Year: 1869

The disposition to pry into the privacy of
domestic life is, unfortunately, very common,
and is always dishonorable The appetite for
such knowledge is to be regarded as morbid,
and the indulgence of it disgraceful. A family
has a sacred right to privacy. In guarding the
delicate relations of the household, secresy
becomes virtue. Even if by chance the pri-
vate affairs of household are laid open to a
stranger, honor would require him to turn from
them and, if knowledge of them were
forced upon him, they should be locked in
sacred silence. A double obligation of silence
and secresy rests upon one who is a guest in
family. The turpitude of betrayal Of family
history by visitor is far greater than theft
would be. 1t is thing SO scandalous, that it
should degrade person, and put him out of
society. To betray the secrets of household
is not only gross immortality, but it is a sin
and a shame to be on good terms with those
who are known to commit such outrages. They
put themselves out Of the pale OF decent So
ciety. They should be treated as moral out
laws.


Those hungry eyed wretches who sit in the
unsuspicious circle of parents and children,
treasuring their words, spying their weak
nesses, misinterpreting the innocent liberties
of the household, and then run from house to
house with their shameless news, are worse
than posoners of wells or burners OF houses.
They poison the faith of man in man. Make
no terms with such people. Tale bearers have
no rights. They are common enemies of good
men. Hunt, harry and hound them out of
society. They are the worst of pests save one,
and that is the listener to the tale-bearer.
There could be no tattlng if there were no one
to hear. 1t takes an ear and tongue to make
a scandal. Greedy listening is as dishonorable


as nimble tattling. The ear is the open mar


ket where the tongue sells its ill-gOtten wares
Some there are who will not repeat again what


they hear, but they are willing to listen to it.
They will not trade in contraband goods, bu


they will buy enough of the smuggler tol
family use. These respectable listeners are


patrons of tatters. 1t is the ready marke


that keeps le-bearing brisk. 1t is shame


to listen to i'll of your neighbor. Christian


benevolence demands that you do not love il


news. A clean heart and true honor rejoic


in kindly things. 1t should be pain and sor


row to know of anything that degrades you
! neighbor in your eyes, even if he is your enc


nv: and how much more if he is your friend
The Scriptures say, "Thou shalt not go VI
and down as a tale bearer among thy people.
"a tale-bearer revealeth secrets but he tha
, is of faithful (honorable) spirit, concealed
the matter" 1.-THE words of the ale-beare


are as wounds that go down into the innermos


parts of the belly" The Hebrews though
that the affections had their seat in the bowels
and by this phrase, ''go down into the inner
E most parts of the belly" they signify ho'
sharp and exasperating to the deepest feeling
of our nature are the cruel offices of a com
mon tattler.


= "Where no wood is the fire goeth OUT Sc
: where there is no tale bearing, the strife cea'
|. eth." Commend to us that religion whic
9 makes a man humane with his tongue an
: honorable with his ear.-SpGrgeon.