DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.67419#0340
318
ON STITCHERY.
of it, as we h ve heard even ungallant lordly man
allow, it keeps us out of mischief.
And there are frequent and oft occurring circum-
stances which invest it with characteristics of a still
higher order. How many of “ the sweet solicitudes
that life beguile” are connected with this interest-
ing occupation ! either in preparing habiliments for
those dependent on our care, and for love of whom
many an unnecessary stitch which may tend to extra
adornment is put in; or in those numberless pretty
and not unuseful tokens of remembrance, which,
passing from friend to friend, soften our hearts by
the intimation they convey, that we have been cared
for in our absence, and that while the world looked
dark and desolate about us, unforgetting hearts far,
far away were holding us in remembrance, busy
fingers were occupied in our behoof. Oh ! a reti-
cule, a purse, a slipper, how valueless soever in it-
self, is, when fraught with these home memories,
worth that which the mines of Golconda could not
purchase. And of such a nature would be the feel-
ings which suggested these well-known but exqui-
site lines :—
“ The twentieth year is well nigh past,
Since first our sky was overcast,
Ah, would that this might be the last I
My Mary I
“ Thy spirits have a fainter flow,
I see thee daily weaker grow,
'Twas my distress that brought thee low,
My Mary I
Thy needles, once a shining store,
For my sake restless heretofore,
Now rust disused and shine no more,
My Mary !
ON STITCHERY.
of it, as we h ve heard even ungallant lordly man
allow, it keeps us out of mischief.
And there are frequent and oft occurring circum-
stances which invest it with characteristics of a still
higher order. How many of “ the sweet solicitudes
that life beguile” are connected with this interest-
ing occupation ! either in preparing habiliments for
those dependent on our care, and for love of whom
many an unnecessary stitch which may tend to extra
adornment is put in; or in those numberless pretty
and not unuseful tokens of remembrance, which,
passing from friend to friend, soften our hearts by
the intimation they convey, that we have been cared
for in our absence, and that while the world looked
dark and desolate about us, unforgetting hearts far,
far away were holding us in remembrance, busy
fingers were occupied in our behoof. Oh ! a reti-
cule, a purse, a slipper, how valueless soever in it-
self, is, when fraught with these home memories,
worth that which the mines of Golconda could not
purchase. And of such a nature would be the feel-
ings which suggested these well-known but exqui-
site lines :—
“ The twentieth year is well nigh past,
Since first our sky was overcast,
Ah, would that this might be the last I
My Mary I
“ Thy spirits have a fainter flow,
I see thee daily weaker grow,
'Twas my distress that brought thee low,
My Mary I
Thy needles, once a shining store,
For my sake restless heretofore,
Now rust disused and shine no more,
My Mary !