Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1865-01-19
Stlttt Storp.
A MASONIC ROMANCE
Or the Masonic Talisman.
BY AN OFFICER OF THE U. S. A.

bI AN OrflCEh Ot IlE U. b. A.
During the late Mexican war lad of six
teen, daring young Nirginian, leaped
fence and climbed parapet some hundred
yards ahead of his company, and was taken
prisoner; but not before he had killed three
Mexicans, and mortally wounded Colonel.
His mother, poor widow, but, though
poor, lady, land why not?) heard of his
fate, and as he was an only son, her heart
yearned for his release. She wept at the
thought, but while the tears were streaming
down her cheeks, suddenly she recollected
that she was Mason's widow. Hone
lighted up her bosom at the thought-she
dried her tears and exclaimed:
II will go and test the talismanic power
OF the order my husband loved and rcvered
so much.
She sold some articles of furniture, and
with the money reached the city of Wash
ington on foot
In her dusty attire she entered the de-
partment of the Secretary of War; and with
some difficulty obtained an interview. As
she entered the apartment in which he was
seated, and he saw how dusty she appeared,
well ma am, was the salutation he gave
her; but when she removed her veil, and he
saw the visage of the lady in her face he
bor to a snat Sha +oId Hin, of i -. sl,,,,
cnntmre and w;sbaI to ao tn hin, No' "o' .
II con't boIn ,,o,, ,a,, - l. ,,1;oJ
o vorv cynnnavc go, nnrnav "" ~ ,ho t,. of
Mexico Your son viii he released hv and
by on exchange of prisoners y '
Sir, " said the widow, as the tears of woe
rolled down her check, lean you not help
me to passport
"Of course he replied, that will be
Office, but YOU are poor how do Won expect
to pay the expenses of such a Journey I? It
is a visionary scheme. Good morning
ma'am."
''Sir,' said the lady. 'wil YOU be so kind
as to recommend me to the officer in COM
mand of the regiment that will sail from
Baltimore in few days %
"Imp0ssible, ma am. impossiblc, - he re-
piled. Then turning to the page he said,
''who did YOU sav was waiting for an audi
ence? Tell them am at leisure. now"
"Sir." said the lady, 81 have one more
question to ask YOU before | leave your of.
fee, and | pray YOU answer it-are YOU a
Mason?'
"Yes, ma am" he replied.
"Then, sir" she said, "permit me to say
[ am a Mason's widow-with this declara-
ton | leave your Office
That moment the Secretary manner was
changed to that of the most courteous
interest.
He entreated her to be seated until he
could write few lines to the Secretary of
State In few moments he presented her
with note to the Secretary, recommending
her to his sympathy and friendship. The
Secretary of State received her most kindly
and gave her letter to the commandant at
New Orleans directing him to procure her
a free pass to Vera Cruz by the first steam
er. Through the agency of the two Secre-
taries the Lodges placed in her hands three
hundred dollars, with talsmanic card from
the Grand Master at Washington, and the
widow left the city.
When she reached Pittsburgh the stage
agent seeing the letter she bore from the
Grand Master would receive nothing for her
passage-the Captain of the steamer on
which she embarked for New Orleans, no
sooner deciphered it than he gave her the
best state-room he had, and when she
reached the Crescent City, she had two
hundred and ninety dollars left of her three
hundred. She there waited on the General
in command of the station with the letter