The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1870-01-06

in his eyes, and he drew her closer to
him, as he said: a.
30, Jennie, will you not learn that
piece for my sake?''
But never could make it sound
like Mrs. HERBERT she replied, "for
you know / don't tike masonry"
"And why do you not like t?''.asked
Mrs. Herbert.
Because it rises like mountain
between me and my husband. / am
jealous of masonry" and the glance
she cast upon him at her side, told
Mrs. Herbert how this wife loved her
husband, and she almost pardoned her
for her dislike of masonry, upon the
ground she had mentioned. But she
felt that Mrs. Henderson was in
error, aud she said
"Will you allow me to tell you why
| love masonry?
so, yes" replied Mrs Henderson,
Il should be glad to feel differently
if l could"
After all were comfortably seated,
Mrs. Herbers began:
"My father was a commission mer-
chant in Boston, and in consequence of
causes which / could never fully un-
derstand-for | was very young at the
time-he failed in business. Our beau
tiful home was taken from us, and he
removed mother and me to an hum
BILE, but comfortable cottage in the sub
erbs, while he procured employment
in dry goods establishment.
He was disheartened by his sudden
and heavy losses. 1t was seldom, in
deed, that he was heard to speak cheer
fully. His health declined, and, before
we had ever dreamed Of the threaten
ing danger, he was a confirmed con-
sumptive. But he was mason, and
we were not allowed to feel that his in
ability for labor had deprived us of the
comforts of our home. Supplies of
provisions, clothing and fuel came reg
ularly to our door. But one still G.
vening in September, we were gathered
around the bedside to take the last
farewell. The friends of our prosper
Gus days were not there-they left us
with our riches-but circle of true,
manly faces were there, and tears were
brushed aside which were the overflow
of sympathizing and affectionate
hearts. l stood beside my grief-strick'
en- mother, who knelt beside the couch
ofdeath, her head bowed helpless upon
the emaciated hand upon (which she
had always depended for guidance and
instruction. Ny father kissed me
tenderly, and turning to his mason
ic brothers, said: Il can but leave
my dear ones to your care, and | know
that | can trust you. l feel that poor
Alice will not long survive my loss,
and then this little one will be help
less waif on the great sea of humani-
ty. give her to You, not as the child
of one, but of alI-the child of the
lodge
"A few moments and | was father
less. One of those strong, noble men
lifted me in his arms and bore me
from the room. | had heard what
my father had said, and although but
a child of seven years, | co nprehend-
ed it all. threw my m around the
good mans neck, who held me so ten
derly, and s0bbed, 20, sir. will you be
my father ?"
Eyes, my dear little girl, he said, in
broken voice, you shall never
want"
mother, was frail, delicate Great
ure, and her constant watching at faith
er's bedside combined with the last
terrible shock, threw her into fever
from which she never recovered. We
remained in the cottage until my sweet
mothers death, and my fathers ma
sonic brothers anticipated our every
want. And when | was at last an or
phan, my new protectors took me a.
way. All felt that l was sacred
charge. l was placed under the care
of the most reliable instructors and
my health was carefully guarded /
lived in the house of him whom | had
asked to be my father, and l believe
he loved me as his.child. When / ar
rived at the age of twenty years, l
was married with the full approba
tiOn of my guardians-to Mr.. Herbert
then d confidential clerk in dry good
house. The young man was a mason;
hew was honest and attentive to busi-
! ness. Now he is partner in the same
house. We have an elegant home,
and wide circle of friends; but none
are so dearly priced as the tried and
true; and once every year our parlors
are opened to receive, with their fam
lilies, the few who remain of those
who, at the time of my fathers death,
were members Of the lodge to which
he belonged. You understand now,
my friends, why | love masonry.
Mrs. Henderson lifted her eyes to
those of her husband. He was look
ing at her wistfully, so pleadingly.
my dear wife," said he, "Mrs.
, Herbert's story is but one of thous-
auds. 1t is the aim of masonry to re-
lieve the distressed everywhere, and
elevate and enoble ourselves. Our la
bors take Us often from the loved home
circle; but it would not be manly in us
to spread the knowledge of the good
we do. TO many of the recipients of
our charity it would be bitter relief, if
trumpeted forth to the world"
"Mrs. Henderson placed both her
hands in those Of her husband, and