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Article ALICE, OR THE FREEMASON'S CHILD. ← Page 2 of 2
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Alice, Or The Freemason's Child.
ments had stood the test of centuries ; there was scarcely a stone upon that old domain that ivas not rich in some memento of the past . Modern taste , too , was not wanting to afford an interesting contrast to bye-gone recollections , and historic glories recurred , at every step , to minds full of thought , of interest , and imaginative skill . It was the spot—the season- —the girl—when love forced itself , with irresistible power , upon the sensibilities of one , to whom " station " had denied everything but the will to love ! Our hero met the guileless daughter of patrician birth—they spoke , and loved . '
A few short years have passed away , and the " mansion" is forsaken for the " cottage . " He , who once was lorcl of many broad acres , is but an humble pensioner upon another ' s bounty . Yet still his child—the nursling of his heart ' s best affections—the motherless offspring of a proud ancl haughty alliance—tends the author of her being with the clevotedness of a daughter ' s love ! What matters it to her , that her father ' s too sanguine hopes have wrecked on the ocean of commercial enterprisethe wealth that might have purchased for them both the homage
, of a multitude ? Money ! thou art the curse of thousands ! Money ! thou art still the treasure which millions covet . The poor man still was proud . He , who once had his gaudy equipages ancl liveried lackies , bore , in the decline of his fortunes , the front of " heralded" honour ; ancl he knew it .
Another pause , and the cottage in the country was succeeded by the " garret" of the Metropolis . 'Twas a fearful change to one so proudto another , lovely beyond compeer , even in her solitude ancl poverty . There was now no " ' tiring maid , " the humblest garment , self-made , self-adjusted , spoke of sad reverses—of the blank of misery . At last , the proud poor man became afflicted with sickness . His last guinea was in his purse . To die was nothing , were he alone—the parish might
ungraciously consign him to the pauper ' s sepulchre , and he grieve not , when the " cold corpse" was far beyond the reach of mortal contumel y ancl disregard . But for his daughter ! Let no pen attempt to trace the anguish of that thought at such a moment .
" Oh ! Alice , water , or J die ! " The female hand that had waved its magic influence in gilded saloons , now administered to the parched lips of a dying Christian the broken pitcher . This was the daughter of the self-same man , who , years ago , had forbidden the love of a " plebian " medical practitioner , the one who is the hero of our page . Fever raged high within the apartment of that sinking soul . To purchase aid , no human means were now available ; and then , to sue for charity ,
were to combat with a thousand denials , to ivhich former " arrogance " presented difficulties that brought rejection in their train . Full of agony , a desperate step was taken . A nei ghbouring surgery was sought ancl found . She , who was previously the heiress of the mansion , met the rejected one—help ivas afforded—sickness was relieved—health was restored—the progress of time developed such signs ancl symbols , that a " Mason ' s bairn " found beneath the portals of a rich and valued practitioner of the " healing art , " the shelter of a " Mason ' s wife . " J . S . Lodge of Rectitude , Ruqbii .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Alice, Or The Freemason's Child.
ments had stood the test of centuries ; there was scarcely a stone upon that old domain that ivas not rich in some memento of the past . Modern taste , too , was not wanting to afford an interesting contrast to bye-gone recollections , and historic glories recurred , at every step , to minds full of thought , of interest , and imaginative skill . It was the spot—the season- —the girl—when love forced itself , with irresistible power , upon the sensibilities of one , to whom " station " had denied everything but the will to love ! Our hero met the guileless daughter of patrician birth—they spoke , and loved . '
A few short years have passed away , and the " mansion" is forsaken for the " cottage . " He , who once was lorcl of many broad acres , is but an humble pensioner upon another ' s bounty . Yet still his child—the nursling of his heart ' s best affections—the motherless offspring of a proud ancl haughty alliance—tends the author of her being with the clevotedness of a daughter ' s love ! What matters it to her , that her father ' s too sanguine hopes have wrecked on the ocean of commercial enterprisethe wealth that might have purchased for them both the homage
, of a multitude ? Money ! thou art the curse of thousands ! Money ! thou art still the treasure which millions covet . The poor man still was proud . He , who once had his gaudy equipages ancl liveried lackies , bore , in the decline of his fortunes , the front of " heralded" honour ; ancl he knew it .
Another pause , and the cottage in the country was succeeded by the " garret" of the Metropolis . 'Twas a fearful change to one so proudto another , lovely beyond compeer , even in her solitude ancl poverty . There was now no " ' tiring maid , " the humblest garment , self-made , self-adjusted , spoke of sad reverses—of the blank of misery . At last , the proud poor man became afflicted with sickness . His last guinea was in his purse . To die was nothing , were he alone—the parish might
ungraciously consign him to the pauper ' s sepulchre , and he grieve not , when the " cold corpse" was far beyond the reach of mortal contumel y ancl disregard . But for his daughter ! Let no pen attempt to trace the anguish of that thought at such a moment .
" Oh ! Alice , water , or J die ! " The female hand that had waved its magic influence in gilded saloons , now administered to the parched lips of a dying Christian the broken pitcher . This was the daughter of the self-same man , who , years ago , had forbidden the love of a " plebian " medical practitioner , the one who is the hero of our page . Fever raged high within the apartment of that sinking soul . To purchase aid , no human means were now available ; and then , to sue for charity ,
were to combat with a thousand denials , to ivhich former " arrogance " presented difficulties that brought rejection in their train . Full of agony , a desperate step was taken . A nei ghbouring surgery was sought ancl found . She , who was previously the heiress of the mansion , met the rejected one—help ivas afforded—sickness was relieved—health was restored—the progress of time developed such signs ancl symbols , that a " Mason ' s bairn " found beneath the portals of a rich and valued practitioner of the " healing art , " the shelter of a " Mason ' s wife . " J . S . Lodge of Rectitude , Ruqbii .