Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1855-06-14
APArcu on BORE KrErs Axp GIorEs

a PATCH ON BOTH KNEES AND GLOVES
The following. from the Boston Coar
Ter, is one of the cleverest essays W
have met with for many day. Simila
in style. it is not inferior, in point, Il
Franklin's best.
"When I was boy it was my fortunl
to breathe, for long time, what som,
writers term the bracing air of poverty
Ny mother-light lie the turf upon tn,
form which once enclosed her strong
and gentle spirit, was what is common
ly called an ambitious woman for tha
quality which overturns thrones, anC
supplants dynasties, finds legitimat,
sphere in the humblest abode that th,
shadow of poverty ever darkened.-
The struggle between the wish to keey
up appearances and the pinching gript
of necessity produced endless shifts anC
cDntrivances, at which we are told, some
would smile, and some, to whom they
would teach their own experiences
would sigh. But let me not disturb
the veil Of oblivion, which shrouds from
profane eyes the hallowed mysteries ol
poverty.
"On one occasion it was necessary to
send me on an arrend to a neighbor in
better circumstances than ourselves
and therefore it was necessary that !
should be presented in the best aspect.
Great pains were accordingly taken to
give a smart appearance to my patched
and dilapidated wardrobe, and to con-
ceal the rents and chasms which the en-
vious tooth of time had made in them;
and by the way of throwing over my
equipment certain SAVIOR and sprink-
ling of gentility, my red and toil-harden-
ed hands were enclosed in the unfamil-
lar casing of a pair of gloves which
had belonged to my mother in days
when her years were fewer and her
heart lighter. frs -
al sailed forth on my arrend, and on
my way encountered a much older and
bigger boy, who evidently belonged to
family which had all our own drag
ging poverty, and none Of our uprising
wealth of spirit. His rags fairly Aut-
tered in the breeze; his hat was con-.
structed on the most approved principle
of ventilation, and his shoes from their
venerable antiquity, might have been
deemed pair of fossil shoes-the very
ones on which Shem shuffled into the
ark. He was an impudent varlet, with
a daredevil swagger in his gait, and
"1'm as good as you" lear in his eye
the very whelp to throw stone at a
well dressed horseman, because he was
well dressed; to tear boys ruffles be-
cause he was clean. As soon as he saw
ME. his eye detected the practical ineon-
sistencies which characterized my cos
tune, and taking me by the shoulders.
and turning me round with no gentle
hand, and surveying me from head to
foot, exclaimed with scornful laugh of
derision, "a patch on both knees and
gloves on" ~
l still recall the sting of wounded
feelings which shot through me at these
words. To parody celebrated line of
the mortal Tuscan:
That day wore my gloves no more.
But the lesson thus rudely enforced,
sank deep into my mind; and in after
life, 1 have had frequent occasion to
make a practical application of the
words of my ragged friend, when l
have observed the practical inconsistent
cies which so often mark the conduct of
mankind.
When, for instance, l see parents
carefully providing for the ornamental
education Of their children, furnishing
them with teachers in music, dancing
and drawing, but giving no thought to
the moral and religious training from
which the true dignity and permanent
happiness Of life alone can come, never
teaching them habits Of self-sacriice
and self-discipline and control, but ra-
Lher. by example, instructing them in
evil speaking, uncharitableness, in envy,
and in falsehood, l think, with sigh,
Of the patck or 6Otk knees and gloves on.
When l see family in cold selfish |
not habitually warming their
houses with glow of happy faces, but
avishing that which could furnish the
for a whole year. upon the
orofusion of a single night, | think of
he patch on 10th knees and glores on.
When l see a house profusely furn-
shed with sumptuous furniture, rich |
and luxurious carpets, but with |
10 books, or none but few tawdryan-
luals, l am reminded of he patch on
10th knees and gLoves on.
When l see public man cultiyating
exclusively those qualities which WIN a
way to Office aud neglecting those which
will qualify them to fill honorably the
,ost to which they aspire, l recall tie
'atch on both knees nth gloves on.
When l see men sacrificing peace Of
mind and health Of body, to the insane
pursuit Of wealth, living in ignorance.
the education of their chill
lren who are growing up around them.
;utting them off from the highest and
,urest pleasures of their natures, and
o perverting their humanity, that what
vas sought as a means insensibly comes
o be followed as an end, say to my {
elf. "A patch on both knees and gloves Z
n" .s.sf- e51lsa - ms ssszsrnil
When / see thousands squandered
or selfshness and estentation and no 1