Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1875-08-10
Old Clothes.

I consider pcop!e who make sport of mans
shabby clothes destitute of feeling and worse
than the heather. Who could be guilty Of
calling the blush of resentment to wrinkled
check the quiver of grief to n withercd lip,
the tear of sorrow to a faded cyo washed Of
its hriliancy by floods of tears
Never, ncCcr laugh at the scAnty garments
of the poor. Poverty has strong tide Of
sorroN to stcm, and frail bark to guido nt
the best 1t has dashed so often against the
rocks, that it hardly holds together. Sink 10
not with your unkindncss.
Sheer not Mt tho old clothes. They arc
often made holy by long sacrifices by care-
ful foldings away, that they may last till tho
dear ones are provided for. If many an old
coat could speak, what tales they would tell
of tho noble hearts beating underneath.
YOndcr rusty garments would repeat tho
struggle of a devoted father, whose son is
earning laurels at the collcga hard by. How
he counted the farthiugs, aud choked down
pride, that his boy, his noble, beloved boy
might yet do him honor.
The faded shawl, folded tightly over spare
shoulders! Year after year has tho mother
c!cansed and mended and laid it carefully
away, as (she called iD "good as new" thaG
her blue-cyed daughter might have "book.
larning." Aud now her darling, only eigh-
teen, teaches the district scbool-God bless
her and the mother smiles over the dim,
dusky>patterned ribbon and prim old merino
that were cleaned up to enable her 10 buy
Bessie pretty bonnet, and dress such As
she deserved.
Oh, that blessed self denial Of aspiring
poverty! Hailowed be old bonnets, old
cloaks, old coats, aye, and old shoes, when such
/ love pOiHts'to them as its monuments.
- : 4 ! =. Y. u -
me tell you, owes its brillancy to old clothes;
mere than one star in literature, philosophy
and divinity.
Think of this when your eye chances 20
light upon the tbread>baro coat or tho faded
shawl suppress the smile, keep back the
sncer. You know not what the heart beneath
has suffered, how many times bled. You
know not what evils has haunted, what storms
swept over it. You know not what God.l
impulses have once made it great and strong,
or what bitter drnugbts poisoned its fountains,
er what blightiug mildew sapped it ID its full
vigor. Let not the crime of adding anguish
to the full cup Of the poor mans sorrow bo
ever yours.
MInTn AT MEAL T1ME.-Everybody
should plan to have pleasant conversation az
the table just as they have good food. A lit
tic story telling, little reading, it may be Of
humorous things, anecdotes, etc., will often
stimulate the joyous elements of the mind
and cause IL TO act vigorously. Try and avoid
going to the table all tired ont Let all tho
troublesome topics be avoided. Don't scold
domestics. Don't discipline children. Think
and sag something pleasant. Cultivate mir.h.
aud laugh when anything witty is said. If
possible, never eat alone. Invite friend Of
whom you are fond, and try aud have good
time. Friendship and friendly intercourse at
the table whets the appetite and promotes tho
flow Of animal spirits.
GoD LOVES BEAUTY.-I do not think We
| fully realize, any of US, how much worship
/ there is in the nero act of creating beautyS
not only the beauty of loving looks and deeds;
but-beauty of form and color and proportion.
! God loves beauty Every star that shines,
| every flower that blooms, every deydrop that
elistens in the sun, proves this and believe
that every woman who strives 20 make her
| own home and her own life beautiful, serves
God in this rs truly ss che serves him upon
! bended knees or in the holy service Of the
! sanctuary. And in Just so far as she fails OF
making that home aud that life as beautiful as
she can. in Just % far does she fail Of her duty
to God aud msD-
in tho words of an aGectionate wife 70
an agoDizing partner of her bosom, We beg il:
'.Don't stop to talk, my dear, but go on with
your dying"
= Wife (complaIDiDgIy MI haven't more
/. than third of the bed" Husband (tFi-
umphartly)- )-"Well that's all the law allows
yOu."