Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1868-02-05

" 1t Is we who are blessed, in being
/ permitted to form the acquaintance OF
SO entertaining d converser and musi-
clan. You are not a stranger. but a
dear friend, a sister, brothers wife
you have right in our home. A
knight Templars house is ever open
to the unfortunate. But you must
not leave the piano vet play smother
| piece for us, your own favorite."
q" do not know that | have one"
:" Your husbands them" suggested
Mrs. Henderson.
Again Mrs Herbert's practiced fin.
gers swept the keys, and then he,
clear rich voice arose in the popular.
Masonic ode:
Hall Masonry divine"
As the last sweet echo died awav.
she arose saying 81 that is my hus-
bands favorite
| Mr.. Henderson was standing with
his arm around his wife's waist.
| Tears were in his eyes, and he dlew
closer to her as, he said 80, Jennie
will not you learn to play that piece
for me-"
But could never make it sound
like Mrs. Herbert's," she replied. Z" for
you know [ do not like Masonry"
"And why do you not like it?"
Mrs. Herbert ventured to ask.
because it rises like a mountain
between me and my husband; I am
jealous of Masonry!" and the glance
she cast upon him at her side told
Mrs. Herbert what depth of love this
true wife regarded her husband with,
and she almost pardoned her for her
dislike of Masonry upon the ground
that she had mentioned But she
felt that Mrs. Henderson was in error,
and she said
VIII you allow me to tell you
why I love Masonry
90, yes" replied Mrs. Henderson,
l should be glad to feel differently
if | could :" and she drew large arm
chair for Mrs. Herbert in front of the
sofa, upon which she and her husband
seated themselves.
Mrs. Herbert began: my father
was commission merchant in Boston,
and IN consequence of causes which |
never fully understanding | was
young at the time-he failed in bust
ness. Our beautiful home was taken
from us, and father removed mother
and me to an humble but comfortable
cottage in the suburbs, while he pro-
cured employment as clerk in dry
goods establishment.
q He was disheartened by his sudden
and heavy losses. 1t was seldom in
deed that he was heard to speak
cheerfully and hopefully. His health
declined, and before we had ever
dreamed of the threatened danger, he
was confirmed consumptive. But
he was a Mason, and we were not
allowed to feel that MS inability for
labor had deprived US of the comforts
of our home. Supplies of provisions,
clothing and fuel came regularly to
our door. But one chill evening. in
September, we were gathered around
the bedside to take a last farewell.
The friends of our prosperous days
were not there-rhey left us with our
riches-but a circle of true, manly
faces was there, and tears were brush
ed aside which We're the overflow Of
sympathizing hearts. | stood beside
the griefstricken mother, who knelt
beside the couch of death, her head
bowed helplessly upon the emaciated
hand upon which she had ever depend
ed for guidance and protection. Ny
father kissed me tenderly, and, turn
ing to his Masonic brothers, said
81 can but leave my dear ones to
your care, and [ know that / can
trust you. l feel that my poor Alice
Will not long survive my loss, and
then this little one will be a helpless
waif on the great sea of humanity. |
give her to you, not as the child of
one, but of all-the child of the
Lodge
"A few moments more and | was IA
therless. One of the strong, noble
men lifted me in his arms and bore me
from the room. | had heard what nv
father had said, and although child
of but seven years, L comprehended
IL all. | threw my arms around the
good mans neck, who held me so ten
derly, and sobbed, 'Oh, sir, will YOU
be my father?'
- Yes, my dear little girl he said,
in a broken voice, you shall never
want
Ny mother was a frail, delicate
creature, and her constant watching
at my fathers bedside, combined with
the last terrible shock, threw her into
fever from which she never recov-
cred. We remained in the little cot
tage till my sweet mothers death,
and my fathers Masonic brothers an
ticipated our every want. And when
| was at last an orphan, my new pro-
tector took me away. All felt that
| was a sacred charge.
Il was placed under the care of the
most reliable instructors, and my
health carefully guarded. | lived in
the house of him whom | had asked to
be my father, and / believe he loved
me as his child. When l arrived at
the age of twenty years l was mar
ried-with the full appreciation of my
guardians-to Mr. Herbert, confden-
tial clerk in a dry goods house The
young man was Mason; he was hon.
est and attentive to his business
That was not quite ten wears 4 go