The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1869-07-02
MisfeIIamenms.
THE ODD FELLOW.
,R, THE SECRET ASSOCIATION.


night, James," said a beautiful, dark
eyed bride, to her young husband, as he
arose from the tea table tive have not
been married Il month, and yet you must
go out to pass your evenings" and the
young wife smiled and pouted, and
looked reproof and love in the same
glance. t......I. ..........
II have an important engagement,
love" he said, smiling and tapping her
cheek with his finger. 'll..l b.. uu o.
Sand now your engagement to me
, has ended in marriage, you must con
slider yourself freed from any to your
wife, suppose" she said laughing.
"But you will not go out such wild,
clustering night. You can have no
business that calls you forth in such a
storm of wind and rain! Stay in,
James See how comfortable our lit
tie parlor looks with its closely drawn
curtains, its two nice rocking chairs, its
warm, glowing fire, and these books
and newspapers, and engravings, tOsay
nothing OF my own society"
'It certainly must be great tempt
alton, or very pressing business that
takes him forth, sister," said the BRIDES
brother, good looking young man OF
twenty-one, who made the third of the
little group about the tea-tablc. 81 as
sure him." he added pleasingly, al
should not be so ungallant to leave my
wife to pass the evenings alone before
the honeymoon was over. There is to
be some city caucus, and 1 suppose
James expects to be called upon to make
n speech" ....
mo, assure you, answered James
Dayton, laughing, as he buttOned his
surtout 10 his throat 81 have very
| important engagement, or ] should by
no means quit you, Catharine. ] will
be back in two hours. Let Lewis enter
tain you till return. / know you will
excuse me, WIFE" .t
con condition you tell me where you
are going" She said, holding him by
the arm, playfully. ...
"Well, it is to meeting of my
Lodge"
"Your Lodge !" repeated Lewis ;"what
Lodge?"
"rhe Odd Fellows" ...
"Are you an Odd Fellow, James ?'
exclaimed Catherine. "If had known
il, don't believe would have marri-
ed you"
"No? Then 1 should have been an
Odd fell)w all my life. But what Is
there so bad in being an Odd Fellow,
that you both look so surprisedT"
81 am told that it is a secret society !;
something like the exploded Masonic
fraternity, and am surprised that any
sensible man should belong to it," ans
wered Lewis Foster.
Sand don't like to have a husband
who has any secrets from his wife," said
the bride. SNOW, James, 1 shan't love
you half so well, that you belong to a
secret society and such an odd socic-
ltyw
"The name sounds roWdyish and reck-
less, ,"said his brother-in-law,w with gravi-
ty.
81 don't believe any good can come
of it," pursued his wife, with slight
cloud of disapproval upon her brow.
"I don't think it can increase your
responsibility in the eyes of sensible
men," added Lewis, "and now that
you are married and so have taken a
new position in society, and have just
gone into partnership in business, it
would seem to me, James, speaking in
all kindness and love, that you would
be wise to break off your connection
with this society, which perhaps might
not have been so censurable in a young
man and an apprentice, but which must
certainly now detract from your charac
ter and standing"
Tho young husband glanced from one
TO the other of the speakers, looking a
if he was undecided whether to laugh
outright, or to get seriously angry will
them both. He however suppressed tho
! expression of both emotions, and quiet
Iy resuming his chair at the tea table
and with his surtout buttoned to hi
I chin, Us he was, then said, quietly ant
!, gravely: --rH41trt
: "Catherine- Lewis-you neither q
y you know of what you are speaking
T So far from being what you ignoranti!
!. suppose, the fraternity of Odd-Fellow
. is society in which it is an honor no
. only to be enrolled as a member, but
is itself an association honorable to hu
man nature. The popularity of its d'
signation has misled you. So far fror
r. being fraternity of bufioons, a. band
d merry makers, a society Of organize
: folly, as you and others, who have M
IA inquired into its character and prefer
Of sions, weakly pretend TO believe, 1t
re an association distinguished for its dil
Unity, solemnity and moral majesty"