The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1846-09-03
For the Voice of Freedom.
THE SLANDERER a Short
Sermon.

heT steep as taken dcay, anLess they cduSe some TO
fdlk"-Prov. 4 ; IL.
Can it be that Solomon, the wise, the good Solo
man, tells the truth, when he says that there is
class of beings in our world, who are bent mis-
chief, that their sleep is taken away unless they
cause some to fall? Yea, verify, the inspired pen
man hath said it, and VIC are bound to believe it,
side from the painful personal knowledge we have of
the fact.
Yes, there she gocs,-one of this same class Now
mark her well. See her dark beaundered Wis; her
rolling, restless eye; her thn pallid lips compress
ed tightly over her toothless jaws; and her nose
were it not for that drop of Maccaba, might make a
tooth pick and her breath oh fumes Of ignited
sulphur!
But she is on her way,-her business requires
haste. She has this morning lit upon a kindred
spirit, and she can pour forth her full soul fearless
ly. She is whispering her message, and what is its
burden? Hank "Why, indeed, have not you
heard the dreadful reports in circulation about Miss
B., Mrs c., Or Mr.. D.?"-just as the case may be-
She then goes to relate the most scandalous,
licious things her prolific brain give birth to,
nine tcnths of which as false as the pit and then
folks will do SOL" little thinking that she is SHINING
with higher hand, and doing infinitely more mis-
chief than that individual who just was the sub
jcct Of her calumny, even surprising all she said
of them were true.
Poor pious soul she has disgorged her venom;
she has unburdencd herself, and now she breathes
more free; she feels decidedly better She can
TO sl,o
She leaves, strictly enoning it on her listener Now
for the world don't mention it,, and departs in haste
to make the same communication to the next one
she can find who will listen to her venemous caum-
ny. Yes, Tonight she sleeps, for well she knows
that she has put fire to train that will consummate
her object, the downfall Of an unoGcndng indivd-
ual.
Let US take one look at that injured one as she
sits solitary and alone in her deserted chamber
There she sts,-she wceps and her tears are scad-
ing tears Of bitterest agony The story other crimes
of which till then she was ignorant, has reached her
ear. 1t has gone the rounds so far that she knows
not, and her friends know not that it originated at
the black forge; and now she is neglected and for
saken. She secs the cold, avertcd eye, the secret
whisper, the lip of scon, and she feels that it were
better to die than to live; for she knows that in
heaven she has friend, into whose ear the SANDER
crs breath can never enter, and in that lr-o better
land she feels that the serpent ongued calumuator
can never gain adlnitance. And yet, in the loncl-
ness of that chamber, she is happy,-yes, happy
though she weeps-lot that she has planted thorn
in the pillow of her innocent victim but that she can
pour forth all her sorrows into the truthful bosom of
her changeess friend above.
Not so her vile traducer. 1t matters not to her
whom she victimizes. No friend so dear, no tic so
sacred, but that the agonzing sigh escaping from
their bursting bosom in consequence of her malicious
insinuations, is music to her iendish ear
Yes, she sleeps tonight, and her sleep is sweet,
for she dreams dreams that delightful to her SER
pentish soul She imagines herself standing on the
brink of the fiery lake, and deliberately casting her
Victims one by one, into its burning BOSOM and she
laughs at the plNsh and the goan! Yes, in her
sleep she laughs Satan, near, listens to that
laugh, and turns away, ashamed of his comparative
imbccility
But she is not always successful in her doings.
She now and then lights upon an individual who
will not listen to her vcnemous slang, and then it is
that her sleep is taken away, because she has failed
in her purpose of causing some to fall Yes, she
has failed in her purpose. She did not as she fond
ly anticipated get hearing. Perhaps in its stead
she got a reproof Oh then, no wonder she cannot
sleep! Mark her restless tossing upon her sccpess
pillow Now and then she will remain for few
moments quiet devising ways and means how she
may best apply the poisonous slime of her putrid,
fostering tongue to the fair character of her reprover
All and she will do it mo question but that she
will do it Yea, and before the setting of another
sun her plans at least will have been consummated
and then she will have another good nights rest.
Verify, For they sleep not except they have done
mischiel and their sleep is taken away unless they
cause some to fall"
Merciful heaven lay my anguishcd limbs for re-
pose the torturng rackthe frc-lit faagot pile
on the bursting brow of the yocano-or lay me low
on the oceans bed, but oh leave me not to repose
with fendsh delight on pillow softcned and made
warm by the scaldng tears Of injured innocence, |
called forth by my malice. c.. B.
PiHsto,d .iugust, 1916.