The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1842-05-26

irifle. Reflect whether almost every day
you do not, in speaking Of your friends, al
lude TO their faults in a way that you could
cot bear TO be spoken Of. This is too com.
mon a practice; and be assured, tina, you
do not always escape in this general habit
Of consciousness. lou are mol faulIless,
and it is not in the nature of things that gu
should be-
Harriet could not collect her thoughts
for reply, and Ann, after a pause, went
on.
II, when Maria Ellis, under the iuhu.
ence OF a momentry III nature, as she frank.
ly coniesses herself TO have been, spoke of
me as she thought, in calmer moments, you
had restrained your propensity 10 repeat
such things, no harm could have resulted
from her thoughtless, and | might almost
say innocent allegation. But when you
came to me, and told me that she had call
ed me conceited, it aroused my feelings.
and caused me TO ava for an explanation
With the frankuess of generous spirl, she
AT once confessed her fault, and all would
have been well again, If she had not
lhoughllessly repeated what | said in my
/ note 10 her about YOU
But Harriet Wilson, though conscious
that she bad acted wrong, was so lncensed,
as well as mortified thai others should think
her wrong, that she neither could nor would
confess her fault, but bfaved it off with an
ger and defiance. As soon as she had gone
away, Ann sat down aud penned note TO
Maria Ellis.
Dear Ndria-lt seems that our little
difficulty is not yet ended. have just re
ceiyed ysi, from Harriet " Ison, who
has treated me in a very strange manner
about what said to you in my last note,
in reference TO her fondnesS for repeating
Ill news. | am sorry that you communi.
Gated that TO any one, as it has not only
prevented me making an effort TO show
Harriet her fault, but has called down upon
me her indignant eensure.
Yours, &c. Ann HARRIS
What is the matter now 2 asked Mrs.
Ellis, who saw tsom the sudden change 10
her couDtenance that the note she had re.
ceived was by no means an agreeable one.
No more doings Of the unruly member,
hope
Maria's face crimsoned deeply as she
/ handed her mother the note. After Mrs.
/ Ellis had read ii, she said somewhat kindly,
for she really felt for Maria in her uupleas.
ant position,
You have not put on the right tongue.
bride yet, see.
Il suppose not. But, indeed, mama,
try 10 be guarded how and 10 whom speak.
never should have dreamed that Cara
Lee would have gone right Off to Harriet
Wilson and told her what said.
But the best way Is not to speak un.
kindly of any one.
How could | have helped it, mother, in
this case ?
By simply questioning yourself as TO
your real motive for making the commun.
cation. II was not TO do Harriet Wilson,
good, was it ?
Well, | can't say mother, that i. was
our real motive was TO make Cara Lee
think meanly Of her, was it noll
Why mama do you think - Ma.
ria paused aud looked upon the floor, While
her face crimsoned.
Probe yourself thoroughly, my child
II is OF the first importance for you to know
distinctly your true character. lfyou have
taken pleasure iG the idea Of njuring ano,h
er because she has wronged or offended
you, you have INDUCED in an evil affection,
and unless that evil affection had lain con.
cealed in your mind, II never could have
been reused into activity
Maria looked thoughtful and concerned,
and her mother continued
Surely, my child, it is not by indulging
this evil that it is to be weakened, mach
less BY concealng il, even from yourself,
after its indulgence. Il is better to look
it in the face, confess that it is wrong, then
try and shun it,
think mother, now begin 10 see what
you mean by tongue bride, Maria said,
looking up seriously 10 the face Of her I'D
wiser.
Well, my child
1t is, that We should shun the cause Of
evil speakng.'
That is it, Maria. If we condemn the
feelings that prompts Us TO speak unkindly
Of others, aud try TO conquer it, we shall be
in little danger Of INDUCING the bad habit.
But If we only curb the busy little mem.
Der, al the same time that we desire to
speak consciously, we will be sure, sooner
or later 10 be betrayed into a word that
had better not have been uttered. Kind
feelings for, and desire to do good to 9th.
ers, is the best tongue bridle.'
see it plain enough, dear mother, and
| am resolved to try and put the tongue
bride upon my tongue
And Maria did Try 10 some purpose
The illIe difficulty that she was in, was
amicably settled; for she had oil The parties
together confessed her fault, and urged
general reconciliation. If, at any time af.
forwards, she felt the desire 10 indulge 10
unknd words, she turned her thoughts in
ward to he unkind feelings that prompted