Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1875-05-07
TATTLERS AND TATTLING.

The disposition to pry into the privacy
Of domestic life is, unfortunately, very
common and is always dishonorable The
appetite for such knowledge is to be re-
gardcd as morbid, and the indulgence of
it disgraceful
A family have a sacred right to pri-
vacy. In guarding the delicate rela-
tions of the household, secrecy becomes
a virtue. Even if by chance the private
affairs of household are laid open to a
stranger, honor 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 Sc
crecy rests upon one who is guest in
a family. The turpitudc OF a 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 tale bearing
1t is thing SO scandalous that it should
degrade person, and put him out Of
society. To betray the secrets of the
household is not only an odous immor-
atty, butt is sin and shame to be on
good terms with those who are known to
commit such outrages. They are mis-
creants. They put themselves out of tie
pale of decent society. They should be
treated as moral outlaws.
These hungry-eyed wrctches who sit
in the unsuspicious circle Of parents
and children, treasuring their words
spying their weaknesses, misinterpretipg
the innocent liberties Of the household ,
and then run from house to house with
prisoners of wells or burners Of houses
They poison the faith of man in man. II
one opens his mouth to tell you such
things, with all your might smite him in
the face ! There are two actions which
justify you in 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
disgraceful for him to get, and for you
to hear Make no terms with such
people. Talebearers have no rights
are common enemies of good men
Hunt, harry, and hound them out Of
societyl They are the worst of pests
save one, and that is the listener TO the
talebearer.
There could be no tattling if there
were no one to hear. 1t takes an ear
and tongue to make scandal Greedy
listening is as dishonorable as nimble
tattling The car is the open market
where the tongue sells its ill-gottten
wares. Some there are that 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 pa
irons of tattlers. 1t is the ready market
that keeps tale-bearing brisk. 1t is
shame to listen to i'll Of your neighbor.
Christian benevolcnce demands that you
do not love i'll news. A clean heart
and true honor rejoice in kindly things.
1t should be pain and sorrow to know
of anything that degrades your neigh
Dor in your eyes even if be Is your enc
my how much more if he is your friend ?
--New York Ledger,
4 man in Baltimore called on grave
digger one day to have his wife's grave
sodded. He was an extremely penuti-
GUS man, and higgled long time over
the price of the sodding Suddenly he
became mute, while bis eyes were fixed
upon neighboring tombstone. Ills
laughter and the graye-digge- stood
back in respect for the feelings of the
Did gentleman, in whose mind they sup
posed the sight of that tablet had called
lp the memory Of a dear departed friend,
or grief was depicted in his counte-
nance, and he was visibly agitated At
ength the deep emotion which swelled
lis bosom found vent in this pathetic out
,urst: =" My Cd! when did that man
lie :? He owes me two hundred dollars,
md Ill never see cent Of it,
The door between us aud Heaven
.annot be opened if that between us and
I'll L