The Port Gibson herald, and correspondent. (Port Gibson, Claiborne Co., Miss.) 1848-18??, 1851-07-04
GOSSTPTiVG.

1old II 10 be fact, that II all persons
knew what they said of each other, there would
not be four friends left in the world. This is
manifest from the disputes, to which indiscreet
reports, passing from one to another, often give
rise" So says Pascal. We all know il to bs
sensible: we all recognize it as truth. Every
one-we can hardly make the exception Of
child-has realized, in his own experience, that
injury has often been done to him BY the care
less inuendoes thrown out, or doubtful reports
put in circulation by those, who were in reality
his friends. We do not class this defect of
character with that other serpent-like sin of
slander, which aims at the wilful destruction of
reputation, happiness and influence, public or
domestic; but certainly it is an evil which,
however innocently it may be done, works
much serious injury in communities. Remarks
uttered quietly By one, who is supposed to be
friendly to you, but which arise most frequent
ly from a false estimate of your character,
your conduct, and the motives which influence
you, oftentimes produce worse results to you,
than the most violent and bitter persecution of
an open and avowed enemy. For, as men are
accustomed to judge of the justice of charge
by the motives which prompt it, they give the
greater credit tc that which emanates from a
friendly source, and look with much suspicion
upon that which issues out of the mouth of
him, who seeks to do you harm. The motive
and Y1ur.,noa af anfar 1arcalsr .-fo fha
consideration Of its integrity; and while both
| these might justly be assumed to be as favora-
BE to you as facts would allow, in the case of
friends animadyersions. they never could be
so fully credited, where they were found in the
heart of an enemy. For these reasons we
would prefer the bitter maledictions of ten
ayowedly hostile tongues, to the smooth, but
luawise condemnation of him who is known to
be friend. How frequently are the intentions
and acts of men misconceiyed, and how neees-
sary, too, that judgment be withheld, until an
error is proved! And this will always be the
case, until some omnipotent power shall give
! to one man the ability to analyze completely
| both the intellect and heart of his fellow. As
tits, we form our opinions, as we do our gar
ments from the material before us, and more
frequently than otherwise, make sad mistakes.
The character of every. man is entrusted to
the sacred regard of his friends-not to his
enemies: And that keeper Of the treasure
Ewho by his own thoughtless acts destroys it
Ter declares to others that its inherent yalue.is
gone, whenitis not, commits breach of trust
more to be lamented, than the placing another's
i gold "where moth aud rust doth corrupt, and
thieves break through and steal" We need
lnot enter into the particulars of time and place
| when and where this error is most committed
Each one for himself can find examples in his
own experience sufficiently numerous to exhi
bit its injurious effects. Neither need we en-
ter into a description of those who are guilty
Most persons can find them out without oul
aid,-perhaps they will not be compelled to &C
/ far from home. 1t is hdbit, and one, which
like all others, increases by practice, The Ole
adage s'think twice before yon speak once" is
not the less valuable and worthy of attention
| because it is trite und old. Should We prac
ticethis, we shoulddob but little injury to others
certainly lesss than we often do; we should
''be 10 the faults of others little kind,n and
should be pursuing course, which would tell
upon society toits benefit "Wbere no wood
| is, there the fire goeth out; so, where there is
no taIesbearer, the strife ceaseth,p We are
told that the tongue needs bride; and we all
know that, a man Of few words produces less
harm and greater and better influence, than
he who makes himself Judge over others, and
holds session of his court at.ali hours, and at
the corners of the streets.