, 1876-08-11
Iuconsistencies.
THE poY WHO HAD A PATCH On '"'"
KNEES. ASp GLOVES oN.

w
70 breathe for long time, what some
writers call the "braciug air OF poverty
Nv mother-light lie the turf upon the
,aDtIo form which once closed her strong
and gentle spirit-was what i COM
monty called an ambitious woman l"r
that quality which overturns thrones
and snpplants dynasties, finds leglti
mate sphere in the humblest abode that
the shadow of poverty ever darkened.
The struggle between the wish to keep
mn appearances, and the pinchlng grlpe
Of necessity. produced endless shifts
onJ contriyances, at which. were they
toll some would smile, and some, to
,rbom they would recall their own ex-
neriences would sigh But let me not
distnrb that vale of oblivion which
sbrouds from profane eyes the hallowed
mysteries of poverty.
On one occasion it was necessary to
send me upon an errand to nelghbor
in better circumstances than ourselves,
and to whom it was necessary that L
should be presented in the best possible
aspect. Great pains were accordingly
taken to give q smart appearance to my
patched and dilapidated wardrobe, and
to conceal the rents and chasms which
the enyious tooth of time had made in
them, and by way of throwing over my
e0uipment certain SAVIOR and sprlnk-
ling of gentility, my red and toil-har-
dened hands were enclosed in the un-
familiar casing of pair of gloves, which
had belonged to my mothor in days
when her years were fewer and her
heart lighter.
1 sailed forth on my errand, and on
nv way encountered much older and
bigger boy, who evidently belonged to
a family which had all their own drag
ging poverty, and none of our uprising
wealth of spirit. His rags fairly fut-
tered in the breeze; his hat was con-
structed on the most improved principle
Of ventilation, and his shoes. from their
venerable antiquity might have been
deemed pair of fossil shoes-the very
ones on which Shem shufled into the
ark. He was an impudent varlet, with
. daredevil swagger in his gait, an "Fm
as good as you" leer in his eye-the very
whelp to throw q stone at q well-dressed
horseman, because he was well-dressed ;
to tear boys ruf1es because he was
clean. As soon as he saw me, his eye
detected the practical inconsistencies
which characterized my costume, and
taking me by the shoulders, turning me
round with no gentle hand, and survey
ing me from head to foot, exclaimed,
with q scornful laugh of derision, "A
patch on both knees, and gloves on"
l still recall the sting of wounded
feeling which shot through me at these
words. To parody a celebrated line of
the immortal Tuscan
THAT day wore my gloves no more
But the lesson, thus rudely enforced,
sank deep into my mind, and, in after
life, have had frequent occasion to
make . practical application of the
words of my ragged friend, when 1
observed the practical Inconsistencies
which so often marked the conduct of
mankind.
When, for instance, 1 see parents
carefully providing for the ornamental
education Of their children, furnishing
them with teachers in music, dancing
and drawing, but giving no thought to
that moral and religious training, from
which the true dignity and permanent
happiness of life alone can come, never
teaching them habits of self-sacrifce
and self-discipline and control, but
rather by example instructing them in
evil speaking, In uncharitableness in
envy, and in falsehood, 1 think, with q
sigh, of the patch on both knees, with
gloves on.
When I see q family in a cold selfish
solitude, not habitually warming their
houses with the glow of happy faces.
but lavishing that which should furnish
the hospitality of whole year upon the
profusion Of q single night, 1 think of
the patch on both knees, and gloves on.
When I see house profusely fur
nished with sumptuous furniture, rich
curtains and luxurious carpets, but with
no books, or none but few tawdry an
nuals, am reminded of the patch on
both knees, and gloves on.
When see the public men cultivat-
ing exclusively those qualities which
win q way to Office, and neglecting those
which viii qualify them to fill honora-
bly, the posts to which they aspire, 1 re-
call the patch on both knees, and gloves
on.
When see men sacrificing peace of
mind and health Of body to the insane
pursuit of wealth, living in ignorance
of the character of the children who
are growing up around them, cutting
themselves off from the highest and pur-
est pleasures of their natures, and so
perverting their humanity, that that
which was sought as q means insensibly
comes to be followed as an end, say to
myself, patch on both knees, and
gloves on.
When I see thousands squandered for
selfshness and ostentation, and nothing
bestowed for charity; when see fine la
dies bestained and bejeweled, cheapen-
ing the tolls of dressmakers. and with