The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1858-01-07

As look back upon her history, can but
argue great destiny for her from her pas
magic growth.
| A little while ago, this now fiourishing CITY
was but green turf Prairie; our beautiful River
then washed its grassy base. The wilderness
stood here, and the child Of the forest, thought
of it as the prepared abiding place for him and
his people forever.
The red man is gone, the wild woods and
green turf have vanished. Dwellings, Stores
Banks. Churches, Public and Private Schools
and the busy crowd have taken their places
like new picture in a diasolving view. Now
in the place of the wild man upon our hills
and in our valleys, which was familiar to the
| eyes of our first settlers, some of whom are
yet here. is heard and seen the turmoil of bust
ness. and thanksgiving and praise to Him who
ruleth over all.
I lean but believe that the known industry
and energy of our citizens, and the many nat
nral advantages we enjoy, must necessarily
lead us all to believe that her destiny is almost
beyond the conception of the most lively i'm
aginaton.
Long may she grow and furnish pleasant
homes to the high aud the low.
Orchestra-Yankee Doodle.
The Ld5ies-The instructors by whom we are taught
our first lessons in Friendship, Love, and Truth
| DR.. L. D. Morse responded as follows
BROTHERS AND FRIENps:-I presume there
is not an Odd-Fellow among us who canrot
heartily respond to the sentiment Just proposed
The ladies are our instructors, by precept and
example, in all the virtues peculiar to Odd
Fellowship. Woman exceIs in those virtues
and we behold in her, bright examples of them.
Her Friendship is stronger, and more enduring
than man's-her Love is more ardent, purer,
and less selfish. She is truer to herself, to her
friends. and to her affections.
| Without woman's influence in its favor
Odd Fellowship would not, to-day, have had
an existence.
At first, the world scoffed at us; but won.
an saw our good deeds and came to our rescue
and we prospered. She watched with us at
the bedside Of the suffering brother-she min
istered with US to his last earthly wants-she
saw the remains of the loved one carried to
their last resting place by the Band of Broth.
ers-she saw the sprg of evergreen, The EN-
blem of immortality, deposited by each, ant
heard the last prayer offered up by brothers
as they consigned to the tomb all that remain
ed on earth of one who was dear to her, and tc
them. She felt the benefit of the strong arm
of the Order which was stretched forth 70,
her protection and relief, at time when she
most needed it. She felt the benefit Of tina:
fund which is annually accumulated for the
relief ef the widow, and the education Of the
orphan, and she gave us her countenance, and
rejoiced at our prosperity.
From woman we have received our first les
sons; not only in the principles of Friendship
Love, and Truth, but in every other virtue
To our mothers we are indebted, for whatever
ofsocial position we enioy-for whatever OF
character or good name we possess How
earnestly did they strive to bias our young
minds in favor Of whatsoever is true. whatso.
ever is pure, whatsoever is Of good report
Who firstled us to kneel, and taught our nfan,
lips to lisp the first invocatons of prayer p
Which of US will not remember till the last
day of his life, that beautiful, child like prayer
taught him by his mother, """
Snow lay me down to sleepg" sma. .as4
Which OF us has not been deferred from many
step in sin, not to say crime, by the remem-
brance of the pure and holy love, and the gen.
tie, and perhaps fearful chidngs of his mother?
She was, indeed, orr teacher and pattern.
SosG-" Moonlight Chorus" t.
Young Joeca-Our present happy homes. Why
shall we not say of her aso-she is our future home
Judge Hendershott responded. .'..
SoNG-" Land of our Birth" -.
The Godt-Aithough his horns are long, they are not
SO dangerous as horns of brandy. May Odd Fellows
never be addicted to the latter -