Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1900-05-09

acter, can hardly resist the temptation to
serve up repast of damaging suspicious
after the damaging facts have been ex-
hausted. He can at least say that he
| "knows more than he cares to tell".
This will give him immense satisfaction,
and as no one can imagine how much he
knows that is not told, whether II Is theft
or adultery or murder, the whispering Of
what he suspects 10 more damaging than
would be his telling Of all he knows.
GOSSIP IN IT'S WORST FORM.
The worst Of this form OF evil-speaking,
the evil.speaking OF truth or what means
to be truthful, il, that its vicious char
| acter is disguised. II often seems like =
virtue. Fslsebood 10 the product OF an
evil heart; gossip Of an evil heart or an
idle tongue; but the telling Of I'M
pleasant truths looks like solemn and
unwelcome duty. A man may think him
self so apart and called to the high ONCE
OF censor Of society. He may feel 1t .
matter Of duty to rake over the refuse
heaps in his neighbors' gardens and bring
air and the light. He wishes to purify
society and he thinks this Is the way to
do it. He says the truth should be spoken
without fear or favor. What he says
here, he would say anywhere. There Is
no deception about him. He Is plain
hearted, that is that be tells all the worst
things he knows, behind your back or to
your face, 1t makes no difference to him or
you. He can prove what he says; you
cannot deny it. It 10 the truth or 90 like
the truth that there is no help for you.
''The truth ought not to hurt any body.
II 1t does, SO much the worse for him."
But perhaps it does not hurt you, and
does nobody any good. Perhaps 1t stirs
up prejudice against you which you can
neither outgrow nor outlive. Or IL you
dwell in a fair minded community from
whom you can expect charity, you have
at least received wound which, II it was
unnecessary or unavailing, q Pharisee OF
morality had no more business to infiict,
by blow from the tongue, because he
could, than by blow from the hand.
He tells mething to your prejudice and
calls 1t frankness, and plain dealing. He
might as we'll knock you down and call it
irankness and plain dealing.
Speak the truth or be silent, but be ST.
lent unless there Is some sure benefit in
speech. The apostles rule was: "Speak
the truth in love-" Any other speaking
Is evti-spesking.
Friends, do We always realize what
of speechr With what earnestness of
admonition and warning do the scrip
lures impress upon the solemn con-
sequences OF the words we speak. For
every Idle word thou shall give account"
'lf man seems to be religious and
hridieth not his tongue, that mans relis-
ion Is vain.n
Keep thy tongue from evil and thy
life from speaking guile" and to sum up
ali the precept in the text ITO speak evil
of no one."
The story is totd OF Catholic woman
much given 10 the haoit OF evil speak ing.
Going to confession she penitently
confessed her fault aud asked al solution
Tue priest heard her to the end; then,
ntbuiHE bSE TlpS tutstie-tob loiu ntT 10
go scatter the seeds one by one.
Thinking 1t a strange punishment by
which she must earn her pardon, she
obeyed; and returned to the priest for
his blessing. "Go back, my daughter, and
gather the seed you have scattered"
"Hoiy Father, it is impossible. The winds
have blown Them, | know not where"
"a ri.
priest, ITO gather up and destroy the evil
reports YOU have spread abroad to the in
jury nf others"
"rhou knowest not what a day may
bring forth" say The prorerb. But W no
can foresee the consequences OF even a
single mi--poken word?
In conclusion Mr.. Beach read the fol-
lowing poem by Ellen Fowler, as illustra-
tive OF tue lesson in the text
AN USDERsTupY.
The devl's hoofs were muddy
With sleep ! l. eyes were Gin;
He sought an unier, tudy
To play his part Tor him,
Whilst he took rest and was he'd and dressed
Within his palace grim.
"Although am expected
To need a breathing space,
No duty is negl ected
TIL someone dis my place,
And works." quoth he "such Ill for
That evil grows arace."
There was pious woman
who dwelt beneath the sun;
In willing service no man
Did more than she had done;
She strove to preach, to train and teach,
And counsel every one.
She clothed the poor and needy
In suitable attire;
She nursed the sick and seedy
And raised them from the mire;
No godly work she seemed to shirk,
No pleasure to desire.
Yet lightened she her labors
Go IlaHA Of sbrG. TO- 10.