Year: 1866

In June, 1854, steamer wended its
way up the Mississippi. Twas in the
gray and early morning, and listlessly the
curling smoke from the steam pipes Aoated
away on the still, calm air The noisy
rumble of the water wheels, plowing
through the rapid current, grated harshly
on the ear; to the sad hearts on board, for
the "dark messenger Of Death" hovered
there. The suDken eye, and followed
cheek, told but too we'll of that insidious
foe, Cholera. And the many little
mounds, scattered along the river bank
pointed to the lone graves Of the western
travellers, who sleep lar from home, vic
Tins to that fearful scourge. No loving
hand to wipe the death damps from their
brow, or bear to their loved ones the last
sad tokens Of fathers undying love.


At this early day, comparatively few
steamers piled this mighty thoroughfare,
and the pioneers of the little towns hailed
with joyful pleasure every one that neared
the landing. But CONSERVATION assumed
the place of JOY when it became known
that four of the passengers were dead,
awaiting intermert, and another dying
All were to be left on shore A litter was
hastily prepared to convey the dying man,
and carefully they removed him to the on
ly hoel the little village of Lacrosse
then boosted. lie was barely conscious,
but powerful stimulant revived him, and
| rallying his sinking faculties, he asked if
there was member of the Masonic fra
ternity present. Fortunately the two
attending gentlemen and the physician all
belonged to that order His dark eye
flashed with an intelligent and thankful
expression, he family murmured, thank
God, l shall not die alone,'' and then, in
broken accents, lie told his mournful story.
How the mania to visit the great west
had taken possession of him, and against
the fond remonstrances of his devoted
wife, he left beautiful home on the banks
OF the Hudson, and two beautiful children.
The tears ran down his wasted cheek as he
remembered how long and pleadingly she
besOught him not to leave her, telling him
she had presentiment ill would betide
him she could not be rcconciled, and
clung to his neck until the hour of his
departure, almost heartbroken. She babe
him adieu, saying, we shall necer, necer
meet again Prophetic words Dear
friends, | have ten thousand dollars in
currency on ry person. which | wish sent
to her. Oh my Brothers by the mystery
of our holy order, break the news gently
to her. Tell her ah tell her while this
poor brain clung to reason, and this fond
heart continued to beat, its parmest and
best puls0ttonS were for her The remem-
brance OF her sweet, gentle face will 60
with ne through the dark valley" and
light my way to paradise and the proud
est Legacy | can bequeath her, is the honor
of once being the rite Of RoyM Arch
Mason. 1t robs death of its bitterness to
know my brothers are with me in this dark
hour, to feel they may so with me to the
brink of the "valley," and sprinkle the
never dying "Acacia" above my sleeping
Gust"


He closed his eyes from exhaust on,
and his mind wandered. Again he stood
in his boyhood's home and received the
approving smile from his proud old father,
Once again he strolled on the beautiful
and romantic banks of the "Highlands,"
and casped the lovely form of his beauti.
ful girl wife to his proud, warm breast
breathing, in low, gentle tones, those fond
murmurings of love that foated away in
never-dying harmony. Then came from
his dying lips the beautiful words Of the
Psalmist, 81 am the resurrection and the
life, sayeth the Lord. Yea, though walk
through the valley and shadow Of death,
will fear No evil"


pauline. darling, did you put out the
gas? tits SO dark. Ny poor. dear rife,
Pautine :" and the echo of that fond name
was waited beyond the "dark river" whose
silent banks the dying man had just cross
ed. The angel of death had beckoned his
soul to that far off cline, where he may
enter the "grand LODGE" the holy of ho-
lies, and understand the impenetrable
mysteries of the great Eternal.


Rapidly The news spread of the stran
gers death, and his desire to have a
Masonic funeral, which would be the first
that had ever been celebrated in the little
hamlet. The little church was filled to
suffocation, and as the solemn procession
C1lcicu, iouCu III tuclT spOtlcSS Wulle
badges, emblematic of the pure order to
which they belonged, decorated with the
beautiful sprgs of living green, bearing the
remains Of the stranger brother, feeling
of save crept over me. After the beau>
tiful and impressive service for the burial
of the dead had been read, and brief
retrospect of the mournful occasion which
had brought them together, the coffin,
which was strewn with the early spring
flowers, was borne away to its final resting
place. There was not one dry eye in the
house. Every pulse throbbcd with grief,
for that poor bereaved wife and those
tender infants. Oh. how my heart went
out to tl.at little band for her, as with
slow, funeral tread, they bore her husband
to the tomb. The band played soft,
sweet funeral dirge and as tie notes foat>
ed away on the calm, pure air, bearing the
sad tidings, methought l could hear the
sorrowing wall of anguish from the broken
heart of that poor wife, and the cry of
agony from the lips of that loved sister.
The forest trees, in their fresh robe of
green, waved their majestic branches to
and fro, as if bowling in silent grief at the
1 "a Al