The Van Buren press., 1872-04-16

"a and Niagara. then to New fsss
whore, leaving the ladies, Mr.. Wood
worth aud Mr. Durant wandered IRON
town to town along the ceast, enjoying
the beauty Of scenery and the quiet hos
pitality that greeted them more than me
Gro wded hotels and the fashionable style
Of the popular watering places.
Fancy, and the kind hand Of Provi
dence, at length led them 10 the little
town Of b.. aud the second evening
after their arrival they visited the Ma
sonic Lodge. s .
A warm welcome was ssxtended to
these brethren from such distant homes,
and both we're invited to address the
Lodge. Mr.. Durant said: 8ai
-. Brethren, / have travelled much and
long. have found Masonic sympathy
in every part OF the globe, and every
where ia Masonry substantially the same.
~ can hardly tell where reside. The
world seems to be my home, as lrenaip
but short time in any town or country ;
but my name is recorded. in An English
Lodge. ea
III love my English brethren, for they
first brought me from darkness to light,
and love English soil. for with It sleeps
the wife Of my youth. But love Amer
lean soil also, tor here have ] found the
warmest Of welcomes, the ,kindest OF
brethren; and, here too, my own child
sleeping in American waters--even be
meath the very waves that wash the
shores OF your beautiful village.
"Six years have passed since this dear
friend and brother robbed himself Of his
lifo preserver, that my little Eva might
perhaps escape, and We hoped the ele-
ments might be kind. and that heaven
would send her relief, bnt she never WAS
herd of more" glla
The voice of Mr.. Durant was quiver-
ing with motion, and unable 10 speak
further, he seated himself and covered
his face with his hands. 3'E ~
Chances Of surprise and pleasure were
cnst from one to another among the
brethren Of Hiram Lodge. No one
spoke. however, but oil eyes turned on
the Master, Mr.. Turner. pg IS.
For moment he seemed rsfecting;
then taking slip ofpapsr from the sec.
retary, he wrote
"MRs. TURNER DO not allow Eva
to retire until ! return home; tell her ]
am going to bring a strange gentleman
who wishes to see her. "
And calling the Junior Deacon. Mr.
Turner gave him the note, saying In =
low voice: ft6
"Taks this note to Mrs Tnrner IN
mediately." 3.a@ g49ih 20
"Why, Eva" said Mrs Turner, when
she hod read the message, "you are go.
ing to have company. A strange gen
tlcman is at the lodge who wishes to see
you"
~Who can it be ?" aieisr 4
Eva looked perplcxed and thoughtful.
Suddenly her cheeks flushed, her eyes
lighted. and clapping her little banda,
she sprang to her feet and exclaimed
"Oh, II must be papa! no enc else
would wish to see me p ~.
And before Mrs Turner comprehend
ed the childs interpretation, she had
passed the threshold and was fitting
through the moonlight toward the lodge
room. al
The Tyler looked amazed when Eva
burst into the antc-room. her cheeks
burning, her eyes flashing with Joy and
excitement. f...s So
Don't stop me; I am going n" she
exclaimed.
But the inner door was fastened, and
the impatient Eva nearly cried with yex-
alton.
swat moment. said the Tyler,
who having heard nothing Of what had
transpired within, was at . loss to ac-
count for the strange conduct OF the
child. aA
"Wait a moment and will send your
request to Mr.. Turner. He will come
out and see you, Il
~ shall not wait do not want to
see MIR. Turner; want to see my papa"
1.-THE child is crazy, that 10 evident, "
said the perplexed Tyler to himself; but
calling out the deacon, he babe him say
that Eva was there and had determined
to get into the lodge room.
The deacon went to the East, and dc
livered his message in low tone, and a
m momcnt aftcrward moved 'that the
craft be called from labor to refresh
msnt. saan s
"Now," said Mr.. Turner, "Tell the
Tyler to let her come in. "
And Eva did como, or rather bounded
into the hail, more beautiful In her ex
citement than ever before. H
She advanced TO the centre OF the room
and stood beside the altar; half poised
upon the tiny foot she scanned rapidly
the faces OF all. e
Her eager eyes soon detected the stran.
gers who we're seated behind each other,
and for moment she seemed irrssolute,
then darting forward with glad cry, she
threw her arms about the neck OF Mr.,
Durant, crying .alls .ae'
"Oh, papa. my dear papa! you have
come home at last. You were not burn
cd in the ship"
Z We will not attempt to paint the scene
further, but will leave our readers to inn
agino the Joy Of the fond father. and also
leave them to decide whether the tears
that wet the cheeks Of the brethren OF
Hiram Lodge we're caused by sympathy
with the happines, Of the little charge, or
grief that they should lose one that they
all loved t....
E1r Mr.. II. W. Conway, superintsn'
dent Of education Of Louisiana, who is
IA