Year: 1876

Gossip and Gossips. That ''the tongue 1 is an unrulY member, and deceitful above | all things" is clearly and undeniably a truism, it needs no evidence to prove, other than that which may be sdduced from daily observation of the workings of that lively member in any community and in every grade of society; and believe in no other way does it accomplish so pernicious, mis- chievous and f1endish results, as in what is commonly denominated gossip. It is one of the infirmities of the human race to EOS sip, to discuss our neighbors' affairs and actions, to construe their motives and 10 pass judgment upon them, is one of the most natural things in the world, but even among the most fair, scrupulous and hon. est it is dangerous ground, liable to do much harm and to produce unhappy and unpleas- ant results.

 But it is of the confl med gossips that l wish more particularly to speak. They are tho bsne of every community, and there is no village or hamlet free from the curse. They are ever on the alert with their watch full eyes, and ears erect, to discover some action or word of their neighbors, to be dis torted, twisted and exaggerated by their yenomous tongues until a mountain is made of mole hill, and the community is startled with the tidings that one of it's numbery in- stead of being a moral and respectable citi zen, is monster of wickedness and f1end of iniquity. This is not an imaginary case, 1 it is a real one, and the worst of it all is that the victim, totally unconscious of hay ing done any wrong, sees himself to be the target of scornful looks and personal sights l from those whom he held to be his friends and perhaps from being too proud and sen sitive to demand the reason for such treat ment, never knows of what crime he or she has been accused. So n uch for gossips which shall designate as class number one, who make no particular pretensions per haps to piety, hanging on the verge of re- spectable society, and are in reality the feeders to gossips number two, who are, if It be possible, more dangerous and mis- chievous than their coadjutors, in so much as they move in the best society and are es- pecially conspicuous in their attendance at the sanctuary and in their pretentions to piety and personal holiness.

 Their stock of gossip is generally received from class No, 1 they listen to it with ea- gerness and avidity, roll 1t as 8 sweet morsel under their tongues, at the same time with sanctimonious countenances and hypocritl- cal solemnity they roll up their eyes and make protestations of regret that their neighbor should have been guilty of so gross and criminal an ect. They never make an effort to probe the ma tier to the bottom, and to discover the little atom of the foundation of this monstrous charge, but cherish it, gloat over it, and when a suitable opportunity is afforded them they start it on it's course with that oily tonGued susvity and pharisaical hypocrisy and pa layer peculiar to this class, and the deed is done,-another victim to the shafts and ar rows of the venomous and dlabolical gossip lies bleeding, ostracized from society and ignored; and if the victim be 0 woman a stigma perhaps is placed upon her charac- l clothing that a life time perchance will not wear away. And this in Oh ristian land and among professed Christian people. If there is one thing more than another that will make 8 human being reuounce his faith in Christianity, become a sceptic and per haps an infldel, 1t is such glaring inconsist- encles among Christian people with the spirit and letter of the creed that they pro- fess to believe. That unruly member, the tongue, when backed by an envious, un. charitable, interruptions, worldly soul is truly deceitful and mischievous above all things. There is one peculiarity about these gossiping vampires and soul-destroy- ing dends, which is, they never seem to understand their true character; tell them that they are gosslps and they will hold up their hands in holy horror and call the Gods to witness that the charge IS false to gossip is second nature to them-it is al most as necessary to their existence as breath is to the ordinary mortal. Perfect ly interruptions, envious, heartless, they pass their lives enemies to mankind and to themselves, and when the final reckoning shall come the souls they have murdered will rise up In judgment against them, and if they receive their just deserts their final doom, as depicted in the language of the inimtable poet, will be, viz:

 'Caught in fiery tempest" they ''shall be hurled Each on his rock transhxed, the sport and prey Of wracking whirlwinds. or forever sunk

 Under yon boiling ocean, wrabt in chains,

 There to converse with everlasting groans."

 Salisbury, Conn.,. Sept. 4th. '76. "D."