The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1862-06-13
About Pockets.

Pockets are a markcd feature OF
civilized life. The history is the
history Of humanity and a catalogue
of their successive contents would
tnrnish a condensed biography
There were no pockets in the 6y-
leai Of Ellen; our first parents had
no need to hoard or appropriate, tor
the trees and herbage OF the garden
offered them freely all their simple
wealth. There were no pockets in
Adams first blouse of skins, tor as
yet he had no knife where with to
cut tobacco. and WAS innocently ig.
norant OF the potency OF the marvel
ous weed. But when life grew
hard and human interests conflict
ing. then the pocket became a cevel.
oped institution, receptacle for the
means of daily solace. amenity and
convenience. 1t is a social not sell.
ish institution. Itcontains supplies,
not boards. The treasures ofthe mi
ser are buried in a vault, while the
aubsidies of the pocket are appro-
priately known as change. From
its warmest corner comes the penny
for the street sweeper, the toys for
the tireside, and the weekly gra,uity
tor charities of every kindly name.
But the most characteristic depos.
its are not in money. Children pre-.
fer the concrete to the abstract, the
end to the means. While the little
man wears the dress of his sister,
his pockets like hers, is tillad with
cakes and candies. But very soon
he seeke a wider range OF activities
and the sweet-mests, not yet ig'
nored, disputes possession inch by
inch with jews harps, fish hooks,
tops, kite strings, and knives. II he
is mechanical the knife gains com
panion in an ivory rule if studious
in pencil and paper.
Thon comes the billigerent period
when the country boy makes invest
ments In powder and shot, aud the
young citizen is an amateur in pis
tols and PERCUSSION caps. And as
war alternates with peace, the tom.
ahawk with the calumet so about
this period, if at ell, is developed q
preference for cigars and fine cut.
but these are noxious weeds that are
liable to choke out all healthiull
growth. Just as rats leave a sink
ing ship, when these fragrant treas
ures find their way to the pocket in. .
dignsnt moths leave the young
mems wardrobe in disgust. IL will
be well il the odor does not serve to
expel more desirable visitants then
these. Then follows the youths
latest pocket companion, tho watch
pointing with it's golden finger the
silent moral Of the time.
For the girl, her early sugar plums
give place to the cheap luxury of
paper dolls, soon followed by the
familiar implement thimble. Hard
upon this come the scribbling stage,
when the pocket finds room for pen
Gil and paper, for notes of many
pages duly crossed, and filled with
the iancies and follies, the friend.
ships and fashions OF sixteen. 1t is
but slight change from these 70,
mantle missives to those OF q warm,
er hue; the billet doux of boyish ad
mirers, to be followed we trust by
the firm lines that bear tho frank
avowal Of a manly love. Yet these
last will not long remain in the
pocket; these are too precious guests
for such familiar treatment and shall
retire to some inner sanctuary. sci
apart for the holiest Of all. With
love comes sorrow, with sorrow re-
lligion; so wheI our crowned woman
has hidden away her hearts treas
ures, hallowed by kisses il not by
tears, amid O shower Of fallen rose