The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1872-08-29
A Masonic Incident.

The incident which we are about to relate
occurred in New Haven, Connecticut, and o.
which we were witness, before we were admit
ted to enjoy the great gifts of Masonry:
During the fall of the second year of the late
civil war, we were passing down one of oul
principal thoroughfares, when we stepped into
a store on business with the proprietor.
While conversing with the owner, woman
of thirty and girl not over six years of age
entered, and after looking wistfully about
minute or two, timidly drew near to where WE
were standing, and as she extended her open
thin, white hand, we saw four pennies therein
She said, as she did so: "Please sir, will you
give me another penny7 l want to get LOAF
of bread. have four cents, and want
penny more" While speaking she turned TO,
ward the proprietor of the store, who Looked al
her asecond, and then said in heartless man
ner: "Oh, clear outl I cant be bothered with
beggars." With tears streaming down hel
cheeks, she started to go out; the little child
by her side clinging to her dress, looked up In
only speak; Mamma, want cookie" we
had been silent spectator until now, and fol.
lowing the woman to the sidewalk, we stopped
her. and invited her to step into the bakery
adjoining, where we purchased her a large loat
of bread. With the usual distrust that per.
vades the human heart, we broke the LOAF
across our knee for fear she might pawn it fol
something to drink. We handed the woman
the broken loaf and as she grasped it sank upon
her knees, and if there ever was prayer and
thanksgiving that went up to the throne above,
it was the earnest words of this starving woman
In the bakery there were several gentlemen,
whose eyes were wet with tears unbidden. The
Door woman was assisted to rise by one Of the
gentlemen, who extended his hand to help her.
As she put forth her hand, on her finger was q
gold ring, on which was engraved the letter
"G." The gentleman looked at it second or
so, and then turning to the owner of the bake
nv. asked him if he knew the woman. The
baker said all he knew was that she lived just
around the corner, and that her husband
had enlisted in one of the three years regl-
ments, and had gone to the war. The gentle
man ordered the baker to fill basket with
provisions and take them to the home Of the
woman. The woman was too much overcome
to express her gratitude, while the little child
looked on with apparent astonishment. After
finishing his orders to the baker, the gentleman
took the little child by the hand, led her to a
shoe store close by, and purchased pair OF
shoes for the little feet, which were purple with
cold. He then bade the woman good bye,
promising to come and see her that night and
turning to US asked us to accompany him. We
consented and went. In single room, with
out carpet, we found the mother and two
children-the little girl whom we saw In the
afternoon, and little boy, now over four years
old, asleep close beside wood fire.
We were all welcomed witw tears falling
down the cheeks of the lady as she bade us en-
ter and take seas. After thanking US and
making excuses for her appearance, she told us
her story. Her husband an English bricklayer,
came to this country early in the spring but on
arriving in this city he did not readily hnd
work, and while out looking, for something TO
do became disheartened, and enlisted for three
years. Heleft the city in week after enlistment
leaving his family nothing with which to pur-
chase The necessaries of life. The few spare
articles of furniture which the little broken
hearted family possessed, and could do with
out she had pawned, until only two broken
chairs and table, q lounge and stove, with
few dishes, formed the entire stock of her
household furniture Her husband had prom
ised to send her some money, but she had not
heard from him since he marched down Long
Wharf off to the war. Her narrative was often
by scalding tears, but there was
such an carnestness in it, that both the visitors
felt relieved when she had finished. Our friend
then asked her where she got the ring that she
wore upon her finger. She said that as she
was leaving Liverpool, her mother and sister
came to see her off, and as she was about to
step on board the ship, her father took the ring
from his finger and put it into her hand and
told her always to wear it, and if ever in dis
tress to show it some one. She had worn it
ever since, and had forgotten her fathers ad.
vice. She slipped the ring from her finger and
showed it to us, and after viewing it a short
time. our companion inquired if her father was
n Mason. She answered that he was, and Mas
ter of one of the Lodges in Liverpool. We
were an interested spectator during the whole
scene. We looked at the letter "G," but to our
ewes it had no meaning and innocentiy enough
we inquired of our companion what 1t meant.
"What does it mean?" he repeated after US
"Why, it means that woman is my brothers
daughter, and it is my duty to help her. And
we know that he was as good as his word: The
drcary home was made happy, and the hcarts
of the lone one and her children were bound
up with the silken cords of love and charity.
Our companion interested himself in finding
out where the husband was, and it was not
MANY months before remittances came regular
ly from the patriot in the gallant army to his
family at home.
The wife sent q letter nonic W noi '"I"Si
and to-day our brother (for we have learned the
value of the letter &c" has in his possession a
token and letter Of thanks, rs rich in graft
tude as words can make it, from the brother
Mason who presdes over a Lodge of the Graft
in Liverpool. The husband served his time
amid the cane brakes of Louisiana, and re-
turned to his home to give thanks IN person to
him who cared for his wife and little ones in
his absence. Thus, the simple letter "G'' may
teach all a lesson, and prompt lis to works of
love and charity that make the heart glad; for
"it is more blessed to give than to recciye."-
Baltimore Gasette.
TREAT THE Cows KINpLY.-There are too
MANY who exhibit a roughness of treatment