Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1869-07-03
Talebearing.
BT HENRY WARD BEEcHEn.

NJ HENRY WAND BEECHEH.
The disposition TO pry into the privacy
Of domestic life IL, unfortunately, very
common, and always dishonorable. The
appetite for such knowledge is 10 be re-
garded as morbid, and the indulgence of
IL disgraceful.
A family have sacred right TO priva-
cy. In guarding tho delicate relations
Of the household, secresy becomes vir-
tue. Even il by chance the private af.
fairs of household are laid open to a
stranger, hoIor would require him to
turn from them, and if a knowledge of
them were forced upon him, they should
be locked in sacred silence.
A double obligation Of silence and
secrecy rests upon one who is a guest in
family. The turpitude of BETRAYAL
of family history by visitor, is far
greater than theft would be. To pocket
half dozen silver spoons would do far
less damage, produce far less suffering.
and be less immoral, than talebcaring.
IL is thing so scandaloIs that it should
degrade a person, and put him out of so
ciety. To betray the secrets of the
household is not only an obvious immo-
rality, but it is a sin and a shame to be on
good terms with those who are known
to commit such outrages. They are
miscreants They put themselves out of
the pale of decent society. They should
be treated as moral outlaws. ...
These hungry eyed wreiches who sit
in the unsuspIcious circle of parents and
children, treasuring their words, spying
their weaknesses, misinterpreting the in
nOceLt liberties of the household, and
then run from house to house with their
shameless news, are worse than poisoners
Of wells, or burners of ouses. They
poison the faith Of man in man. If one
opens his mouth TO tell You such things,
with all your might smite him in the
face! There are two actions which JUS
tify you in instantly knocking man
down the one is the act of pointing
gun at you in sport, and the other is the
attempt TO tell you secret which it is
disgraceful for him 20 get, and for you
to hear. Make no terms with such pco-
pie. Talebearers have no rights. They
are common enemies of good men. Hunt,
hurry and hound them out of society
They are the worst of pests save one,
and that is the listener to the talebearer
There could be no tattling if there
was no one to hear. 1t takes an ear and
a tongue 10 make a scandal Greedy
listening is as dishonorable as nimble
tattling. The ear is the open market
where the tongue sells its ill-gotten
wares. Some there are that will not re.
peat again what they hear, but they are
willing to listen TO i'll They will not
Il lde in contraband goods, but they will
buy enough OF the smuggler for family
use.
These respectable listeners are the pat.
rons of tattlers. 1t is the ready market
that keeps talebearing brisk. 1t is a
shame to listen to i'll of your reighbor.
Christian benevolence demands that you
do not love i'll news A clean heart and
a true honor rejoice in kindly things. 1t
should be pain and sorrow to know of
anything that degrades your neighbor in
your eyes, even if he is your enemy !;
how much more, If he is your friend ?
'Little Me" shows by her letter that
she has good and honorable heat. Let
her persuade others to her way of thirk-
ing. And as help to the good work,
we will give her some wholesome texts
from the sacred Scriptures to make ser
mons out Of. ....."
"Thou shalt not go up and down as a
talebearer among thy people"
ga talebearer revaleth secrets; but he
that is of faithful (honorable) spirit,
concealeth the matter" .-. ...
"The words OF the talcbearer are as
wounds that go down into the innermost
part of the belly" .... .. .-
The Hebrews thought that the affec-
tions had their seat in the entrails and
bowels, and by this phrase, ego down
into the innermost PARTS of the belly"
they signify how sharp and exasperating
to the deepest feelings of our nature, are
the cruel offices of common tattler.
"Where no wood is, the fire goeth
out; so where there is no talebearing,
the strife ceaseth."
As if he had said that so much of the
strife of society arises from tattling, that
if that were cured there would hardly
be any cause of quarrel left.
Commend me TO that religion which
makes q man humane with his tongue,
and honorable with his ear. r'a 17
Perhaps the Boston Traveller will cory
this article, and then "Little Me" will
see how heartily we have entered into
her case s ..f r.