News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1882-11-02
GOING FOR GOSsIPPERS.
A REVEREND GENTLEMAN GIVES THEM
A GOOD LECTURE.
How ThOughtless Tale-Bearers and Scanda
MOngers often Cause Sorrow
and Trouble.

The Rev, Wilbur f. Watkins, DID,,
of New York City, on Sunday preached
upon "The Fashionable Sins of Gossip
and SANDER" The preacher took for
his text Proverbs XII, 13-"A tale
bearer revealeth secrets, but he that
is of faithful spirit concealeth the
matter" The preacher prefaced his
remarks by stating that the pulpit was
given too much to theological subjects,
and that simple matters pertaining to
the world and the routine of daily life
were not sufficiently consulted. People
were apt to forget on Monday what they
had heard on Sunday. The Sunday
sermons need not be Invested of religious
teachings, but should combine with
them good, practical, solid advice
against the temptations of our weekday
duties. There are numbers of persons,
he said, who live in the world by "seed
gathering" They are known to us all
as tale-bearers. The bird gathers seed
to bring to the young, but the tale
bearer gathers seed or gossip to spread
among neiehbors and friends. The tale
bearer carries the devil in his tongue
and the tale-hearer the devil in his ear.
The former goes from house to house
sowing the seed of SANDER, revealing
secrets that should remain untold and
causing deep resentments, blasted
characters and oftentimes the ruination
of lifetime. People should beware of
them and not let them enter their
dwellings,.
Should an intruder or stranger enter
house your first thought is to call a
policeman to eject him or her, as the
case may be. But the tale-bearer is more
to be feared. A mad dogs bite is not
half so dangerous or destructive as the
bite or tongue of slanderer. Some
people relating the bold facts OF a scan
dial so construe the points as to altar the
real character of the story. Who of us
ell experiences as much pleasure in
dwelling upon the good character of our
fellow men as we do in dwelling on their
faults? The preacher then went on to
describe the manner of the average tale
bearer, who was most generally of the
female sex. She has discovered secret
and 1t burns within her. She cannot
rest until it is scattered broadcast. She
calls on friend and excuses herself for
her unavoidable delay in not calling
sooner. She talks for awhile and then
attempts to go. Is in such hurry,
etc. "But wait" she says, ST just
thought of something. Was nearly for
getting, We are all alone, amt we2
No one will hear us and I wouldn't for
the world let any one but you know of
it." She then whispers the tale is
spread and the bearer of the scandal de-
parts contented to another household to
vouchsafe the came information. The
story will then float along from lip to
lip until 1t reaches the victim in most
extravagant form. Beware, then, of
these wasps of society, said DIR. Wat
kins, and close your doors upon them.
Listen as little as possible to the tales
of others and do not drink in the spirit
of the relator. Always believe that if
the other side was heard what differ
ence there would be. Listen to the
word OF God and He will keep your
tongue from idleness and your heart
free from all the ills of the tale, bearer.