The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-08-06
What Others Say.

bait.
What Others Say.
F'cm, The Ne1U York Evangelist.
THOUGHTLEss SPEAKING.-We do
not stop to consider the evil results Of
thoughtless speaking before children.
The discussions of our neighbors'
faults, the little drifts of gossip that
come to us, and which we repeat, make
deep and lasting impressions on the
minds of young people. Lifelong pre-
judices are caused by such criticisms of
the sayings and doings of those who
form our circle of acguamtances, and
sometimes our valued friends.
If the history of piece Of gossip, or
a slander, could be traced from its be-
ginning to its ending, there would be
many pitiful, unjust revelation dis
closed. Why is it that human nature
loves to hear discreditable things of its
kin, and to tell it over to other itching
ears, making as much as possible Of the
story, and oftentimes more than is
warranted? 1t would be a grand re-
form in our household, if we could es-
tablish the fact that no unkind thing
should be said of any one; no unchar-
liable news EXPRESSED of the weak
nesses of others, remembering that
more or less frailties belong to the
whole human family.
Sitting at friends table not long
since, I heard a guest who was present
indulge in severe criticism of the min
ister, whom the children of the family
were taught to reverence and to love.
The father adroitly tried to turn the
conversation into another channel, but
he did not succeed, until story of the
minister's shortcomings in some for
mer parish had been well talked over.
After the meal had been finished, the
head of the house said to the guest,
"You evidently noticed that I did not
take much interest in your story of
Mr.. c. but the fact is, we never
allow ourselves to speak anything but
good of anybody before our children
and we never crit:cise our minister, of
all persons, as you know it might him
der his usefulness with them." 1t is
to be hoped that this way of admonish-
ing was not lost upon the. talkative
guest.
Not only are pieces of gossip retail
ed oftentimes in our families, but old
scores, mistakes made by our friends
years ago, and which by "patient con-
tinuance in well-doing" they have sue
ceeded in living down, are brought out
of their hidden places, and started OIL
their mission of uncharitableness and
injustice. We who have lived past the
half century corner, and have learned
by our own sins and mistakes how
weak even the strongest of us are,
know how, or ought to know how, to
look upon the erring ways of others
with great charity. 1t is to be hoped
that we do. and that We ever keep in
mind
ITO think gently of the erring:
We may not know the power
With which the dark temptation came
In some unguarded hour"
But our children cannot look upon
the failings of others in any such light.
They are unjustly prejudiced by indis-
Greet words against many persons, who
in the main are we'll worthy of their
respect. And these prejudices stay
with them, until they arrive at stand
point far beyond the present outlook.
So let us all bar out of our homes
aud our hearts, all distorted bits of un-
kind tales of any of our friends and
neighbors. Let us impress upon the
young hearts the need of charity to-
ward those who have been overtaken
in fault, and of the striking out of
over tyVo-thirds of the detrimental
items in the story connected with it.
Don't ever carry bit of unkind, un-
charitable, indiscreet piece of news of
anybody anywhere. Repress instead
of circulate things that reflect discred-
it on our friends.
DR.. Richardson, II, Holston Methodist.
The tendency of everybody, and es-
pecially our young men, to 60 to town
to live bodies no good to the land. 1t is