“SHUT YOUR MOUTH.”
We heard a lad, in anger, use this expression to another. It was not very bad advice, though given somewhat roughly.
When we hear some of our mincing misses singing, now away up, and now away down, tossing their heads and rolling their eyes, we think, Well, miss, if you knew what folks thought of you, you’d shut your mouth.
We have seen many men ruined because they did not know how to shut their mouth when tempted to say “Yes,” to a bad business.
When we see a man standing before the bar just ready to drink, we think, Ah! you fine fellow, if you will not keep your mouth shut before that bar, you will, by and by, find yourself before a Bar where it will be shut tight enough.
When we hear a fine lady scolding till every room rings; or tattling from house to house—or scandal-mongering, we think, Ah, you lady, with all your schooling, you never learned to shut your mouth.