, remain in the true blue
friendship seemly, yet wihou. seeming,
Yours, from top to toe, -"
ffo!den's Naciiine.