Southern standard. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1851-1856, 1851-03-29
From tie Odd FeILoWs Cogendnt
THE ODD FELLOWS DAUGHTER.

urbs of large city, lay PALE emaciated sufferer
whose thoughts were now busy with eternity, toI
which he was fast fastening, and anon with gross
earth. \ beautiful girl, who knelt by his pillow,
rs some half-murmured sentence fell On her ear,
exclaimed with a voice of uncomfortable emotion
ooh, father, father,-we cannot remain alone
in this heartless world; must follow if you are
to leave us Far away in our own land We may
have friends, but here, here in this strange coun-
trv this new home, who are to shield and assist
the unprotected? Monochrome For myself, there
is little fear but oh father, look at my young
brother, so bright, so gay, SO warm hearted
She continued, wildly clasping her hands, and
bending her fearful face low to her parents that
the warm drops believed his attenuated features,
and hung, glistning on his hair, ''who is to guide
him to duty's path, who to watch his growing
years. and Though the truth is terrible to dream
of who is to procure him bread
q Hush, hush Liza dearest, do not wake him
to the bitter realities that pass heavily on your
self" returned the invalid, gazing with intense at
lection on fair boy beside him, hushed in the
calm, peaceful sumber that makes childhood look
so beautiful so innocent and heaven-like; and then
turning with an interest equally fond to his
daughter, he resumed:
81 have encountered no friends vet in this new
land but then have been too i'll to seek them, and
as accident has deprived us Of the little wealth
boarded to procure you pleasant home IN this
blessed retreat for the exile and health seems to
have forsaben me forever, it is necessary love,
for you to endeavor to bring to my couch those
who can smooth this pillow, whisper soft music
toned words of peace to the falling spirit and pro-
tect and cherish my children. viii you undertake
the performance of what | desire, sweet Liza %
he asked carelessly smoothing with his wasted
and trembling fingers, his daughters tresses
The maiden uttered no reply-She imagined him
delirious and again the fount of sorrow overflow
ed, while she encircled his neck with her ARM and
pressed closer to his side. Friends he talk of
friends, who had been but single season inhaling
Americans air, and during the period scarce cog
infant of the little enacting in that close cham
Der where he lay. He talk Of friends who was
poor and i'll, and from whom the family with whom
he resided had shrunk away, as from contamina-
ton, because he had muTmured in his sleep of
sweet mystic relations of ties sacred and beauti-
full that bound him to some distant but cherished
objects.
After brief indulgence of her grief the young
girl arose from her recumbent position, and put
ting back the inyalid's hair, bathed his temples,
while she soothed him tenderly as a watchful mo-
Their sooths her infant, for the thought had obru-
ded, that her own agitation might produce conse-
quences, perhaps fatal, to his enervated frame
The sick man observed her silently for several
minutes and then again asked:
"Will you endeavor to perform duty for YOUR
father, Liza, ere his eyes close on life Will YOU
90 out into the streets Of this strange city and
seek for one who can comprehend the nature Of
this" he said, placing a paper in his daughters
hands which he had more than once been atten-
lively regarding.
'You think me wandering, love-but the ap,
preaching doom shadows my intellect, he contin-
ued, with faint effort to smile, g but you are
wrong, quite wrong Draw near sweetest, | vii
tell you what hope is mine, at this hour. d.
you remember your brother Templcrs connection
with band of brethren on whom we looked sus
FIciousy, because their mode Of initiation anC
some Of their forms necessarily concealed from pub
lie gaze-and can you recall how We become &c
quainted with their tender charities their beauti
full virtues and the injustice of our suspicious
when he lay suffering for long weeks with tina
terrible fever, and you too Young to be his nurse
Do you mind how these nobe-heaTted men, fear
less of danger, gathered round their brother anl
ministered to his necessities when even those 0
his own kindred shrank away terrified from tn
pestential chamber; and how, at last, after watch
ing night after night by his side until life failed
what sweet spot they selected for his Resin.
place, and what groups of attached ones followed
him with slow and solemn steps to the grave
while soft, melancholy music foated on the air f5
his dir5e? Do you remember all this, love ?
asked the invalid, whose voice grew faint from ex
ertion.
"Oh! yes, I mind Wei when dear Temple
pressed his parting kiss on nv cheek" replied tn
girl, "and babe me tell Sts.nwood of his Cheerful
death-bed, and urge aim when he grew old enough
to join his band of tried and faithful brothers.
would we were among Tcmpler's woman-lik
watchers now, dear father, and you were one c
them, we should not be 50 desolate.'
q am one of them, Dearest said her father
when | comprehended the motives, the acts, tn
hopes the charities that linked Templer with thos
God-like men, my hand and theirs in clasp {
love, while my lips murnured words of faith new
er, never to be cancelled. This was far away a
cross the blue ocean, but their ties arc the sam
all over the wide world, and it is yours love- no.
TO endeavor to discover from among the inhab
ants of this fair city, who can understand an
reply to my mystic language Whatever may
the standing, of such, my Liza, you are safe fc
an Odd-Fellow's truth is inyiolate-and Odd-Fe
lows protection sacred as kindred's.''
"You dream, father" exclaimed the nader
''our sex may not be taught the mystic sign Of rc
cognition. How then am l to know one of thos
whom | must ever love for lost Templer's SAX,
and remember for their virtues ?"
81 can devise but one method to discover VIII
desire, my daughter-listen, and do not shrin
from it if the task appears somewhat difficult,
said the invalid, to whom an unnatural strengt
seemed to have been transiently permitted, raisin
himself and artculating with earnestness:
''These are the days of light and knowledg
and this a land of free privileges, but we hay
unfortunately, fallen among those who look upC
all foreigners with suspicion, and deem their a
tions faulty, their words reasonable Ill and su
fering as | have been, Though still beleyir
health would be restored, l could not institu
inquiries concerning those whose assistance
needed; SO you, dearest, as my only friend, 70
Crettinp VoI1r mai1an tir,i1it,- opJ