Constantine republican. [volume] (Constantine, Mich.) 1836-1838, 1838-02-21
From the Watertown Student.
THE TONGUE.

This is small but an unruy member
whose power for good or for evil our daily
experience constantly admonshes U.S.
"Who so" said the wisest Of men, "kcep-
eth his mouth and his tongue, keepeth his
soul from trouble" Would that his advice,
could be better remembered-for how man.
fold are the troubles in which, by neglect
ing it, we are perpe.ually involved-and yet
how are we to act upon it ?rhow attain to
this art, which, more than all others, is TO
conduce TO ourlhappiness-the art of "keep-
ing the tongue p All things else may be
taught subjection-the shaggy roamer Of
the widerness-the bright. winged tenan. Of
the upper air-even the deadly fanged and
hideous serpent has been tanned by the pow
err of man--nay, he has done still more
the wind and the wave have been taught to
obey him-the potent energies of vapour
have become obedient TO his wili-the very
lightnings have been drawn from their far
off and fearful home, to do his labor on the
earth. All these have acknowledged his
dominion; "but the tongue" said the apos-
tie, /" can no man tame" But it is this
the tanning ofthe tongue, not those of others.
but our own-to which by constant and
prayerfuI effort we must strive to attain
Who has measured its powerl Who sum.
med the great aggregate of its conquests
Happiness or misery are dispensed at its
will; death and life are equally at its dis.
posal. How may we learn to control it
How attain TO that grace by which we ''of.
fend not in word 2" In the page of inspi.
ration we may find both our warning and
our guide.
From the tongue of Islander we would
shrink back with instructive horror. There
is pollution in its approach. 1t is not from
falling unconsciousy into this vice, that oul
greatest danger is to be apprehended-it;
ioathesomeness is too apparent; il is no
when the greennes of the poison is floating
on the surface that the drugged cup is lfiec
to our lips. From the vice Of falsohood
too, we may be deferred, from the repul
siveness of its aspect. 1t stands mirrorec
before us in all its deformity and we woult
not willingly clothe ourselves with sem
blance so hideous. Here the tongue ma,
be easily controlled. "But there is (sait
Soiomon) that speaketh like the piercing
of sword" Such is the tongue of satire
Here there is danger. To this vice Their
are many temptations-the hope of ap
plause-the desire of admiration, with tn
wish of eclipsing others sometimes it ma,
be the temptings of revenge; all these, an
thousand other incentives, may lead u
unwarily into that path, in which, Will
like the mailman we scatter around us fire
brands, arrows and death, we say, am
not in sportP" Fearful indeed may be tn
consequences Of that sport. Nor is it on
ly from the indulgence of intended sarcasm
that we must guard the tongue !; the evil ma
Turk in an even less questionable form.
is not alone when concealed amid the foliag
of our garden bowers that the sting of tn
asp is deadly, when he entwines himse
; with the rose.wreath that ornaments on
, brows, his venom is no less fatal. Fror
the habits Of a professed satirist we ma
more easily guard ourselves. But this
not all; the casual observation, uttered j
. thoughtlessness or mrth, may carry stin
Q we little dream of. Words have power
and, as was sung by Scotland's creates
minstrel,--
, MANY SHAFT at rlndom sont,
Plnds mirk the archer little meant;
I And many word at random spoken.
D May sootho or wound heart that's broken
How should consciousness Of this chez
. the light Jest or the bitter remark, which to
: easily, and far too frequently, escapes
! the careless gaiety of familiar conversation
d That unaimod arrow OF ridicule may strik
!, deep, and rankle where we least meant
' wound; that unintended sarcasm may bur
9 into heart whose hopes are dear to u
o rcathng and leaving desolate forever. V,