Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1851-07-26
OLD SERIES VOL. II, NO. II
MARRIAGE AND STOCKINGS.

Tho following letter is said TO have
accompanied the present of pair of stock
i"gS 10 young bride. It is quite ap-
! ropos
Dear Co"sn-Herewih you will receive a
present OF pair OF woolen stockings, knit
by my own hands and be assuted dear
coz. that my friendship for you is as warm
| as the material, active as the finger work,
and generous as the donation. But Aonsid-
er this present as peculiarly appropriate on
the occasion OF your marriage. You will re-
marx in the first place, that there are two
individuals united in one pair, who are to
walk side by side, guarding against coldness
and giving comfort a9 long as they last
The thread of their texture is mixed, and so
alas Is the thread of life. In these
however, the white predominales, express
sing my desire and confidence that thus it
will be with the color Of your existence
No black is used for | believe 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 make it too blue.
Other appropriate thoughts rise 10 nv
mind respecting these stocking. The most
Indifferent subjects when viewed by the
mind in a suitable frame, may furnish in
structve inferences, as saith the poet:
The iron dogs, the fuel and the toncs,
The bellows that have leahen lungs
The frewooi ashes and the smoke,
Do all to Righteousness provoke"
But to the subject. You will perceive
that the tops of these stockings (by which
suppose courtship to be iepresented) are
scanned, and by means of scanning are
drawn into snarl, but afterwards comes
time when the whole is made plain, and
continues so TO the end and final toeiug off.
By this, [ wish you to take occasion to con-
gratnIatc yourself that you are now through
the scanning, and have CORE to plain re,
ality.
Again, as the whole of these comely
stockings were not made at once but by tho
addition of one little stitch after another, put
in with skill aud discretion, until the whole
presents the fair, equal piece Of work which
you see, so life does not consist of one great
action, but millions of little ones combined
and so may il be with you. No stitch drop
ped where duties are 10 be performed-no
widening made where bad principles are TO
be reProyed or ec5nom- Is TO be preserved
or neither scanning nor narrowing where
truth and generosity are in question.
Thus. every stitch Of life made right and
set in the right placc-nore either too large
or too srla'I, too tight or too loose thus
you may keep on your smooth and even
course, making eXi5ance cne fair and con-
sistant piece, until together, having past the
heel, you come to the very toe of life, and
here in the final narrowing off, and dropping
the coil Ct this cmblematical pair of com
panions and comforting associates, nothing
appears but white, the token Of innocence
and peace, Of purity and light and may
you, like lhese stockings, the final stitch
being dropped, and tie work being compile
ted, 20 together from the place where You
were formed 10 a happier state OF existence,
present lrcm earth 10 heaven. Hoping
that these stockings and admonitions may
NEE: 2 cordial reception, remain in true
blue friendship seemly, without seemingy
youIs, frcm top TO toe.