Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1851-01-01
STAITNTON VA WEDNESDAY, JANUARY |, 1851.
mATaIMoyY AND wooLES STOCKINGS.

,ThsaaIome Gazette" copies from Holden's Mag
aze, tfe following ingenious aud witty letter which
Il is said; was sent by Distinguished literary lady
twenty years agoao friend in New York, who was
on the eve of marriage Tie letter, as will appear
!upoR perusal accompanied the present OF pair o.
blue hose, knit by the writer's own myers we ad'
mire ile wi and good sense of the epstle aud recon-
mend il TO those who are already married no matter
how long since for il is never 100 late to learn. we
commend il also 10 the particular attention OF sucn
young people as are about trying The experiment o
matrmony; for an experiment natrnony certainly IS
And, unless people undertake iIs duties wisely; anu
with some appreciation fthe importance ofall things
no omatter how little some things are--n Which b"h
partes are neres,ed is guile likely to be very dis
agreeable affair Mon,hs,and required to
accustom newly married people TO each otleEand not
few.hearl-burnngs and unhappy days are caused by
disregard of lres, and careless Indifference 10 the
wishes and the previous habits and pepossessions of
The parties.
Il is folly to suppose that the whole character and
disposition Of man or woman will be changed by
marriage. and that all previously acquired tastes and
habits will be surrendered. And yet some husbands,
and some wives, appear to demand no less than this
They storm, and fret, and repne, and perhaps quar-
rel, in search of this mpossibily, Until experience
shows them its futIiiy; and al last settle down, with
the best grace they may, into mutual Iorbearance
which they might have entered upon cheerluy in the
beginning. Courlship is all sweels-maIrlmony is
too apt to have dash of vinegar.
The way to avoid this disagreeable change, IS to
preserve The polteness and considerae care ol the
days of wooing, as long as you live II is not Im-
possible by any means, and attention TO these minor
morals, wonId secure happiness in things OF more
that
respect the comfort and happiness of all around us;
and that we should seek pleasure by imparting rath-
er than eracting But we are keeping the reader too
long from letter which expresses all we should say
and expresses It better Than we can do:
"Dear Cousin Herewith you will receive pre-
sen of pair of woolen stockings, knit by my own
hands and be assured. dear coz, that my friendship
for YOU is warm as the material active as the finger
work. and generous as The Donation
"But consider this present as peculiarly appro-
pirate on the occasion ofyour marriage. You Will re-
mark, in the first place, that there are two divldu
ais united into one par,who 10 walk side 10y side,
guarding against codness, and giving comfort as long
as they last The thread of their texture is mixed and
so alas, is the thread of life. In these however, the
white is made TO predominant, expressing my desire
andconfdence that thus will be with The color ofyour
existence No black is used, FOR believe your lives
will he wholly free from The black passions Of wrath
and jealousy. The darkest color here is blue, which
is excellent, where we do not make it too blue
"Oher appropriate thoughts Use in my mind in re-
garding these stockings. The most indifferent sub
iect when uinuad By tho mind, in s"i'o1'o frame,
may furnish instructive nlerences, as saith hepoeI
"The iron dogs, the fuel and tongs,
The bellows that have leaihern lungs,
The fire wood, ashes, and the smoke,
Do all 10 Righteousness provoke"
But on the subject You will perceive that the tops
of these stocking, (by which suppose courtship 10
be represen,ed are scanned, and by means of scanning
are drawn into snar. but afterwards comes time
when the whole is made plain and continues so to
the end and final toeing off. BY this, wish TO take
occasion to congratulate yourself that You are now
through with seemingand have come TO plain reality.
Again, as the whole of these comely stockings was
not made at once, but by the addition of one little
stitch after another put in with skill and discretion,
until the whole presents the fair and equal piece of
work which you see; so, life does not consist OF one
great actionbu millions Of little ones combneG and
so may il be with your lives. No stitch dropped
when duties are to be performed-no widening made
where bad principles are to be reproved, or economy
is to be pfeserved neither seeming nor ndr' oiring
where truth and generosity are in question. Thus ev-
cry stitch Of life made right and set III the right place
nome either too large too small too light or too
loose thus you may keep on your smooth and even
course, making existence fair and consistent piece
Until, together, having passed The heel, you come
to the very toe Of life, and here in The final narrow
ing off and dropping the coil of this emblemalical
pair of companions and comforting associates, moth
ing appears but white, the token of innocence and
peace of purity and light-may youlike these stock
ngs, the final stitch being dropped, and the work
completed, go together from the place where you
were formed to happier state Of existence present
from Earth to Heaven. Hoping that these stockings
and admonilions may meet cordial recef'Ion, re-
MAN, in the true blue friendship seemIy, yet without
seeming,
"Yours, from top to toe, -"