The Van Buren press., 1878-06-25


tleman about setting out with his family
on a journey to The Atlantic coast, Mr.
Durant accepted the invitation to accom-.
pany, them to Saratoga and to Niagara.
then to New York, where leaving the la
dies, Mr.. Wadcsworth and Mr.. Durant
wandered from town to town along the
coast, enjoying the beauty of the scenery
and the quiet hospitality that greeted
them more than the crowded hotels and
fashionable style of the popular water
ing places Fancy, and the kind hand
of Providence, at length led them to the
little town OF B., and the second
evening after their arrival they visited
the Masonic lodge. A warm welcome
was extended to these brethren from
ted to address the Lodge. Mr.. Durant
said:
Brethren ! have Travelled much and
long. have found Masonic sympathy
in every part of the globe, and every
where is masonry substantially the same.
can hardly tell where reside. The
world seems to be my home, as remain
WV u oHoit ttibC III boNH VI Spuhi'Nt
but my name is recorded in an English
Lodge. love my English brethren, for
they first brought me from darkness to
light, and love English soil, for with it
sleeps the wife of Myyouth. But love
American soil also, for here have found
the warmest of welcomes, the kindest Of
brethren. And, too, my only child is
sleeping in American waters, even be-
meath the waves that wash the shores OF
your beautiful village.
Six years have passed since this friend
and brother robbed himself of his life
preserver, that my little Eva might per-
haps escape, and we hoped the elements
would be kind, and that heaven would
send her relief, but she was never heard
of any more
The voice of Mr. Durant was culver
ing with emotion. and unable to speak
further, he seated himself and covered
his face with his hands.
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 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; tell her am
going to bring u strange gentleman to see
her.
And calling the Junior Deacon Mr..
Turner gave him the note, TO Mis-. Tur-
ner, Immediately.
why, Eva,' said Mrs. Turner when
she had read the message, you are go.
ing to have company. A strange gen.
tlenan is at the Lodge-room who wishes
to see you.
AMya AiMsf fRoSked eaka 7 Be hPseffp1cxed ana tnougnr.
full Her CHEEKS flushed, her eyes light
ed, and clapping her little hands. she
sprang to her feet and exclaimed, 'Oh, it
must be papa! No one else could wish to
see me no one in the world; aud before
Mrs. Turner comprehchdcd the child's
Interpretation, she had passed the TIRES
hold and was fitting through the moon
light toward the lodge room. The Ty-
Ter looked amazed when when Eva burst
into the ante room, her checks burning,
her eyes flashing with joy and excite
mcnt.
DO not stop me: am going int she
exclaimed. But the inner door was fus-
tened, and the impatient Eva nearly cried
with vexation.
Wait moment said the Tyler, who
having heard nothing of what had trans
pir,d was at loss to account for the
strange conduct of the child. Wait Il
moment, and 1 will send your request to
Mr. Turner. He will come out and sec
you
Il shall not wait. do not want to
see Mr.. Turner. l want to see my
papa
'The child is crazy, that is evident,
said the perplcxcd Tyler to himself; but
calling out the deacon, nc bade him say
that Eva was there and had determined to
get in to the lodgeroom.
The deacon went to the East and de
livered his message in low tone, and {
moment afterward the craft was called
from labor to refreshment.'
Now said MIR. Turner, tell the Tylcl
to let her come in
And Eva did come, or rather bounded
into the hall, more beautiful in her ex
citement that ever before. She had ad
vanced to the center of the room ant
stood beside the alter; half poised upor
the tiny foot, she scanned rapidly th'
faces of all Her eager eyes soon detec
ted the strangers, who were seated be
hind each other. and for moment, sh.
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 it
the shipn
We will not attempt to paint the scene
further, but will leave our readers to i'm
agine the Joy of the fond father, and al
so leave them to decide whether the tear.
that wet the cheeks of the brethren o
Hiram Lodge were caused by sympathy
with the happiness of their little charge
or grief that they should lose one whom
they all loved.
A muddy stream, flowing into on'
clear and sparkling, for time runs
along by itself A Little further dowr
they unite and the whole is impure. 81
youth, untouched by sin, may for tim'
keep its purity in foul company, but the,