Weekly Trinity journal., 1868-03-07

" Inasmueh as ye have done it unto ONE of these,
ye have done it unto me.'
BY MRS. n. L. GARDINER.
Oh tell where he got those son, mild eyes,
So much like those in whom my young heart lived,
on
81 would not have my husband an Odd Fell
low for all the world" said Mrs. Ashton, and she
LEFT the lodge-room with a party of ladies, among
whom were wives of gentlemen, members of the
society.
"Why not?" inquired Mrs. Belmont.
" For very many reasons"
Please name them"
" In the first place, could not bear the idea
of having secret withheld from me by my hus-
band to feel, when folded to his bosom, there
was something within it must not know, per-
haps dearer than myself. 1 am naturally jeal-
Gus ; rival l could not bear, and know his
heart is wholly and entirely mine.'
every well this is your first objection pray,
what is your secondf'
"All those mysterious characters around the
room the chairs, benches, thrones or desks,
the platforms in the centre of the room, with
trap-doors, for aught l know, to let the disor-
derly members down through into some subter-
ranean cavern then, the closed doors, locked
and barred, presume.J shuddered as viewed
them, fancying they were full of spectres, and
hobgoblins, and goats, and the mercy knows
what. This is my second objection"
livery well-what next?'
"Why, Mr.. H. himself-he who is always so
cheerful, so full of repartee, so quick with re-
mark or every occasion,-was so demure, so
solemn, while we were in the room and when
l told him wanted to peep into those three lit
| tie rooms, he looked as sober and as nervous as
a priest could not make him laugh-no, not
even smile. He seemed as if he really believed
the 'all-seeing eye, painted on the canvass above
oolr IF so I
confident there is something dreadful about the
whole of it, and l would not have Fred become
an Odd Fellow for the world l should never
want him near me, after being in those mysteri-
GUS rooms"
'And these are your objections to the Order,
Mrs. Ashton, are they?" inquired Mrs. Belmont
seriously.
| "Y Yes"
sThen the good originating from them has no
| influence whatever upon your mind. If you will
go home with me, viii! show you some period
icals containing excellent addresses on different
occasions, and beautiful Annuals. You will
find much in them to admire one oration, in
particular, on the Supremacy of Principle by
the Rev. E. H. Chaplin, favorite writer of mine,
and in whose words you see his soul, and
feel your own thrill, you read his addresses.
will also show you a statistical account of the
immense sums distributed by the various socie-
ties in our country showing how many widows
and orphans they have relieved how many chill
dren have been raised from want and degrada-
ton how many strangers have found an asylom
| from cold, Implying world how many sick
have been comforted how many dying, parched
lips, have been moistened by the kind hang of
charity how many eyes closed and how many
decently buried, honored and mourned by the
members of these societies"
"How long since your husband became united
with them?"
"Six years."
"Is he as kind and attentive to you as he was
before he became connected with this band ~
:. More so he loves me better-I love him
more be is so consistent, so correct, so prompt
to do his duty when called upon to administer
| to the necessities of brother and how he loves
the little boy we have adopted
Gay, recollect hearing something OF that
founding. Where did your husband pick up the
friendless thing?"
"In Havana, when he was consul there"
Pray tell me the particulars.
GAS we are near my home, and fatgued, you
shall 60 in with me; we will have cup of tea
and in the evening I will tell you simple story
Mr.. Belmont has gone to Washington. l am
lonesome, and shall be glad of your company for
few days. 1t is long time since you have
been in the city, and 1 have much to say"
| Mrs. Ashton concluded to accompany her,
partly promising to spend the night; AS tney
entered the paror, a sweet, rosy-faced boy came
jumping in, and ran directly to Mrs. Belmont,
who, STOPPING down, kissed him again and again
ere she removed her veil and parting the rich
curls that shaded his beautiful brow, and turn
ing his cherub face toward Mrs. Ashton, she ex-
claimed: " This is our pet p
Mrs. Ashton gazed upon the little fellow with
evident surprise taking his hand she drew him
nearer and sinking upon the sofa cried: Mer-
ciful God how like some one have seen Fray
tell me where you got those soft, blue eyes p
"Come here, julius" said Mrs. Belmont, much
surprised at Mrs. Ashton's emotions; "come tell
me what you have been doing in my absence"
81 have been 'iding my little horse mamma"
"What do you call him?''
Jimmy Grey; here is my title whip to make
him go fast"
Which do you love best, your hobby-horse
or your mammal
81 love my horse best, and my mamma
best p and jumping into Mrs. Belmont's lap, he
wound his chubby arms around her neck, and
kissed her forehead, cheeks and lips, as she
pressed him closely to her bosom.
Mrs. Ashton sat confounded strange sensa-
tion took possession of her breast. Was 1t pos
sible Mrs. Belmont could love child so well
He was dear little fellow, truly-quite an un-
common child. She had no children of her own,
and had often said she did not wish any they
were troublesome comforts, pulling and hauling
curls rufles etc., nothing could be kept in place
where they were. Still, more lovely picture
she never beheld than the one before her. Mrs.
Belmont was handsome woman the glow up
on her countenance was heightened by exercise,
her eyes beamed with delight, her cap was un-
tied and her curls fell in beautiful disorder over
the the rosy face of her little protege, as he re-
turned her endearing caresses.
l Tea was brought in, the statistics were read,
the books looked over, and the little boy carried
to bed after saying his prayers, as be knelt like
a young cherub, at the feetiof Mrs. Belmont-the
true personiication of love bending over its idol
Snow for the story of that lovely child, !"
said Mrs Ashton, as she drew her feet upon the
sofa, and placed the pillows behind her.
Mrs Belmont quietly seating herself in her
large, easy rocking-chair, began: When my
husband was consul in Havana, in ls-, Mr.. H.,
physician, coming in one morning, remarked
that be daily visited very interesting family,
who had drawn deeply upon his sympathies for
many reasons; and first, that like themselves,
be was an Odd Fellow. He had been on the
island year, prosperously engaged in the mer-
camille business, and for the last six weeks bad
been much indisposed, owing to hemorrage OF