The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1880-04-09


Gossip has come to be an ugly word.
with an uglier meaning; but what l.
more detestable than a person who -
given to meddling with other peoples
concerns so much AS TO deserve the
namep You know her. OF course, Tor
she infests every community. She Will
tramp over a village. and in one day
will leave the homes and the reputa-
tons Of the occupants as barren as
field swept BY hail storm. No sooner
does she enter by the back door than
her shriil voice startles you with:
I" Good morning, Mrs. Smith; didn't
see YOU at church yesterday: thought
maybe the baby was sick. I've been
up to see Mrs. Jones; her boy has q
cold she thinks. but 1 know he Is get
ting the scarlet fever. She's all tired
out. taking care Of that triiiing hus-
band. she says he has pneumonia. but
everybody knows what ais him. Martha
jackson was there, helping 70 nurse the
baby; but we knew who she'll take care
of. By-the-way. did you hear that her
beau had Tilted her2 Good thing for
\ her, guess. for they do say he Is poor
as jobs turkey. She looks down
hearted and forlorn enough. How do
Won like the new minister's wife? l
don't think she'll do. She was out in
another bonnet, Yesterday. That makes
two. His salary can't support that;
and she's no housekeeper; her clothes
warn't on the line when l passed at
twelve O'Clock. My butter-woman says
she takes four pounds Of butter week
and that IS too extravaganza for any
thing. What ails your eyes? They
are too red. Got something in onei
Shouldn't wonder If cream would help
it."
Her eyebrows are elevated in doubt
full way; and as she passed out through
the kitchen, she takes in the contents Of
the table and stove at aglance, 70 report
10 the next neighbor: ..Just been i'm Il
see Mrs. Smith: she looks dreadful
been having an awful fuss about some
thing. Was crying when went In, hel
ewes were fearfully red. Guess they
don't get along any better than the,
should. Smith complains Of hard times
and don't wonder, when / saw thu
piles of cakes and pies in her kitchen
aud the swill bucket had good meal j
ii. expect what they say about m
going To ruin so fast Is true. That
what he got for marrying a city girl
Heard you had company, Saturday, an
think Mrs. Smith Is little miffed. be
n cause she warn't invited. must hurry
for am going up 70 Deacon Robinson
|. They are in q peck Of trouble. Ihei
son wants 10 marry the milliner'
daughter. and their daughter is comm
home with her child; l expect to stay
for they do say he ill-treats her. Sh
! always was too high strung" MI
Brown comes home TO dinner, and afte
dining with the family, the gossip leave
I to detail to the next family how tn
: Browns had nothing for dinner, an
: sthey do say they never pay for
thing, not even the pew rent. lwonds
: who can be writing to Sarah Brown
Some say it is that horrid gambler, WI
: .gas here last summer. She was maxim
9 over that old blown silk for the four
! time, to my knowledge"
a Before she reaches home that nigh
; Mr.. Jones is dying Of strong drink; b
9 boy Is beyond hope with scarlet feve
+ the Smiths are on tho verge Of
q vorce; the new minister Is q bankrup
o Deacon Robinsons son has eloped wi
p the milliner's daughter; Browns fan
:. " are on the road to the poor-hous
>, and Sarah is to marry the city gar
u bier.
L. This Is what the gossip is in our tow
and there Is very striking fami
70 likeness between them all. She Is al
ne foremost in all church societies, and
Ks self-invited guest wherever she G
e squeeze in. When you lind her amol
your acquaintance, the sooner y
p sscut'' her the better. Bar the doc
iii against her, and when she has no Wis
3, ing places. she win be forced to say
Is home and do the hardest thing )
lie ever undertook to do constantly,
IS mind her own business. bessie Abe
lat in Farm and Home.
.l0
tn In the Gates murder trial at Rid
nd Spring. s. c.. the other day. you
,ut colored man said: II jes tell you, VIII