Some People We Differ With.

throw your plans . Had you felt yourself aggrieved by any word or action of his , you would have told him so , after the manner of Bro . Pepper , and there would have been an end of the matter , as regards yourself . But he has been ' all the time brooding over his wrongs , and planning schemes of ven

retaliation—assuming that you have really been guilt y of offence , and merit retribution—ho does not rest till he has done all in his power to harm you . It may be you have done him service in former times ; this , in his opinion , is a

strong reason why ho should carry his feeling of enmity towards you as far as may bo . Veiy possibly , in utter ignorance of this growing hostility , you have made some false step . It is on tho cards you have been guilty of some shortcoming of a triflins ? character . It oven becomes

patent to you that you havo thus acted , but you take no heed , you anticipate no disturbance of friendly relations , or , better still , you at onco admit the error you havo unintentionally committed . It never occurs to you , who have done him a service in former days , that he will descend to

such depths of meanness , and , when a favourable time comes , will turn and do you all the injury he can . This class of person , of which we have made Bro . Whiteblood the type , is a most objectionable one . It is most iinfortunate to be involved in any disputo with such

as ho is . Ho never rests till he has punished you out of all proportion to tho nature of the injury you may havo caused . If you meet him afterwards , he meets you with studied politeness , but , at the same timo , with studied coldness . Ho resolutely avoids all opportunities

for explanation . He is a stranger to passion in the ordinary sense , and hence we have named him Whiteblood . It is onl y the sangninous man who plays the part of Bro . Pepper . Hence , with these whiteblooded , or , as they are more commonly called , white liveved people , it is impossible to have

any feeling of sympathy whatever . Indeed , of all the people it may be our fate to differ with , wo sincerely hope to be spared any contention with these . We can stand

Cantanker , we feci pity for poor Peevish , we fight and the very next moment are friends again with Pepper , Litigant Ave hold aloof from , but Whiteblood AVC regard as essentially malicious , and cut him accordingly .

Masonic Portraits (No. 10.) The Octogenarian.

MASONIC PORTRAITS ( No . 10 . ) THE OCTOGENARIAN .

" Foil Timo , thou canst not harm this man ! Thy scythe is powerless here . " IT is not always a compliment to say of a man that he wears well . We may mean that ho manages to keep a decent exterior on vieAV , Avhich merely conceals the moral

decay Avithin . Or Ave may mean that he should havo been exposed long since , but has contrived to keep a fair name and character , in spite of his evil deeds . But in the sense in Avhich AVC use the expression in this paper , wo mean to imply a compliment , and AVC should deeply regret if the

dear old fellow who is IIOAV sitting for his portrait should take umbrage at our application of it to him . If Ave say that onr Octogenarian Mason " Avears well , " we mean it iu the sense in which wo speak of gold as wearing Avell , or any article of daily use , into which the workman has put

the best materials , and the most conscientious labour . If the reader reflect a moment , he will possibly come to the conclusion that , as a rule , only those who have lived good lives can have a chance of wearing well . The rogue , tho man of pleasure , or the mere roue , wear out the machinery of

life , and become old long before the allotted time . A hearty old age is only enjoyed by those Avho have used the Avorkl Avif-cly ; Avho have kept a clean and unspotted conscience . Our hero , Ave have said , is an Octogenarian ; but no one , who did not knoAV the fact , AVOUICI suspect it . We have

known him many years , and AVC have never noticed the least change in him . Seventeen years since , to our personal knowledge , he was the same active , cheerful , genial soul that he is at the present time . We all expect an ordinary acquaintance to shoAV the marks and scars of time , but

AVC will venture to say that his friends would be greatly astonished if our Octogenarian should ever be less young in mind , or exhibit any indication of being tired of life . His hair , indeed , has whitened a little during the past ten years , Bnfc time appears to have added no fresh Avrinkles

Masonic Portraits (No. 10.) The Octogenarian.

to his cheery face , nor deprived his frame of any of its activity . At every Quarterly Communication ho may he seen walking up Grand Lodge as firmly as the youngest member . His interest in Masonry is as keen as ever , and his unimpaired energy enables him to play his part in

sundry Lodges of Instruction with a perfection which is the envy and admiration of younger men . Look at him , ye Masons of forty , Avho complain of the growing ills of tho flesh . ' His dark face , with its garnish of grey hair , is the p icture of health and contentment . He sits , or stands ,

or Avalks , Avith the firmness and decision of an old soldier , and chats of the events of the day Avith the keen interest of a man Avhose clear intellect is still equal to all the calls that can bo made upon it . Wherever he goes he is received

Avith tokens of affection . Some of the younger members of tho Order esteem it an honour to be invited to take a p inch of snuff from the silver box , upon Avhich our Octogenarian deferentially performs a double knock , before he ventures to unveil its aromatic contents . Old Masons aro

glad to learn the lore of tho Craft from his lips , and those Avho have profited by his instructions are proud to acknowledge him as their master . In his profession , our Octogenarian is honoured by all Avho knoAv him , and he is revered by many who never saAV his face .

Young ladies who regard the ball room as the ante-chamber to Paradise look upon his namo as a synonym of bliss . Ho has discoursed most eloquent music in nearly every great mansion in the land , and the skilled minstrels Avho servo under his baton ore proud of their master . In the City he

is Avell knoAvn , and the great banquet on Lord Mayor ' s day Avouldbo wanting in interest if our Octogenarian Mason Avero not summoned to minister to the pleasures of the assembled guests . Early in October his pleasant face is to be seen somoAvhcro within the region over which Gog and Magog

preside . He has a warm shake of the hand , a pinch of the aromatic compound from tho magic box , and a kindly greeting for all Avith Avhom he is acquainted . He is accustomed to hear every one say that he is growing young , and takes the compliment as a matter of course : The Civic

officials hold him in the hig hest estimation , and Ave reall y believe that a ncAvly-flcdgcd Lord Mayor Avould as soon dispense Avith his state coach as Avith our old and veteran friend . Amongst his brethren of the baton our Octogenarian is deservedly popular . Men Avho havo led an orchestra half

their lives are proud to knoAV him , and it is really a pleasant sight to see him surrounded by his professional friends , to Avhom ho imparts agreeable gossip , or neAvs of interest , in the sententious manner Avhich is one of his characteristics . Our Octogenarian is usually a man of foAV Avords . He knoAvs

possibly that a misplaced remark jars on tho ear like a false note in a song , and he rarely speaks without Aveighing Avhat he says . He has the Avisdom to be genial Avithout

superfluity of talk , and can convey more kindly good -will in a shake of his disengaged fingers , whilst holding a precious pinch with the others , than half tho Avorld can manage to exhibit in volumes of mere words .

The secret , indeed , of his charm of manner lies in his sincerity and singleness of heart . You feel that yon are in the society of an honest man , Avho means Avhat he says . His few words quickly reach the core of the dullest , and for our part , wo would rather have a " God bless you "

from our Octogenarian than from the lips of a mitred bishop . In his Masonic character , he throAvs off much of his reserve . In the Lodges of Instruction , in Avhich he officiates with so much ability , his cheery voice , calling his " pippins" from the four cardinal points

to Avell merited refreshment , is often heard . Men sit at his feet awaiting instruction , assured that he is a Gamaliel of the Order . His knowledge is , indeed , equal to his Masonic reputation , and that reputation is of no merel y local renOAvn . In Grand Lodge he holds high rank , and is

greatly esteemed by the leading lights of the Masonic world . PCAV men are entitled to Avear the brilliant array of decorations Avhich have glittered on his breast . Power still have been the honoured recipients of so many presentation jeAvels , and still feAvcr , AVC apprehend , have been as

unfortunate as our Octogenarian , Avho , on an eA il day , after somo grand event , Avas fated to lose all these glittering symbols . In a moment of forgetfuhiess he , unhappily , left them in a cab , and has regretted his misfortune from that day to

this . But it is not m the power ot fate to deprive our hero of that Avhich is more tangible than the gems of office —the respect of his brethren . He is revered throughout the Order , as a good Mason ; and in the wider circle of the Avorld , ho is honoured and loved as an upright man .