The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1855-03-09
Sermons from, Stones.

We cannot say that we are excessively partial
to that class of mortaIs who take up brick ba
and deduce from it an octave volume on meta
physics, but there is so much good counsel for
poor unfOrtunates about 10 perpetrate matrImony
IN the following letter from distinguished lady
of New York, 10 a learned Judge on the eve o
his marriage, that we feel constrained TO copy 1t.
We find i: in the Ntta0nal IHtcHise"cer:
"DEAR Cousin Herewith you will receive a
present of pair OF wooElcn 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 finger work, and generous as the do
nation.
" But | consider this present as peculiarly aP.
pirate on the occasion OF your marriage. You
will remark, in the first place, that there are two
individuals united into one pair who to walk
side by side, guarding against codness, and Civ
ing comfort long they last. The thread ot
their texture is Mixed and so, alas, is the thread
OF life. In these, however, the white is made to
predominant, expressing my desire and confidence
that thus il will be with The color Of your cXis.
tence 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, hich is excellent, where we do not make
1t too blue.
"Other appropriate Thoughts rise in my mind
regarding these stockings. The most indifferent
sui jpcts when viewed by the mind in suitable
frame, may furnish instructive inierences. AS
saith the poet:
The iron dogs; the fuel and tongs;
The bellows that have leathern lungs;
The Grewood, ashes, and the smoke,
Do all to righteousness proVoke.''
I" 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 snarI; but
afterwards comes time when the whole is made
and continues to the end and final toeing off. By
this | wish TO take occasion 20 congratulate your.
self that you now through with seeming and
have to come to plain reality. Again, as the
whole OF these comrly 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 consls: Of one
great action, but millions of little ones combined.
And may it be with your lives; stitch drop
ped when duties to be performed; no widen.
ing made where bad principles to be reproved
or economy is to be preserved neither seeming
nor narr01cing here truth and generosity are in
question: Thus every stitch Of life made right
and set in the right pIace-none either too large
or too small. too tight or 100 Ioose-thus you may
keep on your smooth and EVEN course, making
existence one fair and consistent piece, until to-
gether, having passed the heel you come to the
very Toe OF life. And here, in the final narrow.
ing of and dropping the coil Of this embIen1alicaI
pair of companions and comforting associates,
nothing appears but white, the token Of innocence
and peace, Of purity and light. May you, like
these stockings, the final stitch being dropt and
The work completed, 90 together from the place
where you we're formed 10 happier state Of ex-
istence, present from earth to heaven
Hoping tha, these stockings and admonitions
may meet cordial reception, remain, in The
trueb blue friendship, seemIy yet without seeming,
Yours, from top to toe,