Randolph journal. [volume] (Winchester, Indiana) 1865-186?, 1866-11-29
s. raIr ef Stockings---Their aIornl.

twenty years ago, bI lady OF great
literary distinction, to her cousin, n
gentleman who has occupied honor
able official positions in the Empire
State. 1t was written on the eve of
his marriage, and accompanied by a
: pair of bluc-mixed stockings, knit by
herself. The letter Will need careful
reading 20 be fully appreciated:
dear Cousin: Herewith You will
receive present of pair of stock
ings; knit by M own hands; and be
assured, dear coy, that my friendship
+ for YOU is as warm a. Tie material, ac-
tive as the fnger-work, and generous
as the donation.
"Bdt | consider this present as pecu-
Harly appropriate OH the occasion of
your marriage You viii remark. in
the first place, that there are two midi
viduals united in one pair, who arc 10
walk side by side, guarding against
coldness, and giving comfort as long as
/ they last. The thread of their tex
ture Is smiXed, and so, alas, is life. In
those, however, the white is made to
pTod0minate, expressing my desire
and confidence that thus it VIII be
with Tie color OF your existence. No
black is used, for l believe Your lives
will be wholly free from the blacl, pas
sions of wrath and jealousy. The
darkest color here is blue, which is ex-
ceilent, where we do not make it too
biue.
"Oeher appropriate thoughts rise to
my mind in regarding these stockings.
The. most -inditftrnt subject, when
Viewed by the mind, in a suitable
frame, may furnish instructive infer
encc, rs saith the poet:
.rs'The iron dol-s. TIE fuel and tonrs.
The bellows that have leather lungs,
The fre-wood. ashes. and the smoke,
loail their righteousness pro,okc."
'I}ut to the subject You will per-
ccive that The tops Of these stockings
lby which | suppose courtship to be
rcpresented} are scanned, and by means
Of scaiairg are drawn into snarl, but |
afterwards comes a time When the /
whole is made plain, and continues so I
to the end and final toeing OF. BY /
this, wish TO take occasion to con-
gratulate yourself, that you are now
through with Sc0Diag, and have come
to plain reality. Again, rs the whole
of these comcly stockings was not
made at once, but 10y 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 sec; so, life does
not consist of one great action, but
of little ones combined; and
50 may it be with Your lives. No
stdtch dropped when duties are TO be
!,erfornel-no widening made where
bad principles are to be reprovel, or
economy is to bc preserved; neither +
sconiag nor narroriag waerc truth or
arc inquesti2n. T.lusevery
stitch Of life made right and set in the
right plac2-none eitaar too large or
too small, too light or too loose; thus
may you keep on your smooth and
even course, making existence one /.
fair and consistent piece-until, to-
,cther, having passed the heel, YOU
,cne to the very toe of life, and here, /
II the final narrowing OF, and drop !
ping the coil of this emblematic pair
If companions and comforting aSso- !
'iatcs, nothing appears but white, the
oxen of innocence and peace, Of (
purity and ligh;-may you, like these ;
stockings, the final stitch being drop
oed, and the work completed, 80 to- !
sethcr from the place where YOU were !
to Il happier state of existence;
/ present from earth TO heaven. Hop :
ny that these stockings and admoni- |
ions may meet a cordial reception, ! !
'emain, in the true blue friendship, ;
seemingly, yet without scanning, ;
sNours from ton 10 toe