Rensselaer Standard, Volume 1, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 November 1879 — A Cure for Slander. [ARTICLE]

A Cure for Slander.

The following very homely but singularly instructive lesson is by St. Philip Neri: A lady presented herself to him one day, accusing herself of being given to slander. “Do you freaueutly fall into this fault?” inquired le saint. “Yes, father, very often,” replied the penitent. “My dear child,” said the saint, “your fault is great, but mercy Is still greater. For your penance, do as follows: Go to the nearest market, purchase a chicken just killed aud well covered with feathers; you will then walk to a certain distance, plucking the bird as you go along; your walk finished, you will returu to me.” ■ Great was the astonishment of the lady iu receiving so strange a penance; but, silencing all human reasoning, she replied: “I will obey, father; I will obey.” Accordingly, she repaired to the market, bought the fowl, and set out on her journey, plucking it as she went along, as she had been ordered. In a short time she returned anxious to tell of her exactness in accomplishing her penance, and desirous to receive some explanation of one so singular. “Ah,” said the saint, “you have been very faithful to the first part of my orders; now do the second part and you will be cured. Retrace your steps, pass through all the places you have already traversed, and gather up, one by one, all the feathers you have scattered.” “But, father,” exclaimed the poor woman, “that is impossible. I cast the feathers carelessly on every side; the wind carried them in different directions; how can I now recover them?” “Well, my child,” replied the saint, “so it is with your words of slander. Like the feathers which the wind has scattered, they have been wafted in many directions; call them back if you can. Go, and sin no more.” History does not tell if the lady was converted, but it is probable. It required a saint to give the lesson; one would be a fool not to profit by it.