White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1858-07-29

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Their own works praise them, and
their silent, unostentatious deeds of chair.
ty and love, are their most eloquent de.
Tenders" said Mrs. ,DantOn.
Well / do not believe in the benev.
olence which neglects ones own family
to administer to Others" said Mrs. Da.
Wis, land / speak from sad experience
My husband for years has hardly spent
an entire evening at home with his fami-
ly, on account Of the hurry of business,
yet since he has become an Odd Fellow,
ne manages to devote one evening every
week with them"
+" And / doubt not, Mrs. Davis, in SO
doing he believes he accomplishes more
good for his family than he could in any
other possible way" replied Mrs. Dan
ton. Fortune is a tickle goddess, and
often deserts her votaries in the hour of
their greatest need and though you may
be unable now to imagine that your cir
eumstaRces will ever be less promising
than at present, yet an hour of need may
come to you, and assistance from an Odd
Fellows Lodge be most gratefully re-
eeived."
Z" Yes. / have known many such in
stances" said Mrs. Hammond, land
with your permission, ladies, will relate
a story which may perhaps serve to re-
move your prejudice of the Order"
"Oh, yes" they all exclaimed, Gre
| late it to us and we will try to be con-
vinced."
"Mrs. Hammond directed a meaning
look to Mrs. Danton, aud commenced (:
y" had dear friend, Ellen Clayton !;
she was happy, merry creature. with a
loving heart as ever beat in human
breast-and that heart with its rich store
of love she bestowed on one every way
worthy of her. In the eyes of her lover,
Ellen had but one fault-her prejudice to
Odd Fellowship but each trusted to their
love to win the other to their own views,
and very little was said upon the subject
before their marriage.
al never saw a more lovely couple
than Henry Ashley and Ellen Clayon,
when they stood up in our little village
church. and plighted to each other their
youthful love; and when Ellen bid us
all adieu, to go with her husband to her
new home. it seemed as if the gladness
and light in her happy home, would never
be aught of gloom or sorrow.
Mr.. Ashley had established himself in
Boston. where by industry and economy,
he hoped to increase his little fortune to
happy competence. The pleasant little
home he had provided for his bride, was
beautifed and rendered more pleasant by
her many little arrangements and the
light of her happy face shed brightness
over all his home.
The first cloud that Swallowed the face
of Ellen Ashley was when, several weeks
after her marriage, her husband said to her
one evening at tea, "My dear. believe /
must leave you for the first time this
evening you have held me such close
captive. that l have entirely neglected
my Lodge since our marriage"
Why, you will not surely leave me
alone, to pass the evening in a. Lodge
room 90 said Ellen seriously.
"My duty calls me there" replied her
husband. kindly, ga duty which have
not neglected since became a member
until our marriage; so you see that your
charms have more power over me than
aught else"
"But it seems they are now losing
their power"
Oh, no indeed but 1 trust, Ellen,
you would not wish me to neglect
duty"
Surely not, if / were convinced it
was a duty"
"Oh 1 had forgotten Ellen. that You
had prejudice against our Order; so
we will say no more about it now, for I
am sure can convince you in short
time that your preiudices are misplaced.
shall not be out late, Ellen, and be as
sured," said he smiling, 81 shall get no
mischief in 9. Lodge room"
As soon as her husband had closed the
door, Ellen burst into tears of mingled
grief, and disappointment, and anger
She had a strong prejudice to Odd Fell
lowship and instead of acting like a
sensible woman. and endeavoring to re-
move the prejudice by rejecting that her
husband would be guilty of nothing dis
honorable to himself, and that he would
not continue q member and feel attached
to an Institution that had aught unworthy
in its objects or designs, she allowed her.
self to think that he was treating her
unkindly in thus leaving her, and that
there could be nothing good in an insti-
tuition whose members were not allowed
to reveal to others their designs; and BY
the time her husband mad returned, she
had fairly made up her mind that Odd
Fellowship was and must be wrong, and
that she would ever be opposed to it.
Thus do women oftentimes bring I'M
happiness upon themselves. by determin-
ing not to be convinced of the truth and
propriety Of that which would result in
their own best interest in order to crafty
sickly sentimentality, or foster foolish
sensitiveness, which they show by their
feelings that they themselves distrust that
confidence, which they accuse their hus-
bands of yiolating.A
lave you passed the evening pleas
antly 2. inquired Ellen rather sarcastic
ally, as her husband returned.
/" Yes: our meetings are always plea
SAINT, " replied Mr.. Ashley; "snd now