Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1852-09-03
A Patch ON Both Knees.

brafone lime, what some writers term the bra.
ri6r afr OF poveny Ny nolher--liebt lie the
I'M upon the form which once enclosed her
sweet aud eeniIe spirjt--wss what Is called an
ambitious woman FOR iha' quality which over
mrus thrones and sopplanls dy0as1,es. hnds le'
gitimale sphere ia the hUmbses1 abode that the
Shadow OF poverty ever darke0ed. The sI1g
vGe be,weea the wish 20 keep up appearances
and The pinehi6g griPe Of Necessity. produced
endless shifts aud conIrivances, al which, we
ARE told, some would smile. and some 10 whom
they would teach Their own experience would
sigh. Bu, let me not disturb The veil OF Obllvl'
on which shrOuds from prolane eyes The hal
lowed mysleres Of poverty.
On one occasion, il was necessary TO send
mo on an erraud 10 neighbor 10 better circum'
s,ances than ourselves; and therefore twas ne
cessary that | should be. presented in the best
possible aspect. Great pnius we're accordingly
taken to give smar appearance 10 my patched
and dilapidaGed wardrobe. and to conceal the
rents and chasms which Ihe envious tooth of
iirne had made in Them; and BY way Of throw
ing cover nv equipment certain savor and
sprinkng Of eenrli,y, my red aud toil'horden-
ed hands were enclosed in the unfamiliar ca.
sing Of pair Of gloves, which had belonged TO
and her heart was lighter
sailed forth on my errand, and on my way
.rncou0ter, a much older and bigger boy, who
evidently belonged 10 a family which had all
our avn dragging poverty. and none OF our up
rising wealth Of spirit. Ills rags ialrly Huuer'
ed in lhe breeze his hat was constructed upon
Ihe mos, approved principle OF venla'lon' ana
his shoes. from their venerable antiquity, might
have been deemed pair Of fossil shoes the
very ones 10 which Shsm shufled into the ark
he was an impudenI yareI, wlIh dare devil
swagsor 10 his gait aud an "l'm as good as you
leer in his eye-Ihe very whelp 10 throw dirt at
well dressed horsemRn, because he was we'll
dressed 10 tear boys rufn $, because he was
clean. As soon as he saw me, his eye deiec'ed
the practical Inconsistencies which character
lied my costume, and taking me by the shout
DER, turae me roun with 10 g7nus hln !, ali
surveying me from head n foot, exclaimed, wI'h
u scornlu laugh of derIson, "A PaIch on 6oth
knees, aud gIoUeS on ~ .--.. .-..5.s..-
| still recall The suing of wounded leeIlng
which shot through me at these words
10 parody celebrated line by The immortal
Tuscan-- - H......
THAI day wore my g'oves no more"
Bu, the lesson, so rudey cn(orced sank deep
into nv mind and, n after lite. ! have had IRE.
auenl OCCASION to make a practical application
Of The words of my ragged friend. when ! have
observed the ridiculous Inconsistencies which
SO oilen mark The conduct of mankind,
When, for instance, see parents carefully
providing for the ornameulu education Of their
children, furnishing them teachers in music
dancing and drawing, but giving no thought TO
i a a. hi I.h
the true dignity aud parmanen. happiness Of
hCe eau come, never teaching them habits OF
sell.sacrfce aud splGdisriplne and conuol, but
rather, bv example, InslTucllng 'hem IN ev''
speakng, in uDchurlablenesS, 10 envy, and IN
lalsehood, think, with sgh OF The patch on
both knees and gloves on. ...'y-
When see a family in cold, selfish solitude,
not habuually warming their houses wlIh glow
Of happy faces, bu. lavshing that which could
furnish the hospitality of whole year, upon
she profusion Of single night, th'nk oil The
patch on both knees and gloves on.
When see house pro!uSely furnished with
sumuuious rurn;Sre, rich curtains, aud lu%urI'
eus CARPETS, but with no books. or none but
few tawdry annuals. am reminded ol !he pa'ch
on both knees aud gloves on.
When see our public men cutVn,ng exc'u'
siyeIy those Quali.ies which win way 10 office
aud neglec,ing those which will quality them to
ill honoraby the posts TO which they aspire,
recall the patch on beth knees and gloves on.
When | see men sacrificing peace OF mlnd
and health Of body 10 The insane Pursu" o.
wealth. living in ignorance Of The character o.
,he children who are growing up around them
putting themselves off from the highest ant
oures. pleasures Of their naIures, and SO perVer'
ING their humanity, that which was sought as
means insensby comes TO be followed as an end
1 say to myseIf, "A patch on both knees and
gloves on." ..
When see thousands spent for sehahnes'
and os,entalion, and nothing bestowed Tor char
inv: when see fine ladies besatlned and be
jeweIed. cneapeuing The tolls OF dress makers
and with harsh words embiuerlng the b1eI
bread Of dependence; when see the poor
turned away from proud houses. where The
crumbs OF tables would be to them least,
Ihink Of The patch on both knees and gloves on
CHARACTERISTIC ANEcDorE OF TALLEYRAND, -
Taleyrand, the lusWious dpomatisi, one day
found himself between Madame de SIeI anC
Madame Recamier, both intimate friends, anC
both celebrities. s.... ,E. .r.. ...st
LII L.