The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1869-05-14
Chr selarirtta aunsnal.
Marietta. Georgia,
Friday Morning. May 2, 1859.
HOLD YOUR TONGUE
RY REBEKA
BY II EB Elk A II.

NY Grandfather used to tell me a story
that had strange fascination, while at
the same time it vexed me because it
was never finished. lie would begin:
"Once there was king, who had three
daughters, and he promised to give each
of them anything they would ask for
There names were Orange, Lemon and
Hold Your Tongue. Now tell me their
names as call for them, and | will tell
you what they asked for. What was the
name of the first onc?"
Orange" was my prompt reply.
"Well, Orange said she would like to
have gold watcl. and chain with charms
on it. What was the second daughters
name ?"
"Lcmon, Grandpa"
"Lemon said she would like horse,
and saddle, and bride, beautifully orna-
mented." "You shall have it my dear,
said the king" "Now," said my Grand
father, "what was the name of the third
daughter ?"
Here l always felt little timid and
replied in an under tone, "Hold your
Tongue" Then my Grandfather would
invariably add, "There my little grand
daughter has told me to hold my
tongue, and of course l can't go on"
One day had staid from school, part
ly sick with a cold, and felt restless and
tired out when evening came on, doing
nothing when my Grandfather, with a
quizzical look, said, "Lucy would you
like to hear about the kings three
daughters 2"
90 yes" said I, delighted to have
anything to amdse me, and as he went
on | had a vague feeling that this time
grandpa would really tell me what the
third daughter wanted. When, there
fore he came to that point, and receiv-
cd the same old answer, rushed from
the room to my mothers chamber,
and hid my face streaming with tears,
into her lap. AS soon as | could speak,
| told her my grievance, and she kindly
laid down her work, and putting her arms
around me, tried to make me understand
that the story was just made up to have
this little catch in it.
SO VIC talked it over and at length
laughed about it together, and said /:
dwell, | do not think at any rate,
that Hold Your Tongue, is a pretty
name for any one"
Ny mother said che did not think it
was pretty name, but she thought the
three words contained a lesson that |
and every other girl ~nd boy ought to
learn early and remember; that is, that
it is far better to hold ones tongue than
to let it run saying wrong things, speak
ing i'll of others, and meddling with other
peoples affairs. She went on to tell me
of good old Quaker, whose aim always
was to do to others as he would be done
by, and who never allowed himself or
his children to speak of the faults of
others and especially, never to
ridicule any one. One evening
man was visiting at his house,
and amused the young people with the
most ludicrous description of the pccu-
liaritics of a mutual acquaintance
Years after when that young man was
surrounded by family of his own, he
used often to tell them Of that evening
and how just after one Of their peals OF
laughter, he observed from the other
side of the room, a pair of mild blue
eyes, fixed steadily on him; and then
how the old Quaker leaned forward,
and said in his firm but kind Quaker
language, "Now has thee nothing good
to tel! us of him 2" This remark of the
old Quaker became "houSehold word, "
and was often quoted in mild reproof by
the various members of the family
whenever any of them spoke unneccs-
sarily or too severely of the faults OF
others. If all boys and girls-yes, and
older people too--who hear their asso-
ciates ridiculing or speaking i'll Of per-
sons who are absent, would ask them
the Quaker's question, "NOw has thee
nothing good to tell US Of him 7" we
should have happier and better world.