Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1871-12-28

Inelr arrival Lney visited tne MASONIC
Lodge. A warm welcome was ex,
tended to tks,>a Brethren from such
distant homeNSed both were invited
to address the Lodge. Mr.. Durant
said:
( " Brethren: I have travelled much
and long. Ihavs found masonic sym.
pathy in every part of the globe, and
every gre is masonry substantially
the I can hardly tell where
re&s 81 The world seems to be my
home, as I remain but short time in
any town or country, but my NAM is
,precorded in an English Lodge.
l love my English brethren, for
they first brought me from darkness
to light" and l love English soil, for
within it sleeps the wife Of my youth.
But l love American soil also, for
here have l found the warmest vel
comes, the kindest of brethren. And
too, my own child issleepingin Amer
lean water, even beneath the very
waves that wash the shores of your
beautiful village.
"Six years have passed since this
dear friend and brother robbed him
self of his life-preserver that my lit
tie Eva might perhaps escape, and we
hoped the elements might be kind.
and that heaven would send her re-
lief; but she was never heard of more. !"
The voice of Mr.. Durant was quiv-
ering with emotion, and unable to
speak further, he seated himself.
Chances of surprise and pleasure
were cast from one to another among
the brethren of Hiram Lodge. No
one spoke, however, but all eyes
turned upon the Master, Mr.. Turner.
For a moment he seemed rejecting;
then taking slip of paper from the
Secretary, he wrote.
Mrs. Turner-Do not allow Eva
to retire until / return home. 1
am going to bring strange gentle
man who wishes to see her. And
calling the Junior Deacon gave him
the note, saying in a low voice.
+" Take this to Mrs. Turner, immedi.
ately."
"Why, Bva," said Mrs. Turner,
when she had read the message, you
are to have company. A gentleman
at the lodge room wishes to see you.
WHO can it be?''
= Eva looked perplexed and thought
Ful; suddenly her cheeks flushed. her
eyes frightened, and clapping Der
little hands, she sprang to her feet
and exclaimed: "Oh. it must be pa.
pa Emo one else would wish to see
me; mo one in the world and be-
fore Mrs. Turner comprehehded the
child's Interpretation, she had passed
the threshold was fitting through
the moonlight toward the lodge ROOM.
The Tiler looked amazed when Eva
burst into the ante room, her cheeks
burning, her eyes flashing, with JOY
and excitement. do not stop me
l am going in" she exclaimed. Bit
the inner door was fastened, and the
impatient Eva cried with vexatioE.
"Wa1 moment said the Tiler,
who Ii Ii, ,fFiirg heard nothing of-whet
had transpired within, was at loss
to account for the strange conduct Of
the child "wait moment and will
send your request to Mr.. Turner" I"
shall not wait; | do not wan
to see Mr.. Turier; want to see m,
papa"
dent" said the perpexed Tiler
himself; but calling out the deacc
he babe him say that Eva was thel
and determined to get into the lodge-
room.
The deacon went to the East, ar
delivered his message in low tor
and momentafterward moved F" tn
the craft be called from labor to le-
lreshment.
Now" said Mr.. Turner, "tell the
Tiler to let her cone in"
And Eva did come in, or rather
bounded into the hall, more beautiful
in her excitement than ever before.
She advanced to the centre of the
room and stood beside the altar; half
poised upon one tiny foot shcscanned
rapidly the faces of all. Her eager
eyes soon detected the strangers, who
were seated beside each other, and
for a moment she seemed irresolute,
then darting forward with glad cry.
she threw her arms about the neck OF
Mr.. Durant, crying, Oh, papa my
dear papa you have come home at
last You were not burned in the
ship?"
We will not attempt to paint the
scene further, but will leave our
readers to imagine the joy OF the
fond father, and also leave them to
decide whether the tears that wet The
cheeks of the Brethen of Hiram
Lodge were caused by sympathy with
tile happiness of their little charge,
or grief that they should lose one
whom they all loved.