THE GUILTY TONGUE.

BY THE AUTHOR OF

THE LAST DAY OF THE WEEK.

"THE LORD WILL NOT HOLD HIM GUILTLESS THAT TAKETH HIS NAME IN VAIN." EXOD. XX. 7.

PRINTED FOR L. B. SEELEY AND SON,
FLEET STREET, London.

MDCCCXXVII.

1489. f. 730

18

tell you the truth, I cannot shake off the depression which is on my spirits.

May I ask in what it originates? Is there any thing I can do to relieve you?

I have no concealment to make; but you will be surprised to hear it is occasioned by a dream, which engaged my thoughts the whole night, and has left such a strong impression-it will not wear away in a moment.

I own I am surprised: you are not superstitious. Will you communicate the subject of the dream?

The origin of the affection on my spirits is not in the dream, but, following as it did upon a train of thought which had already oppressed my heart, it has corroborated the feelings which were previously excited, by a circumstance which happened when I was walking out yesterday evening. I am sorry to say it was no unusual circumstance; but it was strange I never before reflected upon it in the serious way I now do.

I was walking on a high bank, on which the footpath run on the side of the high road. A waggoner had stopt his team, and was talking to an acquaintance on the same footpath with myself. He had turned his back upon

the horses, and they were frequently making movements, as if impatient at being so long detained. When he heard

on.

their motion, he spoke to them in the usual way to keep them quiet; when, finding them restless, he turned quick, and cracking his whip with a violent jerk, and a tremendous oath, he bid them go The animals, started by the sudden command, and visibly afraid of the whip, set off full speed, turned the brow of the hill, and were impelled forward down the steep with frightful velocity. The man set off after them, swearing loudly, until, finding himself spent, he stopt, and with awful expression that God would curse the horses, and send them to the devil, he waited to watch if they would stop at the bottom of the hill.

I felt appalled with the violence with which he vociferated his curses in the Name of God, and waited to see the end. They were all before me; the team horse swerved off the road, the waggon was thrown over, and dragged some paces onwards by the impetuosity of the fore horses, which, at length feeling the check, stood still. The man now run, as you may easily imagine, with no decrease of passion and oaths. Some men came to