The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1865-11-24
Gossiping,
DIX MRS. c. NJ sED0wICK.

clas communities, is gossiping. As weeds
most infest the richest soils, 80 gossiping
most abounds amidst the social virtues. in
| small towns where there is the most extend.
cd mutual acquaintance, wbero persons live
10 closest relations, Resembling largo fam.
| lily circlo. To disturb lho sweet Uses of tho
little communities BY gossipine, is surely to
forfeit the benefit Of one of the kindest ur.
rangoments OF Providence,
ln great and busy cities, where peoplo live
IN total ignorance of thoir neehbors. whore
they cannot know how th6S live, and hardly
Know when they die. there is no neighbor
hood, aud there is no gossiping. But need
! there be this poisonous weed among the
fiowcrs-this blight upon the fruit, nv
young fricnds? -
You may understand better precisely
what comes under the head of gossipping, If
give you some examples of it.
10 certain small, thickly. sottled town
tnere lives family, consisting of a man, his
wife, and his wite's sister. He has little
shop, u may be jewelers., saddler's, shoe.
makers, or what we call store--no matter
which, since he earns enough to 1.-Two COM.
| tortably, with tho help of his wife aud sister.
VINO are noted Tor their industry and econ.
omy. One would think they had nothing
to do but enjoy thoir own comforts. and oid
and pity those loss favored than themselves.
But, instead of oil this thoy volunteer 10 su
pervso all the sins, fuiics and SHORTCOMINGS
OF their noighbors. Tho husband is not a
silent partner. He docs his full share of
tho low work of this gossiping trio. Go
70 see them when you will, you may bear
the last news of every family within half a
mile. For example, as follows: '"''
"Mr.--gave $3.50 for his now wagon,
and he had no mood of new one; the old
one has not run moro than two years." Il
"Mrs.--has got new hired help, but
she won't stay long; it's como and 90 there"
"Mrs.-had got new gown at meeting
yesterday, which makes the fifth in loss than
year, and every one of her girls had now
ribbons on their bonno.s; it is q good thing
TO have rich friends, but, for my part, / had
rather wear my old ribbous."
"There goes Sam Biss's people with q
barrel of flour; it was but yesterday sbo
was at tho judges. begging" - .~sl
"None of the Widow Days girls wore at
meeting; but they can walk out az soon os
tho sun is down." ."H .'.'- e'.'"
This is but specimen of tho talk of
those unfortunate people, who SOON to have
turned their homo into common sewor,
through which all tho sins and foiblea of tho
neghborhoeG run. Have thoy minds and
hearts' Yes, but their minds have run to
waste, aud there Is somo taint, ! fear, at
their hearts.
Tho noted gossip. Miss--. makes visi.
in town where she has been previously a
stranger. She divides bor time among SOW.
cral families; sho is socinl nnd what is mis-
called agreeable, for she is perpetually talk
ing OF persons and things; she wins q too
easy confidence, and roturns homo with an
iDfinito store of family anecdotes She |
knows that Mr.. and Mrs. So and So, who |
arc supposed to live happily. are really on
bad terms, and that he broke tho hearts Of
two othor women before he married bis
wife; che knows tho particulars, but she has
promised not to tell. She has found out
that certain family who, for ten years, have
hoen supposed 70 live very harmoniously with
stepmotber,a are really ominenily wrotchcd.
She has heard that Mr., who apparently
is in very fourishing circumstances, has
boon on the brink of bankruptcy for tho
last ten yoars--&c, &c. Could this woman |
find nothing in visiting o now scene to OK
cite her mind but such trumpery: We
have givcu you this example to show YOU
that the Bin of gossipiDg pervades somo
communities This woman did not create
these stories; sho heard them all, the ind-
viduals who told them to her littIo thinking
that they in turn would become the sub
jects Of similar remerks to tho very persons
whose affairs they we're communicating.
What would wo think of persons who !
went about collecting for exhibition samples
OF tho warts, wcns and cancors with which
their fellow boings wore efflicted? And
would not their employment be more hon.
orab!e, more humnne,at leust. than this COS.
s;p-mopger: =, |
We have heard such talk as follows be.
tween ladies, wives and mothers tho wives |
OF educated mon, and who we're called cd. |
ucated women:
"Have you beard that Emma Ellis is 60
ing to Washington" -L
ITO Washington! How on earth can the
Ellses afford winter in Washingion?"
"Oh, you know they are not particular
about their debts. and they have six girls to
dispose Of, aud find rather o dull market
here"
"Have you beard the Newtons are going
to the country to live?"
"Bless mo!-no! What's that for?'
"They say to educate their children; but |
my dress maker, Sally Smith, who works
for Mrs. Newton, says she is worn ont with |
dinner parties. He runs the house down
with company"
"Oh. suspect they are obliged to 20 to
economise. You know she dresses her chill
dren extravagantly. saw Mary Newton at
the theatre, (she is not older than nv
Grace,) with a diamond ferroniers."
Diamond, was it? Julia told me it was an
aqua marine. The extravaganza of some
people is shocking! don't wonder the
men are out of patience. Don't tell IL again,
because Ned Miller told me in confidence.
He actually has locked up all bis wife's
worked pocket handkerchief Well. what.
ever else my husband complains of, be can't
find fault with my extravaganza"