The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1854-07-05
Marriage and Stockings.

The following letter is said to have &C. !
companied the present of q pair of stock. |
iugs to young bride. 1t is quite ap.
propos:
Dear Cousin: Herewith you will receive
. present Of pair Of woolen stockings.
knit by my own hands; and be assured
dear coz. that my friendship for you is as
warm as the material, active as the fingers
work, and generous as the donation. But
consider this present as peculiarly ap-
propriate on the occasion of your mar.
riage. You will remark in the first place
that there are two individuals united in
one pair, who are to walk side by side,
guarding against the GOODNESS, 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 predominates, expressing 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
ittoo blue.
Other appropriate thoughts rise to my
mind respecting these stockings. The
most Indifferent subjects when viewed by
the mind in suitable frame. furnish in.
'struotive inference, as saith the poet:
.srhe iron dogs, the fuel and the tongs,
The bellows that have leathern lungs;
The frewood, 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 represented are
scanned and by means Of scanning drawn
Into snarl. but afterwards comes time
when the whole is made plain, and con-
sinues so to the end, and final toeing off.
By this l wish you to take occasion to
scongratulate yourself that you are now
through the scanning, and have come to
plain reality.
3; Again, as the whole Of these stockings
were not made at once, but by the addi-
ton Of one little stitch after another. put
sins with; skill and discretion, until the whole
presents the fair. equal piece of work,
which you see, so life does not consist oi
one great action, bu, millions Of little ones
combined; and 30 may it be with you.
No stitch dropped where duties are per-
Sormed-no widening made whore bad
principles are to be reproved or economy
10 to be preserved; nor neither scanning
anor narrowing where truth and generosity
are in question. -
Thus every stitch OF life is made righ,
and set in the right place-noLe either
TOO large or too small, too tight or too
loose, thus you may keep on your smooth
and even course, making existence one
fair and consistent piece until together
having passed the heel you come TO the
very toe Of life, and here in the very final
narrowing off, and dropping the coil o.
this smblematical pair Of compalions and
comforting associates, nothing appears bu
white--the token Of innocence and peace
81 purity and highland may you. like
these stockings, the final stitch being drop
ped, and the work being completed, g
together from the place where you were
formed, 10 happier state Of existence. {
presenHA from earth TO heaven Hoping
that the stockings and admonitions MAY
meet cordial reception, remain in tru'
blue friendship seemly, without seeming
yours, from top to toe.