Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

Where no howling tempests gather?
Am I, too, forgot by thee?

"Ay! the pauper's grave is yawning 'Tis a chill and peaceful home; Ere the morning light is dawning,

I will curse the world and come!
If, upon this cold stone lying,

With my snow-shroud curling o'er me,
Dives should see me calmly dying,
He would pray to go before me!

[ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

The storm-king above her laid lightly his pall,

And her dirge from the wind-harp ascended:
But the curses she called in full vengeance were hurled
On the miser who slumbered near

Ghost-haunted and thief-like he stole through the world,
And his death was a picture of fear.

NEW YORK, June, 1846.

ODD-FELLOWSHIP.

BY PETER SQUIRES, P. G.

WHAT is Odd-Fellowship? It is, in part,

[ocr errors]

To feel for others' woes, and share them too: 'Tis that which warms and elevates the heart: 'Tis FRIENDSHIP pure, unshaken, tried, and true.

What is Odd-Fellowship? — 'Tis that which clings
More closely as the tempest frowns above;
It is the impulse which eternal springs

In God's own heart-disinterested Love.

What is Odd-Fellowship? - 'Tis that which lives
For ever in the fadeless bloom of youth;

Which time new beauty and fresh vigor gives:
'Tis virtue's brightest garb—'t is spotless TRuth.

What is Odd-Fellowship ?— 'Tis to fulfil

[ocr errors]

Man's highest duty here: it is to be
What God designed us- brethren of one will:

'Tis FRIENDSHIP, LOVE, and TRUTH, in unity.

NEW YORK, May, 1846.

THE LAST VISIT:

OR,

THE CHAMBER OF DEATH.

W. H. H. PRALL, P. G.

"WILLIAM, you have long possessed my heart, but ere I give my hand, which you just now so ardently desired, I too have a boon to ask, and a solemn determination, that I have resolved upon.

[ocr errors]

And

"What is it, dearest Anna, you ask?-but mention your desires, and it will be, as it always has been, a proud moment of my existence to obey your commands. a despairing lover never confines his scope of possibilities short of the width and breadth of the universe.".

"After marriage, dear William, their limits of space are very often materially contracted, while the numberless promises turn out but few realities. But, seriously, before you lead me to the altar as your happy bride, I now issue my last behest. William, as you love me, before our hearts are blended inseparably together, do as I desire

you! Become an Odd-Fellow. Join that Order for which every sympathy of my heart is enlisted. I could tell you why I ask it; and, if you knew all, you would not let a week escape before you united yourself with that respected brotherhood. Now say 'Yes'—come, do!" and a kiss was imprinted upon the cheek of him to whom she had plighted her troth.

"Beloved Anna," answered William, "since you introduce such pleasing arguments, I really can do naught else than promise you. So I do say 'Yes!' I have always thought well enough of Odd-Fellowship in the abstract, and been frequently solicited by my friends to join the Order, but have kept delaying the matter to them, I, however, frankly confess to you that I have had some slight reluctance in being initiated (I believe that is the term designated) into the supposed mysteries of an alleged secret society. And if they practise what they profess in the matters of benevolence and charity, why confine their dissemination among themselves? Why not enact the example of the good Samaritan, and alleviate the sufferings of those in the world upon whom the cold hand of misfortune has been heavily laid? Although I have given you my word, suppose they deem your very humble servant unworthy of membership, and express their views by black-balling him? Don't you think that he would then feel mightily chagrined? I assure you there is no doubt of it."

"If they were to adopt your creed," replied Anna,

[graphic][subsumed]
« AnteriorContinuar »