Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-02-20
For the Spirit Of ths Ags-
The Victim of Scandal.-BY AN INVALID.

III thS long catalogue or social ctlmIHalS,
there is no character SO detsstable and so
well calculated to indict injury upon COM
munity, as the gadding, talking, gossiping,
SCANDAL monger. The slandsrer, he who
andmaliciously malgns the char
acter of his neighbor, would be comparative
ly weak instrument of harm, were is not
for those who eagerly imbibe every aspersion
they may hear, and exult in communicating
it to every one that may crafty then so
much as to become listener to those foul
We have often thought that
many individuals delight in contemplating
only the dark side of every ones character.
ffs It they possessed no yirtuessssas 70. Issm- {
gp }qg a9alllss as i single r2z
ity were friends incarnate-mansters inyhu-
man form. We may be in error; God for
bid, we should judge too harshly But a5.s
How often has word spoken withoul Sc
least sin lister motive, been misconstrued, His-
and exaggerated, until a char
acter as pure and unsullied as the stainless
snow flake, has been crushed and destroyed.
Once upon time, there resided in Scrab-
ble-town an individual who was blessed with
the me-honored patronymic of Smith-John
Smith. lie was prominent leader IN the
Temperance Reform, and belonged TO that
Order 'clept-' Sonnies," being at this time
the presiding officer of Scrabble-town pivis-
ion. Many smiling wife blesscdhis efforts,
many tear Of gratitude were poured out
by thoughtful mothers, and many joyous
family attested that he had not laborsd in
vain. And the tide of life rolled smoothly
and peacefully along, until circumstance
occurred which ruffled the current for mo-
ment, and injured materially the glorious
cause in which he was engaged.
Early enc bitter cold morning in mid-win-
ter, two citizens of Scrabble-town, meeting
in the streets by chance, turned their CONVEX
sation upon the evils Of drunkenness -
As the convincing evidence of what
have said,' remarked Mr.. Brown as was
passing along the road yesterday evening,
discovered man SO beastly Intoxicated,
that he must have frozen, but for my timely
assistance
why, Mr.. Smith
Mr.. Smith, thought he, can it be possible?
What, Mr. Smith 2 said he, by the way of
an exclamation of surprise.
Mr. John Smith, said Mr. Brown, sup
posing he asked the question.
Can it be possible, thought Mr.. Green. that
John Smith, the Jealous advocate of Tenn
perance, is guilty of such base and blush
ing hy pocrisy Yet such must b ethe case,
and the only alternative is to inform his
/ church Of the fact that it may be subjected
to further investigation and deyelopement.s
i Animated with these generous thoughts,
he started for the Minister'S house, but meet
ling on his way an old lady familiarly know
as Aunt Kezlah, to whom he cornmun1cz<
ted the intelligence, charging her at the same
time never to breathe word of it, for fear
: it might reach the ears ofthe Minister. This
, she solemnly promised, and fulfilled her
9 promise as he expected she would, by taking
bee-line for the parsonage, where she di-
vulged what she had heard, giving a second
edition of her own, enlarged and improved,
V leaving no doubt on the kind hearted Minis
ter's mind that Mr.. Smith, the Temperance
, lecturer, had been so completely intoxicated,
s that had it not been for Mr.. Brown, be must
q certainly have perished. Aunt Keziah, as
may be supposed, told the secret confdenti-
;, ally to every one she met, and made several
!, extra visits-merely friendly visits Of course,
N but failing in no one instance, to tell what
she had heard respecting John Smith. III
news seldom rests, and ere the time appoin.
d ted for Mr. Smith next to lecture on ardent
d spirits, but few in the village were not IL
4 possession Of the important secret. Among
r that few was Mr.. Smith himself who haC
not been told, We presume, because it woulc
. hurt his feelings. How very tender anC
IS considerate newsmongers are !
"a When Mr.. Smith made his appearance OF
the stage, he was g>eeted by his audience
v with Kisses, gr0ans, and shouts of hypOcrite!
[e put him out! down with the base sycophant
r. In vain he attempted to speak-his voice
~ was hushed amid the din and tumult. Ii
! vain he demanded an explanation. Eggs
- :, brick-bats, and such like arguments wer
u brought to bear upon him, and he vas abou
e, to retire, when a pike stone struckt&pd fel
k, led him to the floor. With much dAheult
nc he was at length rescued by his friaads anC
Il carried bleeding and wounded to his-home
10 where he lay for many days in pracariou
- condition.
:. An ecclesiastical court was instantly prC
rogued to investigate the truth of the fumo1
. Aunt Keziah testified that she had been tol
OF so by Mr. Green Mr.. Green sail that h
Id received his intelligence from rlr. Brow
at and Mr.. Browns character for yaraslty@w9
le- too we'll established to he for almemel
air doubted. AT this opportune moment, Nj
ar Brown who had been absent from .he vi
lage, whilst the rumors were afOat, being
fact on his way at the time he Informed NJ
'p' Green of the circumstance, rushed into IL
De church.
e We are glad, said the good minister,
ass see you at this crisis in our DELIBERATIONS
Did you see Brother John Smith intoxicat
N, and lying by the road side, or did you t.
m any one that you did?'
nd It SO happened responded Mr.. Brow
that there is more than one John Smith
this wide world of ours. did see job
= . Smith lying drunk, and that very drunk, b
the it was an old topper of that name who liv
.las in the suburbs of this Village, and spen
,rt every dime he can for grog; and not t
dst Temperance advocate, who | ana sorry
en- learn has been SO unjustly illuminated a
me SO cruelty abused during my absence
ster Oh sad and bitter disappointment to t
she scandalmonger Mr.. smith is, after all,
F. ally guiltless of the foul imputation! A
the how each one excuses himself of all censu
OBJ and accuses his neighbor for being the cat
ons of the entire mischief! Thus wags
nts. world
IN J.a MoRAL.-There is more than one 10
- 80 Smith in the world.
Elm COTTAGE, Va.