Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1842-04-04
MISCELLANY.
From the Young Peoples Book.
THE TONGUE Birdie.

THE TONGUE-BRIDLE.
"What is the trouble now ~ asked Mrs. Ellis,
coming into the room where her daughter Maria
sat weeping bitterly.
"That will tell YOU" replied Maria, drying her
tears and handing her mother an open letter. Mrs.
Ellis read as follows:
TO MARIA ELLIS:
Miss have lust learned from Harriet Wilson
that you made rather free with my name yester-
day. Now would just like 10 know whether yol
did, or did not say, that you thought me over and
above conceded; aud it you did, what do you
mean by it? ! am not used to be talked abou, in
that way. ANN HARRIS.
"And did you say so to Harriet Wilson ?" asked
Mrs. Ellis.
eyes, did, and now how TO get out of il, am
sure cannot tell. never dreamed that Harriet
WIS such atter."
"You cannot deny il, of course"
"No not up and down; but then, ma, 1t will
never do in the world 10 come right out and nck-
nowedge it point blank. I'D make Ann Harris all
enemy all my life"
"How very unguardod you are, Maria! This
is the third or fourth time that you have brought
yourself into difficulty by your way of talking to
every one."
g" know am imprudent, ma, some,imts: but
then never can believe that young ladies' with
whom am intimate will act so meanly as to be-
come tattlers and mischief-makers, until it is too
late to make caution Of any avail But I'm done
with Harriet Wilson; I've broken off my intima
cy with several girls already, for repeating what
have said and will do the same with her.
cit would be much better, Maria" said her
mother, ifyou would put bride on your tongue
you would save yourself and others many uBkind
thoughts and painful feelings"
aiknow would, ma, but then | can't always
be watching myself. It's impossible; try often,
but III no use.'
,,,;u in vntr x.,iiI in,
time gain such control over yourself as to keep
you out of these unpleasant difficulties"
"Perhaps might, but what shall do now?
Ann has pinned me right down; and there is no
way of getting off, unless | say that Hurret must
have misunderstood me-"
That would be prevarcatioD, Maria, II not
something more"
eyes, it would for remember well enough.
that said exactly what she reported"
"And you seriously think, Maria, that Ann is
conceed."
ayes, ma, do, or would not have said So"
81 think as you do, Maria, but then, there is to
me nothing offensive in the good opinion she seems
to entertain of herself"
"No, there is not, and had not been somewhat
i'll uatuie ed at the time, never should have alluded
to it,"
81 suspected as much" Mrs. Ellis said. Sand
under the circumstances, am OF the opinion that
the hest way is frankly 10 own that you did say
Such an honest confession will do you both good"
81 don't know una"
"Why do you doubt! Z"
al don't believe that such an explanation will
soften her angry feelings at all"
81 am much inclined to think that you feel
reluctance on your own account 10 pursue this
course"
"Well, perhaps do" Maria said, after pause.
"You are evidently in the wrong, Marin, and
consciousness Of this clouds your perception Of
the true way to act. Now if you will let me write
your reply TO AIMS note, think all can be brought
around fair again."
"You are certainly at liberty to do so, ma but
still, should like 10 reserve the power OF sending
or withholding it, as il seems best 10 me. Is this
asking too much ?"
SO, no, would rather not send reply, unless
you could see clearly that it was right one"
"Then write me an answer, ma"
In the course of the day Mrs. Ellis prepared the
following draft of reply to AIMS letter of CON-
plaint and submitted II TO Maria:
"To MISS ANN HARRIS:
"Dear Ami received your note complaining
that had, according to report, said unkind things
of you. l cannot deny, that in moment OF i'll
humor, / was tempted to say that thought you
somewhat conceiled and to be frank with you,
your manners at times indicate this fault, or Pecu-
liarity of character. But il is not half SO bad as
the one INDUCED in when alluded 10 il. Now,
as | have confessed that have u trait in my dis
position much worse than the one alluded 10 IN
yours, must hope that you will forgive me-
~Eyer YOURS MARIA ELLIS"
"What do you think of that p Mrs. Ellis said,
after she had finished reading the proposed reply.
It's not exactly such letter as should have
written, ba, ! believe it's a much better one SO
will send it,"
81 don't think it can do any harm, and it tells
the whole truth, does il not ?"
ayes, it does, and in pretty plain terms, too"
Maria said, smiling.
The letter was accordingly sent, and in the
course OF a couple OF hours another was received
from Ann Harris II read thus;
"Dear Mara-Your answer TO my note has
been received and it has completely dispelled my
unkind feelings. Let US forget the unpleasant in
cident, and be the same to each other that we have
so long been neither of us are perfect, therefore,
we must learn 10 bear and forbear. When ! see
Harriet Wilson again, shall talk 10 her about her
fondness for retailing bad news.
"Yours, truly, ANN HARRIS"
"You have helped me to get hack friend that
deal moved, as she finished reading the note. 81
shall try hereafter to be more guarded than l have
been. / must brde!my tongue, as you say, moth
or, at least unless am pretty certain about the
company am in"
"The best t0ngue-bride, Maria" Mrs. Ellis re.
piled, ais that which charitable feelings and char
liable thoughts give. re your restraints merely
external, you will ever and anon he giving the rein
TO your unruly member, and then trouble will be
the consequence"
Maria hardly understood her mother, and did
not reply, and there the conversation ceased. Or
the next morning Clara Lee, another friend called
in, and afor some chat, said,