Smyrna times., 1884-07-02

The following, read by Mrs. Lou
Caldwell before the HEsthetic club, is
published at the request of Il number
of ladies present, who desired its pres
ervatiOn. 1t is in the form of letter,
accompanying u wedding preseGt-a
pair Of stockings.
A PAIR OF STOCKINGS.
DEAR CoUsIN-Herewith you will
receive a present of a pair of wooden
stockings, knit by my own hands; and
be assured, dear coz, that my friend
ship for you is as warm as the material,
active as the finger work, and gener-
Gus as the donation. But | consider
this present as peculiarly appropriate
on the occasion of your marriage. You
will remark, in the first place, that
there are two individuals united in
one pair, who are to walk side by side,
guarding against cOldness, and giving
comfort as long as they last. The
thread of their texture is mixed, and
so, also, is the thread of life. In these,
however, the white is made to pre-
dominate, expressing my desire and
confidence that thus it will be with the
color of your existence. No black is
used, for believe your lives will be
wholly free from the black passion of
wrath and jealously. The darkest
color here is blue, which is excellent
where we Go not make it too blue
Other appropriate thoughts rise to
my mind i'll regarding these stockings.
The most Indifferent subjects, when
properly viewed, may furnish instruc-
/ ton and interences, as saith the poet
The iron dogs the fuel and the tongs,
/ The bellows that have leathern lungs,
/ The iirewOGd, ashes and the smoke,
/ DO all TO righteousness provoke.
But to the subject: You will per-
ceiVe that the tops OF the stockings by
which l suppose courtship to be repre-
sented, are scanned and by means ot
scanning are drawn into a snOd, but
afterwards comes q time when the
whole is made plain and continues SC
to the final tOeing off. By this / wish
to take occasion to congratulate your
self, that you are through with seam
ing, and have come to plain reality
Again, as the whole of these comely
stockings were not made at once, bu
by the addition of one little stitch afte
another, put in with skill and discre
tiOn until the whole presents the fai
and equal piece of work which you see
50 life does not consist Of one grea
action, but millions of little ones com
bined; and SO it may be with you
lives.
No stitch dropped when the dutie
are to be performed, no widening mad
when bad principles are to be improy
ed or economy TO be preserved! neith
er scanning nor narrowing where trutl
and generosity are in question. Thu
may every stitch of life be set in tn
right place-nOne either too large G
too small, too light or too lose. Thu
may you keep on your smooth an
even course, making existence one fai
and even piece, until together, havin
, passed the heel, you come to the toe
life, and here, in the final narrowing 0
and dropping the evil of this emblem
atical pair Of companions and cOmfor
ing associates, nothing but white AZ
pears, the token of innocence, of purit
, and light. May you, like these stocl
/ ings, the final stitch being droppe
q and the work being completed, 90 fro
i the place where you were formed to
,. happier state of existence, Il prese
/ from earth to heaven. Hoping tn
n these stockings and admonitions In;
meet a cordial reception, remain,
. the true blue friendship, seemly wit
n out scanning, yours from tip to toe.