Rensselaer Republican, Volume 12, Number 29, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 April 1880 — The Village Gossip. [ARTICLE]

The Village Gossip.

Gossip has earns to be*an ugly word, with an uglier meaning; bat what is more detestable than a person who is given to meddling with other peoples’ oottoerna so much as to deserve the aameP You know her, of course, for die infests every community. She will tramp over a village, and in one day will leave tbe bosses and the reputations of the occupants as barren as a held swept by a hail storm. No sooner does she enter by the back door than her shrill voice startles you with: “Good morning, Mrs. Smith; didn’t see you at church yesterday; thought msy-be the baby was sick. I’ve been up to see Mrs. Jones; her boy has a cold she thinks, but / know he is getting the scarlet fever. She’s all mod oat. taking care of that trifling husband. She says he has pneumonia, bat everybody knows what ails him. Martha Jackson was there, helping to nurse the baby; but we know Who she’ll take care of. By-the-way, did von hear that her beau had jilted her? Good thing for her, I guess, for they do say he is poor as Job’s turkey. She looks downhearted and forlorn enough. How do you like the new minister’s wises I don’t think she’ll do. She was oat in Another bonnet, yesterday. That makes two. His salary can’t support that; and she’s no housekeeper; her olothes wam’t on the line when I passed at twelve o’clock. My butter-woman says she takes four pounds of butter a week; and that is too extravagant for anything. What ails your eyes? They are too red. Got something in oneP Shouldn’t wonder if cream would help it.” Her eyebrows are elevated in adonbtfol way; and as she passed out through the kitchen, she takes in the contents of the table and stove at a glance, to report to the next neighbor: “Just been in to see 'Mrs. Smith; she looks dreadful; been having an awful fuss about something. Was crying when 1 went in; her •yes were fearfully red. Guess they don’t get along any better than they should. Smith complains of hard times; and I don’t wonder, when I saw the piles of cakes and pies in her. kitchen; and the swill buoket had a good meal in it. I expect what they say about his going to ruin so fast is true. That’s what he got for marrying a city girl. Heard you had company, Saturday, mid think Mrs. Smith is a little miffed, because she wam’t invited. 1 must hurry, for I am going up to Deacon Robinson’s. They are in a peck of trouble. Their son wants to marry the milliner’s daughter, and their daughter is coming home with her child; I expect to stay, for they do say he ill-treats her. She always was too ‘high strung.’ ” Mr. Brown comes home to dinner, and after dining with the family, the gossip leaves to detail to the next family how the Browns had nothing for dinner, and “ they do say they never pay for a thing, not even the pew rent I wonder who can be writing to Sarah Brown? Some say it is that horrid gambler, who was here last summer. She was making over that old blown silk ’for the fourth time, to my knowledge.” Before she reaches home that night, Mr. Jones is dving of strong drink; his boy is beyond hope with scarlet fever; the Smiths are on the verge of a divorce; the new minister is a bankrupt; Deacon Robinson’s son has ploped with the milliner’s daughter; Brown’s family are on the road to the poor-house; and Sarah -is to marry the city gambler. This is what tbe gossip is in oar town; and there is a Very striking family likeness between them all. > She is also foremost in all church societies, and a self-invited guest wherever she can squeeze in. When yon find her among your acquaintances, the sooner you “cut” her the better. Bar the doors against her, and when she has no visiting places, she will be forced to stay at home and do the hardest thing she ever undertook to do constantly,— mind her own business. —Bessie Albert, in Farm and Home. .