Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1880-06-11
g gleasant Story.
UNGUARDED TONGUE.

Among the sources Of social and domestic
disquietude, one Of the chief is the habit OF
husbands and wives correcting each other
in public. | mean that habit of correction
which lets no slip of the tongue pass with
out a reminder, making the corrected party
feel cheap, and casting shadow upon the
listeners.
At party, one evening, Charles Lee was
telling to knot of his friends about the
wonderful yield of his strawberry bed. He
prided himself on that bit Of horticultural
success.
"We shall gather a hundred quarts of ber-
ries from that bed this season" he said, with
flourish.
mo, no, Charles" interposed his wife,
who had just come up. of we get fifty
quarts we shall do we'll"
"Why, you have picked as much as fifty
quarts already"
mo, no."
"But, Laura, you forget how many are
eaten direct from the vines. And, again,
when say a hundred quarts, mean as we
have to buy them at the stores, with The
hulls on
30, Charles, that strawbe ly-bed is your
hobby"
And the wife laughed.
But the husband did not laugh. He was
cut to the quick, and turned away without
speaking further
Now any experienced gardener, overlook
ing Charles Lees strawberry-bed through
the month Of July, would have risked a
goodly wager that its yield for the season
would overrun huDdred quarts. And
Charles had meant to tell only the truth
Laura" he said, after they reached their
home, "do you know that you made me very
unhappy this EVENING""
"Unhappy9 IT
Yes,-unhappy, because indignant"
90, you mean what | said about your
strawberry-bed ?"
"Yes."
"Well, Chares,--now l believe If you
were to measure every lot Of berries"
"Stop, Laura. / shall not discuss that.
We cannot measure the berries tonight. /
only wish to remind you that your habit of
correcting me In public is most disagreea-
Bile one to all who hear. II makes me feel
unpleasantly, and it perplexes others And,
my dear wife, the habit is growing upon
you"
"Really, Charles, one would think, to hear
you, that had been doing something awful.
What harm can there be, | should like TO
know"
"There Is great deal Of harm, Laura.
The habit is nm evil one, and can lead only
10 evil"
"Evilp
"Aye, Laura. OF all the evils TO be dreaded
in social life, an unguarded tongue is one Of
the most dangerous. wish you would"
80, pshawl ! will not listen TO your lee
ture."
@Then, Laura, a greater evil may be yours.
speak now from my heart If you do not
try 10 resirain
Before he could finish the sentence his
wife had swept from the room.
Two weeks later Charles Lee and his wife
sat one evening in their cosy drawing-room,
when Mr.. Fuller came in. lie was Laura's
father a genial, large-hearted man, dearly
loved by his children. He owned large
wooden mill, and manufactured great deal
Of cloth, most Of which was sent 10 con-
signees in the West. lie kissed his daugh-
ter, and took into his arms and kissed the
two little children, and then sat down.
Gradually the smile faded from his face, and
AN expression Of deep concern took It's place.
"Charles," said he, II have received let
ter from Claxton g. Simonds. | have got to
extend their paper ! should have had a
remittance from them Of ten thousand dol
lars a week age; and another like remit
lance will be due next month. They can
not make either Of them. II is bad, isn't II 7"
"Very bad, said Charles.
"Why don't you push them, as You call
itr' demanded Laura. III they owed me,
think would know why didn't have
my money"
"Ah, my child" said the old gentleman
smiling, pushing them might be the worst
thing could DO They are not men 10 be-
driven"
aid drive them II they owed me, and
didn't pay. How can you run your mill II
you don't get pay for your clothr
"rhat's sober question, Laura; and
there's where the pinch comes.'
"Well--ld pinch caxton q simsnds, J
think"