The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, D.T. [N.D.]) 1873-1875, 1875-10-06
Marriage.

6uuty.
Marriage. 49,.
The following letter was written
many years ago, by lady ofgreat lit
erary distinction, to her cousin, who
at the time graced one Of the most hon
orable official stations in the Empire
State, on the event Of his marriage, and
was accompanied by pair Of blue mix
ed stockings, knit by herself, as q pres
ent:
DEAR COUSIN: Herewith you will re-
ceive present of pair of wooden stock
ings knit by my own hands, and be as
sured, dear coz, that my frienship for
you is as warm as tho material, active
as the 6nger-work, and generous as
the donation. But / consider this
present as peculiarly appropriate on tie
occasion Of your marriage.
You will remark in the first place
there are two individuals united in one
pair, who are to walk side by side, guar
ding against c01dnsss and giving COM
fort so long as they last. The thread
Of their texture is mixed, and 50 also is
the thread of life. In these, however.
the white predominates, expressing my
desire and confidence that thus it will
be with the color Of your existence. No
black is used, for I believe your lives
will be wholly free from the black pas
sions Of wrath and jealousy. The dark
color here is blue, which is excellent
when we do not make it too blue. 9th
or appropriate thoughts rise, to my
mind in regarding these stockings.
The most Indifferent subjects, when
viewed by the mind in suitable frame,
NAV furnish instructive inference as
saith the poet:
''The iron dogs, the fuel and tongs,
The bellows that have leathern lungs,
The fre.wfod ashes and the smoke
Do all to righteousness provoke.s
But to the subject. You will per-
ceive that the tops of these stockings
(by which I suppose courtship to be
represented) are scanned, and by means
Of scanning are drawn into . snarl, but
afterwards comes time when TIE whole
is made plain, and continues so to the
end and final toeing off.
By this wish to congratulate your
self that you are now through with
scanning and have come to plain reality.
Again, as the whole of the comely
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, equal
piece of work which you see; so life
does not consist of one great action, but
millions of little ones combined, and SO
may it be with you. No stitch drop
ped when duties are to be performed
no widning made where bad principles
are to be reproved or economy is TO be
preserved neither scanning nor narrow, :,
ing where truth and generosity are in
question. Thus every stitch of life made.
right, and set in the right place. none
either too large or too small, too tight
or too loose; thus may you keep on
your smooth and even course, making
existence one fair and consistent
piece. until together having passed.
the heel, you come to the very toe Of
life; and here in the final narrowing of,
and dropping the coil Of this emblematl-
cal pair Of companions and comforting
associates, nothing remains but white,
the token Of innocence and peace, Of
purity and light-msy you, like these
stockings, the final stitch being drop
ped, and the work being completed, go
together from the place where you
were formed, to . happier state Of ex-
istence, . present from earth to heaven
Hoping that these stockings and adSS
monltions may meet cordial reception,
/ remain in the true blue friendship,
seemly. vet without seaming,
Yours from top to toe.