Du Buque visitor. [volume] (Dubuque, Lead Mines, Wisconsin Territory) 1836-1837, 1836-06-29
THE sLANpERER.

/ THE SLANDERER.
Against SANDER there is no defence.
| Hell cannot boast 50 foul, nor man de-
jplore so fella foe. Itstabs witha sword
with nod-with q shrug with a
llook-with asmile. It is the pestilcnce
walking in darkness spreading conta-
gion far and wide, which the most wa.
Iry traveller cannot avoid: it is the heart
searching dagger ef the assassin: 3, ]: j: i
the poisoned arrow, whose wound is
|incurable; it is the mortal sting Of the
deadly adder-lnurder its employment
Innocence its prey, and ruin its sport
The man who breaks into my dwell.
ing, Or meets me on the public road
and robs me Of my property, does me
an injury. He stops me on the way
to wealth, strips me Of my hard earn
led savings, involves me in difficulty.
and brings my family to penury and
want. But he does me an injury which
can be repaired. Industry and econo-
my may again bring me into circum-
stances Of ease and aflluence, and the
smiles Of gratitude may yet play upon
the checks Of my offspring, as they
receive the small tokens Of parental
love.
The man who comes at the midnight
hour and Grcs my dwelling, does me
an injury. lie burns my roof, my pill
low, my raimcnt, my every shelter
from the storm and the tempest. But
he does me an injury that can be re-
paired. The storm may indeed beat
upon me, and the chilling blasts assail
me, but Charity will receive me into
her dwelling, will give me "food TO
eat and raimcnt to put on" will kind
~ assist me in raising new roof over
the ashes Of the old, and I shall again
sit by my firc-sidc, and taste the sweets
of friendship and of home.
Bit the man who circulates false re-
ports concerning my character-who
exposes every act Of my life which can
be represented to my disadvantage
who goesfirst to this, then to that neigh
Dor, tells them he is very tenderof my
reputation, enjoins the strictest secrecy,
and then fills their cars with hearsays
and rumors, and what is worse, leaves
them to dwell upon the hints and sug-
gestions Of their own busy Imagination
the man who in this way s'filches
from me my good name," does me an
injury which neither industry, nor cha
rity, nor time itself can repair. He has
told his tale Of SANDER to an uncharita-
bic world. Some receive it as truth;
others suspect that the half was not told
them: and others dress what tfeyhave
heard IN the highest coloring, auu TO
it the foul calumny Of their own inven-
ton, and proclaim it inthe corners Of
the streets, and upon the honsetops.
Should ] prove myself innocent, and
attempt to meet the scandal by contra
diction, the story Of my disgrace out
strips me, or my solicitude to contra
suspicion ofguilt. Should
the slandercr confess his crime, the blot
is made, and his tears Of repentance
cannot wash It cut. might as we'll
recall the winds, or quench the stars,
as recall the tale ofinfamy, or wipe this
foul stain from my character.
] attacha high value to the esteem
and confidence Of my fellow men. /
cannot but wish, that while liveamong.
them may hold a place in their af1ec-
lions, and be treated with the respect
which is due to my station. "a good.
name is rather to be chosen than great
riches, or than precious ointment
s''ris the immediate jewel 81 the soul,
The purest treasure mortal times Afford
s Give me this, and ! can face the
frowns of fortune -can be pointed at
as the child of poverty land still know
what It isto be happy. Take this away,
and you strike dagger to my soul; So
you render life itself burden. The
frowns of a world, the finger Of scorn,
md the hiss ofcontempt, are more than
man can endure. q
q Yet, dear as reputation is, "and in
my SOULS just estimation priced above.
all price, tits not too dear, it is not
toosacrcd for the slandererto tarnish and
destroy. He can take iron, me the cons
fidcnce OF my employers, the respect
81 my friends--can blast my reputa-
ton with his presidential breath, and
feel not a pang Of remorse. He glories
in nothing SO much as in the slaughter
Of character. He would blight the fair
est flower in the garden ofinnoccnce,
demolish. the. loftiest temple Of human
purity, and place his broad stamp of