The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1883-03-10
gtlert Story.
ANUNGUARDED TONGUE.

Amouo the sources of social and domes
~ d;sonietude, one of the chief is the habit
of husbands and wives correcting each othel
IN nubIic [ mean that habit of correction
which lets no slip Of the tongue pass with
out reminder, making the corrected party
feel cheap. and casting shadow upon the
listeners.
At a party, one evening, Charles Lee was
toIIiro to 4 knot Of his friends about the
wonderful yield of his strawberry bed, He
,r;dnd himself on that bit of horticultural
success.
I'VE shall gather hundred quarts OF
borries from that bed this season" he said
with flourish
.No. no, Charles interposed his wife
who had Just come up. ''lf we get fifty
quarts we shall do well.
why, you have picked as much as fifty
quarts already.
NO, no.
But. Laura. you forget how many are
saten direct from the vines. And, again
when say hundred quarts, [ mean as
we have to buy them at the store, with the
hulls on.
80. Charles, that strawberry-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
inc Charles Lees strawberry-bed through
the month of July, would have risked a
goodly wager that its yield for the season
would oyerrun hundred 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"
"Unhappy? I?'
~Yes,-unhappy, because indignant"
%, you mean what [ said about your
strawberry-bed 2
YES
We'll. Charles,-now [ believe if you
were to measure every lot of berries
Stop, Laura. l shall not discuss that
--.z.,,,,, 4 q borriac to ninht
only wish TO remind you that your habit OF
correcting rae in public is most disagree
able one to ali who hear. 1t 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 I had been doing something
awful. What harm can there be, Ishould
like to know
There is great deal of harm, Laura
The habit is an evil one, and can lead only
10 evil
Evil"
AYE Laura OF all the evils to be
dreaded in social life, an unguarded tongue
is one of the most dangerous. ] wish you
would"
20, pshaw [ will not listen to your
lecture
''Ehen, Laura, greater evil may be
yours. speak now from my heart, Ii
you do not try to restrain"
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. He was
Laura's father, genial, large-hearted man
dearly loved by his children. He owned
large wooen mill, and manufactured greai
deal of cloth, most of which was sent tc
conslgnees in the West. He kissed hiI
daughter, 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
place
Charles said he, II have received {
letter from Claxton & Simonds | have
got to extend their paper should have
had remittance from them of ten thou
sand dollars week ago; and another like
remittance will be due next month. They
cannot make either of them 1t is bad
isn't it?"
every bad, said Charles.
why don't you push them, as you cal
~ demanded Laura Ifthey owed me
think | would know why I didn't hav
my money"
All, my child" said the old gentleman
smiling, pushing them might be the wors
tnlng could do. They are not men to b
driven
I'D drive them if they owed me, ant
aldnt pay. How can you run your mil
II you don't get pay for your cloth?"
That's sober question, Laura; anc
there's where the pinch comes"
"Well-Id pinch Claxton & Simonds,
think"
Let me look at the letter" said Charles
Mr.. Fuller HANDED it to him, and Will,