Sentence:  But, as ill tongues are never wanting to disturb the repose of honest families, there was such a <WSD>tattle</WSD> about my wife going to dress the corregidor's victuals, make his bed, and the like, that all the town rang of it. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  Idle talk; gossip;  an instance of such talk or gossip.