The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1867-07-17
J The Moral Of a Pair Of stookings.

The Moral Of a Pair Of Stockings.
The following letter was written
bya distinguished literary lady. to a
learned Judge on the eve Of his mar,
riage: ~,
DEAR Cousin: Herewith you. will
receive a present Of q pair Of woollen
stockings knit by my own hands, and be
assured, dear coz, that my friendship
Tor you, is warm as the material, active
as the fingger-work, and generous as the
donation. But consider the present
as peculiarly appropriate OH the ocea-
sion ofyour marriage. You will remark,
in the First place, that they are two in.
dlvlduals united in one pair, who are to
walk side by side, guarding against cold
ness, and giving comfort as long as they
last. The thread Of their texture is
mixed and 80, alas, is the thread of life
In these, however, the whileis malo to
preaominatc, expressing my desire and
confidence that thus it will be with the
color OF your enistcnce. No black is
| used lor I believe you will be wholly
FREQ from the black passions Of wrath
and jealousy. The darkest color is blue,
which is excellent when We 10 not uaake
it too blue.
Other appropriate thoughts riso in
my mind regarding these stockings
| Tho most Indifferent subjects, whom
viewed by the mind in suitable frame
may furnish instructive inEercnccs, as
saith tho poet:
"The iron dogs, tho fuel and tongs,
Tho bellows that have leathorn lungs !;
| Tho firewood, ashes and smoke.
| Do oil to righteousness provoke
But to The subject. You will per.
ccivc that tho tops Of these stockings
(by which suppose courtship to be rep
rcsentcd arc scanned, and by means o
scanning are drawn into n snarl, but af
forwards comes time when the whole
is made plain. aud continues so to the
end and final towing of. By this
wish to congratulate you that you arc
now through with scen,iny, and have
como to plain reality. Again, as the
whole of'theso comely stockings were
not made at once, but by the addition
OF ono stitch alter anoLker, put ir
with skill and discretion, until the Who'll,
presents the fair and equal piece of worl
which you see, so like does not consist
OF one great action, but millions Of lit,le
ones combined; and SO may it be will
your livcs-no stich dropped when du
ties arc TO be performed, no widening
made when bad principles are to DO re
proved, or economy 10 to be preserved
neither seeming nor marrowtng where
truth and generosity aroin question.
| THUS every stitch of life made right
and set in the right place, none either
too large or too small, too tight or to,
loose, may you keep on your smooth
and even course, making existence ont
fair and and consistent piece, until to-
gcthcr, heving passed tho heel, yo,
come to the very toe Of life; aud her,
N the final narrowing OFF and dropping
Of the coil Of this cmblematic pair O
companions and comforting associates
nothing appears bnt white, tho token o
innocence and peace, ofpurity and light
May you, like these stockings. the ina
stitch being dropped, and tho work com
plctod, go together from the pluc,
where you were formed, to IL harpie
state OF existence, present from eartl
to Heaven.
Hoping that these stockings aud ad
monitlons may meet a civil reception,
realm, in the true blue friendship, seem
ngsy, without seeming, yours from tol
to toe.