Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1849-05-17

the Soul, III whose service III is DuSy L know
of no images too vile to portray such cha-
acter The dissection of a slanderers or
tale-bearers heart would present the most
loathsome specimen of morbid anatomy con-
ceivable. 1t is full of the most malignant
poison. Its life is all mean, low, serpent
Ikea life that cannot bear the light, but
finds all Its nourishment and growth in
darkness. Were these foul and malignant
forms of speech incapable of harming 9TH
ers--did human reptiles of this class creep
about in some outward guise in which they
could be recognized by all, and their words
be taken for what they are worth and no
more-stil would beg them, for their own
sakes, not to degrade Gods image, in which
;hey were created, into the likeness of
creeping thing; l would entreat them no.
to be guilty of the meanest and most miser-
able of all forms of spiritual suicide; /
would beseech them, if they are determin-
ed to sell their souls, to get some better
price for them than the scorn and dread of
all whose esteem is worth having.
=" In this connection, we ought to take
into account the very large class Of literal
ly idle words. How many talk on unthink-
ingly and heedlessly, as if the swift exer-
else of the organs of speech were the great
end of life The most trivial news of the
day, the concerns of the neighborhood the
floating gossip, whether good-natured or
malignant, dress, food, frivolous surmises,
paltry plans, vanities too light to remain an
hour upon the memory--these are the sole
staple of what too many call conversation ;
and many are the young people who are
training themselves in the use of speech for
no higher or better purpose. But such per-
sons have the threatened judgment visibly
following their idle speech. Their minds
grow superficial and shallow. They con-
stantly lose ground, if they ever had any,
as intellectual and moral beings Such
speech makes a person, of however genteel
training, coarse and vulgar, and that not
only in character, but even in voice and
manners, and with sad frequency obliterates
traits of rich loneliness and promise. The
merely idle tongue is also very readily be-
trayed into overt guilt. One cannot indulge
in idle, reckless talk, without being impli-
Gated in all the current SANDER and calum-
ny, and acquiring gradually the envous and
malignant traits Of hackneyed tae-bearer.
And the person, who, in youth, can attract
the attention and win the favor of those of
little reflection, by hlppant and voluble dis
course, will encounter in the very same cir
Giles neglect, disesteem, and dislike, before
the meridian of life is passed for it takes
all the charms that youth, sprightliness, and
high animal spirits can furnish, to make an
idle tongue fascinating or even endurable.
Let me ask you now to consider for a
moment the influence which we exert in
conversation upon the happiness or misery
OF others. 1t is not too much to say, that
most of US do more good or harm in this
way, than in all other forms beside. Look
around you-take survey of whatever
there is of social or domestic unhappiness
in the families to which you belong, or u
mong your kindred and acquaintance
| Nne-tenths of it can be traced to no other
cause than untrue, unkind or ungoverned
speech. A mere harsh word, repented OF
the next moment-how great fire can II
kindle! The carrying back and forth OF
an idle tale, not worth an hours thought,
will often break up the closest intimaces
From every slanderous tongue you may
trace numerous rills of bitterness, winding
round from house to house, and separating
those who ought to be united in the closest
friendship. Could persons who, with kind
hearts, are yet hasty in speech, number up
at the close of day, the feelings that they
had wounded, and the uncomfortable SEN
salons that they have caused, they would
need no other motive to study suavity Of
manner, and TO seek for their words the
rich JUNCTION of a truly charitable spirit
Then, too, how many are the traits of sus.
picion, jealousy and heart-burning, which &C
forth from every days merely idle words
vain and vague surmises, uncharitable in
ferences and conjectures!
"These thoughts point to the necessity
of religion as the guiding, controlling ele
ment in conversation. All conversation
ought to be religious. Not that l wonC
have persons always talking on what are
commonly called religious subjects. Lee
these be talked of at fitting times and pa
ces, but never obtrusively brought forward
or thrust in. But cannot common subjects
be talked of religiously! Cannot we con
verse about our plans, our amusements, ou
reading, hay, aud our nelghbors, too, ant
no sacred name be introduced, and yet the
conversation be strictly religious 7 Yes
IL
laws of honesty, frankness, kind construc
ton and sincere benevolence-ifo our speec!
be pure, true, gentle, digniied-if it seel
or impart information that either party need
if it cherish friendly feeling-if it give
US kinder affections towards others-if i
bring our minds into vigorous exercise
nay, if it barely amuse,. but not too long
and if the wit be free from coarseness ant
at no ones expense. But we should eve
bear it in mind, that our words are all ut
tered in the hearing of an unseen Listene
and Judge. Could we keep this in remem
brance, there would be little in our speec
that need give US shame or pain. But tina
halEhour spent in holding up to ridicul
one who has done you no harm-that breath
less haste to tell the last piece of SANDER
you would not want to remember in you
evening prayer. From the flippant, IRE
sponsble, wasteful gossip, in which so niue
time is wasted, you could not, with sal
conscience, look up and own an Almlgbt
presence. "-Reu mr. Peabody.
A NEW FACT DISCLOSED.
We were not aware until recently tina
the books of newspaper publishers are con
..l,oJ a. anita a LARGE extent. by DeODle II