The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1866-10-18
G0SSlPING.
BY MISS Q. NJ. sEDcwIcK.

The most prevailing fault of CONVEX
sation in our country, and | believe in
ali social communities, is gossiping.
AS weeds most infcst the richest soils,
so gossiping most abounds amidst the
social virtues in small towns whore
there is the most extended mutual nc
quaintance, where persons live in clos.
est relations, resembling a large family
circle. To disturb the sweet uses OF
the little communities by gossiping, is
surely to forfeit the benefit. of one OF
the kindest arrangements of Provi.
dence.
In great and busy cities, where peo.
pie live in total ignorance of their
neighbors, where they cannot know
how they live, and hardly when they
die, there is no neighborhood, and there
is no gossiping. But need there be
this poisonous weed among the flowers
this blight upon the fruit, my young
friends f
You may understand better pre-
cisely what comes under the head OF
gossiping, ifI give ycu some examples
of it.
In a certain small thickl5 scNlcd
town there lives a family, consisting Of
a man, his wife, and his wife's sister.
He has a little shop, it may be, a jew
eler's, saddler's, shoemaker's, or what
We call store-no matter which, since
he earns enough TO live comfortably
with the help of his wife end sister,
who are noted TOR their industry and
economy. One would think they had
nothing to do but enjoy their own
comforts, and aid and pity those less
favored than themselves. But instead
of all this, they volunteer 10 supervise
all tho sins, follics and short comings
ofthcir ncghbors. The husband is
nota silent partner. He does his full
share Of the low work ofthis gossiping
trio. Go to see them when you will,
you may hear the last news of every
family within half half milo. For
example, as follows:
,h"Mr.--gave hundred and fifty dol
lars for his new wagon, and he had no
need OF new one; The old has not run
moro than two years"
Mrs.-~has got a now hired help but
shc wont stay long, its como and go
there
"Mrs. had on new gown at mcet-
ing yesterday, which makes the fifth
In less than year, and every one OF
her girls had new ribbons on their bon
notsj It is good thing to have rich
friends, but, for my part, had rather
wear my old ribbons" {"
i"There goes Sam Bliss people with
barrel OF -four; it was but yesterday
she was at tho judges, begging"
"None of the Widow Days girls
were at tho meeting but they can
walk out as soon as the sun is down,
This is but specimen of the talk ol
these unfortunate people, who seem Il
have turned their home into common
sewer, through which all the sins and
foibles of the neighborhood run
Have they minds and heortsl Yes
but their minds have run TO paste, and
there is somc taint, | fear, at thoiI
hearts. tM A4li rfs,cl 5srtr
The noted gossip, Miss, makes Q
visit in town where she has been pre-
viodsly q stranger. She divides hel
time among several families she is
social and what is miscalled agreeable
for she is pcrpetually talking Of per
sons and things; she wins too easy
confidence, and returns homo with ar
infinite store of family anecdotes. She
knows that Mr.. and Mrs. So and So
who are supposed to live happily, are
really on bad terms, and that he broke
the hearts Of two other women before
he married his wifo she knows the
particulars, but she has promised moi
10 tell. She has found out that u cer'
tain family, who for ten years are sup.
posed TO have lived very harmoniously
with . step-mother, are really emf
nehtIy wretehed. she has heard that
MI -, who apparently is is in very
Aopsishjpg circumstances has bcen on
the brink Of bankruptcy for the last
ten, years &C.. &c. :
ssConIdthis woman fpd nothing in Wis
itinga newsc to excite her mind but
such trumpery? We havegiven youthjs