Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1855-06-29
MisrtlIantons.
The Tongue and the Eye.

4
Words and glances! how sharp and swift
they Hy, aud how tremendous is their power
for good or evil, for joy or sorrow!
There are words which carry healing 10 the
ss2 heart, and there are those which crush and
uProOt the young and joyous hopes Of the brav-
est Split. There are those which cheer aud
inspire, which renew the courage Of those
reRuy 30 perish, and which send the thrill ol
life and hope even through the cold bosom
ofdesPair. There are words that mako the
soul Of the weePer sing for joy and thanksgiv-
ing, which can cause that poor, suffering
thing the sport Of passion aud the fount of tears
l-the human heart-to reel beneath its over
poweFing load Of rapture, or TO shiver and
shrink away into the chill darkness Of hope
less night.
Oh, words are mighty things? who can stand
uBmoved before them7 They melt or burn,
warm or scorch, they bless or curse. Sharp.
sF than a two-sdged sword do they fall from the
lips Of anger and scorn. Sweeter than honey
from the hoHeycOmb, dear as the Joys Of home,
do they drop from the fond lips oflOve.
They can sooth and calm the troubled spirit,
can comfort the afflicted and oppressed, or thoy
can lash the waves Of passion, hate and strife,
10 fearful fury.
Words can sting like serpents, they can cash
and rend and tear, like ravinR wolves; they
can cleave through nerve aud marrow, and
make wounds whose ragged scars will never
pass away. They NAV indeed be hid from
sight, covered over by the withered leaves and
aoWers which choke and moulder in every hu-
man heart.
Words, gentle, sincere and kind, from
warm heart, can make friends whom death
hath not power TO sever, and the harsh and an
CRY word Oft makes lifelong enemy.
Words! words! words. how they rush and
Il kvT h. halt
pathway, in the vail ey and the meadow, on the
mountain, through the forest, in the village
BY the river aide, along the shore and on the
sea. The most remote and quiet hamlet hath
its counilsss words, aud through the town and
city they roll and sweep with one continuous
roar. Who can tell the sum ofthsmi Yet for
every single word that man shall speak the
shall give an account in the day ofjudgmsnt"
Oh, words are fearful things. And the silent
glances ofthe eye-who has not felt their in1u-
snes. All, who has followed all the depths Of
that orb Ofmystery, the human eye? Whence
comes its amazing powsr1 Whence, but from
that strange living crseture, the invisible spirit
that dWells within this prison house Of elay7-
0 undscoVsred essence, It is through the won.
deFful eye thou lookesI forth; and in the eyes
Of each other mOrtsls may catch glimpses Of the
uncertain radiance, and the shadowy outlines Of
that subtle thing, the human soul. But let
any try to behold less vaguely, let one seek to
give those fitting wavering CLEANS, that impal-
Pabls presence, distinctfOrm and he is at once
bsfhed, and made aware, to his ever incFeas.
ing PerPlsxity, that man may not see himself,
nor yet his brother whom he believes, but only
the Psrishing and shattered tabernacle wherein
he dwells. Strange, boWildering mystery
The eye. though thing Of dust, which must
daTken and close heavily, and mOulder back to
whence it came is yet q monarch. Who dis.
puies its sway7 Who has not trembled and
turned puls, covered and Shrunk away from its
chilling scorni II can thrill with rapture unut-
terable every pulse and nerve, and it can frsezs
the springs Of happiness, even in their widest
hoW.
Since then the eye is 30 powerful for good or
III, let each one set watch upon lis own glanc-
e., as Wsll a. upon ''the words Of the mouth
and the thoughts Of the heart"