Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1870-05-13
Tattlers and Tattling.

lAgGleTS ana lSlLklHIlgs
/ The disposition to pry into the privacy Of
domestic lifeis, unfortunately, very common,
and is always dishonorable The appetite
for such knowledge is to be regarded as
morbid, and the indulgence oft as disgrace
full
A family have sacred right to privacy
In guarding the delicate relations Of the
household, secrecy becomes virtue. Even
if by chance the private affairs Of a house.
hold are laid open to a stranger. honor
would require hin to turn from them, and
if knowledge of them were forced upon
him, they should be locked in sacred 81
lence
| A double obligation Of silence and score
cy rests upon one who is guest in a family
The turpitude of betrayal of family history
by visitor is far greater than theft would
be. To pocket half a dozen silver spoons
would do far less damage, produce far less
suffering and be less immoral than tale-bear-
ing. It is thing SO scandalous that it
should degrade person and put him out Of
society. To betray the secrets Of house
hold is not only an odious immortality. but it
is shame to be on 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-cyed wretches, who sit in
the unsuspicious circle Of parents and child
dren, treasuring their words, spying their
weaknesses, misinterpreting the innocent
liberties of the household. and then run from
house to house with their shameless news,
are worse than prisoners of wells or burn
ers Of houses. 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 facet There arc two ac-
tons which justify you il instantly knocking
man down; the one is the act of pointing
a gun at you in sport, and the other is the
attempt to tell you secret, which it is dis
graceful for him to get and for you to hear
Make no terms with such people. Tale
bearers have no rights. They are common
enemies of good men. Hunt, harry, and
hound them out of good society They are
the worst of pests save one, and that is the
listener to the tale bearer.
There could be no tattling if there was no
one to hear. 1t takes an ear and tongue
to make scandal Greedy listening is as
dishonorable as nimble tattling There is
the open market where the tongue sells its
i'll gotten wares. Some there are who will
not repeat again what they hear, but they
are willing to listen to it, They will not
trade in contraband goods, but they will
buy enough Of the smuggler for family use.
These respectable listeners are the patrons
of tattlers 1t is the ready market that
keeps tale-bearing brisk. 1t is a shame to
listen to ill Of your neighbor. Christian
benevolence demands that you do not love
ill-news A clean heart and true honor
rejoice in kindly things It should be pain
and sorrow to know Of anything that de-
grades your neighbor in your eyes, even if
he is your enemy how much more if he is
your friend?
An Exquisite Retert.
1t is related of Bunyan, that in the height
of his usefulness as preacher, in and about
London, the bishop of the metropolis had
curiosity to see him. The coachman of the
bishop was frequent hearer Of Bunyan,
and the bishop had told him that whenever,
in riding out Of town, he should chance to
meet Mr.. Bunyan, he wished to see and
speak with him. One day as John was
driving his lordship in a portion Of the sub
urbs, sufficiently retired for the bishop to
crafty his curiosity, Bunyan was seen plod
ding his way on foot, with his bundle under
his arm, going out to preach somewhere in
the outskirts. "Your grace" says John,
"here comes Mr. Bunyan." "Ah," said
the bishop, "hold up the horses when you
overtake him and let me speak to him. p
They were very soon at his side. the horses
we're checked and the bishop bowed, saying,
"Mr. Bunyan 1 believe" Eyes, your
grace y says Bunyan, courteously respond
ing. "Mr. Bunyan," said the bishop, II
am told that you are very ingenious as an
interpreter of scripture; aud l have diff.
cult passage in my mind, about which the
critics are in dispute, and Of which I would
be glad to have your view. It is St. Paul's
message to Timothy: 1.-The cloak that I
left at Troas with Carpus. when thou contest
bring with thee; and the books, especially
the parchments "Well, your grace" re-
piled Bunyan, sit is allowed, I believe, by
all, that Timothy was bishop of the prim-
alive church and Paul, as all agree, was a
travelling preacher 1t occurs to me that
this may have been designed, in future days,
to teach that in primitive times the bishops
we're accustomed to wait upon the travelling
preachers whereas, in our day, the bishops
ride in their coaches, and the travelling
preachers, like Paul, are minded to 60
afoot " rs.,-.f.-.. ..s