Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-03-15
graves it might be written. Here lies
the victim of an unruly tongue

graves it might be written, Here lies
the victim of an unruly tongue
Il was in Jail once visiting a friend.
| had been asked to visit the man by
his aged parents, and to try and in.
duce him to reform his ways. told
him that it was easy for him to come
back and start straight. He told me
the first time he was sentenced he
knew he had done wrong and resolved
to mend his way. After being out of
Jail little while he found employ
ment. He worked hard he pleased
his employer and seemed to he getting
along all right. Finally some gossiper
told his boss that he had been in Jail
once. for dishonesty. and he was dis
missed. This did not discourage him
and he tried again He secured a posi-
ton of trust, but after little a Cos
siper's tongue caused him to again
lose his position. He went to anoth-
err town, took an assumed name and
was getting along quite well until
some one wrote letter ana he lost
his job. Hounded by the gossiper's
tongue, he resolved to be what the
people said he was--a dishonest man
and finally landed in Jail
Suppose on Judgment day soul
should arise and say 'your gossipng
tongue was the cause of my downfall
You have no right to rake the past
history Of any person. 1t is easy to
speak falsely of others. A business
man has often been ruined by the Cos
sirer's tongue How simple and how
universal is this gossiping. Take, for
example, two young people may be
keeping company with one another.
Some one sees the young man in bad
company and tells the girl that he is
drunkard. They quarrel. He goes
to be what the gossiper has branded
him to be. and she to be an old maid.
"Gossiping goes on when the one
talked about is nowhere present He
has no chance to defend himself, and
when he enters the gossip turns to
fattery 1t is only the coward who
sreaks falsely. Scripture compares
the backbiter to serpent. In the
tropical climates it Is not the large
animals that are feared. but the small
viper whose approach is unseen and
whose sting is 50 deadly. The same is
true of the backbter
You may steal mans purse and
gain something but stealing mans
good name. You gain nothing It were
better that you sin against God than
the neighbor. The Israeites were
worshining a golden lamb and pro-
yoked the ire of God. Moses prayed
that they be spared and they were.
'In the Book of Exodus it is told
that Moses saw fit to take wife, a
native of the Ethiopia land. Mary
didn't like Moses selection and she
started stories against him. God was
displeased Moses prayed that his sis
ter re spared, md where his prayers
had been all powerful before, he was
unable to move God for the sin com
mitted. Mary was afflicted with a
dread leprosy and cast from the camp.
every sin against your neighbor
is also a sin against God. People may
listen to your gossiping tongue, but
they dislike you for fear that you may
set something on them.
"One who has a good word for 9TH
ers is always welcomed. The fault
finder is despised The tongue is a
tw0-edged sword. 1t can spread sun
shine. it can encourage instead OF
pushing a person down.
Benediction followed the sermon
The public is cordially invited to at
tend the services every evening at
7:30 o'clock at st. Patrick's church.