The Columbian fountain., 1845-12-25
SCELLAk EOUS.
THE CONVINCED.
BY MRS. NJ. L. GARDINER.

"lnasmuch as ye have done it unto ONE of these,
ye have done it unto me-"
6 L would not have my husband an Odd
Fellow, for all the world" said Mrs. Ashton,
as she left the lodge-room With party of
ladies, among whom were wives ofgentlemen,
members Of the society.
6 Why not? ?" inquired Mrs. Belmont.
g For many reasons"
"Please name Them"
g In the first place, could not bear the
idea of having the secret withheld from me
by my husband to feel. when folded to his
bosom, as if there was something within
must not know, perhaps dearer than myself.
| am naturally jealous; a rival could not
bear, and know now his heart is wholly and
entirely NINE"
0Very well; this is your first objection
what is your second ~
s'All those mysterious characters around
the room, the chairs, the benches, thrones,
or desks, the platform in the centre of the
room, with trap-doors, for aught know, to
let the disorderly member through into some
subterranean cavern; then the closed doors,
locked and barred, presume. | shuddered
as viewed them, fancying they were full
ofspectres, and hobgoblins, and mercy knows
what This is my second objection"
9Very well-what next?"
"Why, Mr.. H. himself--he who is always
SO cheerful, full of repartee, SO quick with
remark on every occasion-was so demure
so solemn, while we were in the room; and
when told him wanted to peep into those
three little rooms, he looked as sober and as
nervous as priest; could not make him
laugh, no, not even smile. He seemed as if
the {" all seeing eye" painted on the canvass
above him, took cognizance Of all his actions
am confident there is something dreadful
about the whole Of it, and would not have
Fred become an Odd Fellow for the world !;
should never want him near ne after being
in these mysterious rooms"
g And these are your objections to the Or
der, Mrs. Ashton, are they?" inquired Mrs
Belmont, seriously.
sYes"
.Then the good originating from them,
has no influence whatever upon your mind.
If you will go home with me, will show
you some periodicals containing excellent
addresses on different occasions. | have
"The Symbol" :. The Independent Odd
Fellow "The Ark" sThe Golden Rule"
and two beautiful ANIMALS, called the g Odd
Fellows Offering" You will find much in
them to admire; one Grafton in particular,
on the " "Supremacy of Principle" by the
Rev. E. II, Chaplin, who is favorite author
of mine, and in whose words you can see
his soul, and feel your own thrill as you
read his addresses. | will show you sta
tistical account of the immense sums distri-
buted by the various societies in our coun-
try; showing how many widows and or
phans they have relieved; how many stran-
gers have found an asylum from the cold,
Implying world how many sick have been
comforted, how many dying, parched lips
have been moistened by the hand of charity;
how many eyes closed and how many de-
Gently buried honored and mourned by the
members Of those societies.
"How long since your husband became
united with them"
G Six years"
"Is he as kind and attentive to you as he
was before he was connected with this
band?n
"More so; he loves me better-l love
him more; he is so consistent, 50 correct, so
promt to his duty, when called upon to adj
minister to the necessities OF a brother (;
and he loves the little boy we have adopt
ed"
Gay, rccollect hearing something of that
founding. Where did your husband pick
up the friendless thing" "
"In Havana, when he was Consul
there"
"Pray tell me the particulars"
Gas we are near home, and iatigued, you
shall go in with me; we will have cup OF