The Van Buren press., 1871-05-02
For the Press.
SLANpER.

If a man wishes to degrade himself to
the lowest depth Of infamy, let him be-
come a slandcrer, and the prudent will
shun him and his house, as one who has
a deadly moral plague. He will ever be
avoided by all honorable persons. A
slanderer is one who maliciously utters q
false report to impair the reputation OF
another. He is to be abhorred by all
men his mouth is filled with lying words,
his tongue is on fire, his heart is black as
death, his limbs are faint with haste to
propagate the LIE his soul has framed.
He destroys the sigh Of innocence. He
cannot sleep-he hears the clock number
the midnight hour, devising more mis-
chief Who would not shun such man
as a vile reptile, whose touch is poison.
Gus!
ISLANDER, thj Joulest whslp Qfsin. The
man in whom this spirit enters, is undone.
He is in worse condition than raving
maniac. He whispers his vile words in
the ears of man, and speeds from door
to door, lest every one should not hear
the scandal. He tells each one as he
goes to mot mention it," so he may
have the exclusive pleasure Of telling
every one. This is his only pleasure and
he cannot consent to divide it with any
one, if they wished it. His soul is dark,
and his heart is dead to all moral pleas.
ure If he should lose the use Of his
tongue, he would have no pleasure at all,
he would rather be blind or afflicted in
any other way, il he could only talk and
hear the calumnious words as they flow
from his lips.
The time is fast approaching when he
will be exposed, so that all may see the
rottenness of his heart. He will stand
in the all piercing light, exposed to ALL
His purpose baked, his brow with in.
ward outlines defled. Detected wretch !!
of all the reprobates, none will seem ma
turer for the burning flames.
The slandercr is an enemy to all good
persons, for he tries to destroy their
good names, when he has no reason ex-
cept a love for calumny. And good
name is dear to all, from the king down
to the peasant. Without it, none could
sleep soundly, even in royal bed. A
good name is ofinvalnable price. Riches,
health, repose, life, whole kingdoms,
have been given for it, and he who got it
was the winner still. History relates sew
eral incidents of lives having been given
to disprove slander. One very touching
incident is that Of Virginiaus, who took
his daughters life to prove her innocence,
But how very different from this vile
slanderer, is true friend. In the dark
hours Of troubles. he stands firm and
true as only NOBLE man will do. The
face of true friend is fairest when seen
in the darkest day, and he is to be priced
above gold, and is more precious than
the stores of the mine. He does not lis,
ten with pleasure to slander,
"Thc worst Of poison which only finds
An entrance into ignoble minds"
Mother, when you press your infant
daughter to your bosom, and she turns
her sparkling eyes up to yours and you
are filed with rapturous love, doting on
the precious charge, bestowed by kind
providence, do not forget that the day is
coming when you will have to guard its
precious spirit and lovely name, from the
poisonous breath of the slanderer. Alas
doting mother, when the gloom Of death
casts its dismal veil over the angelic
form Of one you so much love, and it is
still in death, its precious accents are no
more heard on earth, in agony and deep.
est anguish you follow it to its last rest
ing place and see its remains placed in
the cold, cold grave, while the clods are
falling in. to hide from your sight forever
your jewels lovely form, in your help
less sorrow, oh be comforted with the
thought that Hhos passed beyond the reacl
Of the slande rers malicious poison!
FILA.
Van Buren,, Ark., AprH 2S,'7l.