The post. [volume] (Middleburg, Snyder County, Pa.) 1864-1883, 1870-09-01
TEE MASONIC CHRISTMAS.

The speaker was n noble looking
man of about fifty years Of age, OF
commanding presence, his snow white
hair and beard giving him yenera-
bic appearance, AID moro advanced
a,e than that to which ne had actualy
arrived. lie was seated in an easy
c.,air in a room in which, ut glance,
il could be seen that comfort aud not
show had been consulted. A few
choice pictures decorated the walls, a
library Of choice aud apparently well
u3c,. books occupied an entire SIDE OF
tho apartment, and unpretcnding sofa,
besides the circular ccn,cr.iable GOV.
G. ed with books, magazines and pa
pcrs and sustaining Il brilliant lamp,
wcs the most prctentious piece o' fur
nj ire. 4 fire OF coal burned in the
CRATE. for the uncomfortable, uncomcly
and melancholy sir.,ight stove had
not been allowed to outrage the sense
of what cons ituted comfort entertained
by the p.inciplc occup ut.
:" | cannot do il y
The wo ,ds wero spoken kindly but
firmly, and there was also an accent OF
sorrow which the attentive observer
might have detected, as If they were
G. led out by strong sense of dnty
in opposition to the secret desire OF a
yearnirg heart. AS though the will
was ovorpowered aud controlled by
The iudgement--as though the convic-
ton Of right held in th'alithe anxious
wish to acquicscc in the proposition
and grant the request
II cannot do it"
Tho words wcrc spoken to youth
iul and yet not youthful looking indi
vidual who leaned on the back OF the
easy chair in which the elder sat The
lines which ea.ly dissipation never
fails to epgravc upon the human cou.-
,cnance were to be seen not the
deep burrows which hge leaves on
brow and check, but the more shall
low and less honorable ones that late
hours. wile and licontiousness fail
not to bes'ow upon tleir devotees.
With n form rs beautiful as a sculp'
tors dream, hecd that might have
been the casket Of mind as noble as
ever dwelt in human incarn tion,
AIDED with luxurani masses Z. jctty
hair. he looked little less han archar.
gel fallen. and he looked what he we
really and truthiully.
"Then you will not present it p
said the younger of the two, after
brief pause.
IL have already id cannot" was
the reply. "Iwould do anything that
would reclaim you-you, my dear sis
rs child, loved as II you were my
own, but even for that | will not bring
disgrace upon the institution | so fer
vently love aud so profoundly rever'
cucc. have no doubt that your pc
tition might be received, acted upo'
and YOU DO admitted into to lodge
could I give assurance OF your reior'
nation"
"But will reform"
"You h. We 7 romised often-you have
performed never"
but, uncle, | swear"
"Nay, do not swear IL You will
break it il YOU do, and / would not
have perjury on your SOUL
"Is this kind ? When l wish te
reform my course you thrust me from
you-keep me at nm arms lengt
win not receive my promises
"God knows how much desire to
believe your prostestations--how nue.,
I wish to confido 10 your pr, miscs
But cannot, ,eiN not forget I
your conduct has been such as would
disgrace the institution with which
you would connect yourself | can
not but remember that in tao future
it may DO equally as bad, or worse
"No, no, uncle not worse !"
"It may DO worst. That is the al
most unvarying consequences OF th,
courso upon which you have entered.
"Trus, but you have my prom
lise---'
/ IA =.