The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1885-01-30
STOCKING DARNlNG.
A Few Hints Regarding Family Econcm.
Which Are Worthy of Consideration.

A Few Hints Regarding Family Economy
Which Are Worthy of Consideration.
There may be, as you choose to look
at it, great deal of drudgery or great
deal of romance and poetry in your
weekly darning. There is really no.
bic self-deception, it seems to me, as to
small household tasks. Perhaps
should not call it self-deception, but a
determination to like what one natural
ly dislikes. For instance: you "hate
darning." it is something to be ..gotten
over" somehow, and through with"
as soon as possible.
But now suppose, instead of seeing
merely the pile of brown, gray and ear
dinal stockings, you see the feet which
they encase; recall the first glimpse of
Wills baby foot rs you mend your eld-
est born's manly sock; what little
crushed rosc-leaf it seemed. How you
lonced to have it grow strong! Then
that first day he felt his feet: how the
gentle pressure on your lap throbbcd 20
your very heart! How many times you
have asked God TO guide his steps! How
many times He has guided when you
did not ask! Why, Wits socks ara
mended and folded away, and YOU turn
to Nettie's or Rob's with thought pc
culiar to your girl just growing into
womanhood. or to your merry, romp-
Ing school-boy. whose noise and frolic
you would N SIS sorely. though they try
your patience now and then. Look
back and see the goodness and mercy
,,-L, f,,l L.. ol~ 4
yourself. Perhaps you have expected
to see the goodness and mercy ahead of
YOU? But that is not the promi.e. How
Rob does wear out his knees! Al, well,
all that love for marbles and tar is
building up a fine constitut on. Better
be mending than nursing. So. with
Thoughts of tie past and prayers for The
future, an hour goes by and you have
really enjoyed what has always before
been 4 hard task.
Blu. l wish to be practical, and sc
would give the benefit OF my experience
in darning. l find that too MANY
mothers do not know that they should
leave a loop at each turn of the darn. as
the stocking he's strunk and the darn
ing cotton has not. Then, too, | always
run the heels arl knees of new
stockings, or else herrin g-bone lining
on them; if You line the heels put Your
lining on the right side, lest the seam
hurt the foot Do not turn in the elccs
of the lining, but herring bone it neatly.
Then again, instead of darning large
holes. patch the chidren's stockings,
Last of all. if you have /. leisure half
hour now and then, lay aside stock ings
which are too far gone for your own
children and re-foot them for some of
Gods little ones. Such mended stock
ings can always be used at the different
Homes" or given to some poor men,
Der of your own church. 1t is very
great help to your Christian life to lay
aside one afternoon in the week when
You will work for the poor, mending or
making garments. This is quite diff
ferent matter from making some beau
tiful art Leedle-work to be sold at fair,
but it is more Biblical. We don't hear
anything about the fire-screens or table
scarfs that Dorcas was engaged in when
she fell on sleep! Think on these
things" Hope Ledyard, tn Congrega-
tiondiist.