The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1845-06-12
SCANDAL.

SCANDAL
"Now LET il work. Mischief! thou art afoot,
Take what course thou Wits
The substance of the following is no
fiction. In neighboring village, whose
inha bitants. like the good people of Ath
ems, were much given 10 ''ei'ber tell OF
hear something new" lived Squire p. q
facelious, good naured sort OF body,
whose jokes are ever yet matter of VII
yage record, and have been reto!d through
various editions, from folio down 10 duo.
decimo.
Aunt Lizzy was Deacon Snipe's wife's
sister-a maiden lady Of about fifty, she
went to all the meetings, kept regular
account Of every birth, death and mar
rage, with lheN da!es-doctored al their
babies, aid knew every a76 10 the neigh
borhood showed all The young married
women bow to make soap, and when lh'y
had bad luck, made every child in the
house SET cross-legged until the luck
changed. In fine, she was kind of viii
lage fac!olum-s spent her time in going
from house to house, grinding out grist
of SANDER to each, as occasion required,
but always concluded with ",he way of
the lransgressor is hard;" poor Mrs. or
B. las the case was) pity her from the
bottom OF my hearl." or some such very
soothing reflection. Aunt l. zzy was all
ways very fond of asking strangers and
Others. without regard TO time or place,
'the stale Of their minds; how they en-
joyed their minds" &c: These questions
were generally followed by a string OF
scandal, which was calculated 10 destroy
the peace and happiness Of some of her
best neighbors and friends; but she, like
ether narrators of this kind, considered
such intellectual murder as either estab-
fishing her reputa,ion.o: as the only mode
OF entertaining the village, and thereby
rendering her society agreeable.
One warm summers afternoon, as the
Squire was sitting near his Office door,
smoking his pipe. Aun. L'zzy was pass
ing by with great speed, ruiDinatlng on
The news of The day, when the Squire bro't
her suddenly to, as The sailors say, by
CIV hats your hurry aunt Lizzy2 walk 10"
The old lady, who never wanted sec,
ond invitation. went iLto the tftice, and
the following dialogue took place.
"Well, SquirsaP. have been thinking
this forenoon what an useful man you
nigh. be, fyou'd only leave off your
light conversa,io ions, as the good book says,
and become serious man-you might
be an ornament 10 both church and state,
as our Minister says"
"Why, as to that, Aunt I.;zzy, a cheer.
ful countenance consider as the best in
dex of grateful heart, and you know
what the Bible says on that subject
when ye fast be no. as the htpocriles
with sad countenance; but snnoint Thy
head and nash thy face, (aunt Lzzy be-
gan TO feel for her pocket haDdkerc bief,f for
she was taker OF snuff, that thou op.
pear not unto men 10 fast"
"Now, there Squlre-lhal's just what |
told ye-see how you have scrip!er at
your tongues end; what an useful man
you might be 10 our church, if you'd on
ly be doer as we'll as heurer of the
word"
"As to that, aunt Lizzy, don't see that
yOui YfOfe"SO'Si uiS u " ult tudn L
am. in pricate. respect sincere pros
fession as much as any mao; but know
enough Of one of your church whom you
think grea, deal Of, to know that she is
no better than she should be p
Atthese inuendoss, aunt Lzzy's little
black eyes began to twinkle; she ST, down
beside the Squire, in order TO speak in
lower tone-spread her handkerchiefover
beI lap, and began to tap the cover OF her
snuff box in true STYLE and all things BIZ.
ing in readiness for a regular siege of
'scandalum magna,um" she commenced
fire.
Nov, Squire, I want to know what
you mean by one of our churcb2 know
who you mean-the trollcp-l did'nl like
so many curls about her head, " hen She
told her experience"
The Squire fnd'rg curiosity was put.
ting his boots on, had no occasion to add
spurs TO the heels, for the old lady had
one 10 her head thar was worth both Of
them. Accordingly he had 90 peace IN
Ill he consented TO txpoin what he meant
by the expression ain Yricate"-lhs was
dear word with aunt LJzzy.
Nov, aunt Lizzy, will you take Ri.