The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1872-10-24
Ta1e-Bearers.

"The tale-bearer is Just as bad as the
tale maker" echoes Mrs. Candor, with
uplifted bands and condemnatory look
yet, in the same breath, she proceeds to
tell some scandalous anecdote, and
with a laugh, trihes away the reputa-
tation of an unfortunate acquaintance.
A fair representative is this lady OF
certain class of evil-doers, who may
Justly be termed frebrands. Their sole
desire seems to be to make mischief ali
around them. In presence of the tale
bearer it is unsafe to make the most in
nocent remark, if affording as much as
the mere end of thread that can be
twisted and "snarled" For one of his
characteristics is his want of exactness
in report, and q certain loose idea of
verify not conducive to general moral
ity. You say good naturedly, meaning
no harm-not bit of it-that your
friend John is an eccentric fellow $50 he
is), and cares very little for what peo-
pie think of him that he is thoroughly
Independent in mind, has his own ideas,
and follows nc traditions. The tale
bearer goes to him with the pleasing
intelligence that you have called him
an atheist, o socialist, a radical, and
other dubious things which no cSnven-
tional, easygoing gentleman who dress
es for dinner and wears clean linen de-
sires to be called. In the heat of his
anger at your supposed treachery, John
gives vent to a dubious expression con-
cerning yourself--perhaps quoting the
well-known passage concerning the
mote in your neighbor's eye. Back
comes the tale bearer, with long story
concerning Johns unhattering opinion
of you, rendered more forcible by vari-
Gus hints of dark meaning concerning
his hypocrisy towards others, for whom
he processes friendship. As natural
consequence, GOODNESS springs up be-
tween you and John, and pleasant in
timacy is forever blighted. To be sure,
if there were no credulous believers in
evil stories, the tale-bearer's trade would
scattering sparks if they did not set fire
to the tow; and it is only credulity,
backed by that wretched desire to find
more to blame than to praise in our fell
low w-creatures, which makes the tow so
infammable. But the mischief-malzer
is to blame in the first place, and is the
principal culprit. When you admit
into your family firebrand, all things
go i'll. You search in vain for the
cause, but it is as if spell had sudden
ly been cast over your establishment,
one to which you have neither key nor
the counter charm. Your wife is I'M
complying and ill-tempered quick to
take offence; on the smallest occasion
bursting into tears, as an ill-used
Griselda, or firing out into rage as, q
woman of spirit bound to defend her
self. Your children, who once were
manageable and affectionate, now dis
pute your will and justice your SER
wants are insubordinate and discontent-
ed; they strike for higher wages, and
object to the work assigned them to do !;
they bemoan themselves. as slaves, or
what is next thing to slaves, and give
warning on slight ptovocation. You
find yourself regarded as a tyrant, and
conscious that you are wholly un-
changed, wonder what has sent the cur
rent of opinion against you; so skilfully
does the mischief-maker perform. his
work, that long time elapses ere you
detect his finger meddling in the family
pie; when you do, it is too late to
wholly remedy the mischief done, and
the chances are that you never will get
back the high place of trust you have
lost. So it is wherever the pest of hui
man intercourse appears. Mischief fol
lows on his steps as surely as night fol-
lows on sundown. When he appears,
the wisest thing to do is turn deaf ear
to his words, with a cold shoulder to
follow; for if you listen to his plausible
tales, mischief and unhappiness will
surely come of it.