Saund By A Sign;

dcavouveil to soothe her . But Grace told her that sho was perfectly happy , that they all would soon seo Harry , as he had promised to cliue with them on Christmas Day . "My child , my child ! calm yourself ; I know poor Harry was to dine with us on Christmas Day , as he purposed , but God has ordered otherwise ; wc shall never sec bim more . "

" Yes , indeed , wc will aunty , I know wo will sec him , nnd he icill dine with us to-morrow ; ho is uot dead , I know he is not . " "My poor child , has thc shock been too great for you anel unhinged your reason ?" "No , dear aunt , my reason , if affected , is not b * . grief , but by joy . "

"Oh , poor , poor girl ! "saitl the aunt , stroking thc young lady's hair iu evident sympathy at hor mental aberration . "But , aunty dear , I tell you I 7-note he is safe ; I know he has arrived in England and thafc he will dine with us to-morrow—see ! here is a telegram from him . " The mother suatehed at the document , as a drowning

person is said to snatch at a straw , nnd almost devoured it with her eyes . Eagerly she read tho few words that wore written there , and over anil over again she read thorn until nt last sho comprehended their import , then , clasping her hands together , she exclaimed with intense fervour , ¦ ' My God , I thank Thoo ! " and buried her face in tho pillow . Grace then quietly left the room , aud

allowing a short interval to elapse , returned with Harry . Knocking gently nt the door , they wore bade " Come in , " but Grace remained outside while Harry entered alone . As she retired she heard a cry of "Mother ! " and a gladsome exclamation of " My child ! " But , as sho wisely considered tho meeting too sacred even for her presence , wc will follow her

example aud not disturb its sanctity . Christinas morningdavvned bright and frosty . Through the night there had been tho smallest possible fall of snow , just sullicient to freshen up tho face of nature aud mako it look Christmas-like . Grace , looking as bright and us happy as tho morning , was down earl } -, and declared her intention of going to church , to which

the doctor did not object us ho fount ! her , when ho called that morning , as well as sho hatl ever been in her life . He had been apprised by the Rector of tho sudden turning up of Harry tho evening before , for tho worthy clergyman could not keep tho joyful nows to himself , but called upon his friend and physician with tho good news when ho went to tho choir practice .

The doctor , in his gladness , could not keep it to himself either , bnt went to tho sexton , and giving him a sum of money toltl him to pay tho bell ringers for an extra halfhour ' s pealing after they had rung in Christmas ; he also sent his servant with an abundance of refreshments for tho men from his own collar , sothat they might not lack thc means of making merry on the occasion .

Grace and Harry walked down to tho church alone that morning— to tho end of thoir lives they will never forgot that , walk—tho hedge-rows were sparkling with rime and tho tiny crystals of frozen snow were sparkling and scintillating in every direction , making the earth benul if ul with iheir brilliancy ; but whether it vvas tho glittering of the frosty gems , tho exhilarating effect

of the air , their own supremo happiness , the happy holy feeling Christmas morning always brings to rightly constituted minds , or a cemihinat ion of all these , it is not for ns to say , but that Christmas morning ' s walk to church was indelibly impressed upon their minds , and come summer err winter , heat or cold , fair weather or foul , it will never be effaced .

The service vvas , of course , admirably suited to tho frame of mind of our friends , and in his sermon tho Rector , who w : i « unusually eloquent that day , omitted not to enjoin upon tbem tho practice of that heavenly virtue charity , with which they were to temper their reasonable thankfulness and mirth . When Harry and Grace left tho church thev found

most of the congregation waiting to say a Word of greeting anil congratulation , anel not the Ieasl sincere in their welcome and good wishes were a number of the poorer parishioners , amongst whom Grace had been \ yonl lo minister , who pressed forward to shake hands with the cousins , wish them a merry Christmas and " God bless ' em . " A kind word of recognition or

enquiry as io the stale of their bodily health , wilh a shake of the hand , sent many a poor olel soul home brimful of happiness . The dinner at tho Rectory was quite a family affair ; the only exception being Dr . Goodman , who , being a bachelor and a veiy old friend , was invited as he hud been for many years to partake of their Christmas fare .

' Irs . Warburton , although unable to go to church , was sufficiently recovered to come down to dinner , and the Doctor expressed his opinion that now she would get stronger every day and would require no more of his services . Dinner over , the conversation which had been fitful anil desultory , naturally turned upon thc great event of Hari'v ' s return .

" You have never yet clearly explained to mo hon- it happened that you did not sail in thc Cumberland after you had taken your passage in it , " said the Doctor , addressing the lion of the clay . "Oh . it was simply this way . I happened to he taking an c-venini' walk along the quayside thinking that on I he : morrow cvciiinir I woultl be far out to sea .

when suddenly I heard a scream and a . splash us if someone had fallen into the water . Slipping oil' my coal fend boots I jumped in as near as I could to the . spot I ho sounds .-oeiiiod io come ( nun , and perceiving someone struggling in the water I swam to the place and got hold of a child who had itcciileiually fallen oil ( he quay ancl was being carried out hy ( he current , ( Several boats put oil' to our assistance ; the child was

Saund By A Sign;

placed in one iu which were its frantic friends , and I was hauled into another and soon got pretty stiff with the frost . There was a considerable crowd gathered hy the timo we landed , and I had scarcely got on shore than I was claimed by ono individual whom I had never seen before . ' It ' s all-right , lads , ' he said , ' tho stranger ' s a friend of mine , and I guess you ' tl better

leave me to take caro of him . Here s your coat , brother , slip into it ; I'll carry your boots ; uow sharp ' s the word , ' saying which he took my arm and ran me as fast as possible to a houso at no great distance off , opened the door witb a latch key , hurried me up to a bedroom , anil withont giving mc time to speak or protest , stripped mc aud dexterously rtibbeel mc all over with coai-so

towels until from feeling half frozen I gloweel with pleasant warmth . ' Now then , ' said ho , stripping the heel with the greatest celerity , 'jump in between the blankets and I'll fix you allright in a minute . ' After covcring mc up he left the room , anel iu a few minutes returned with a huge goblet containing what he called ' a slap-up cocktail aud no mistake , ' which ho insisted

on my drinking . 1 was like a child in his hands and felt I must obey him in everything , so I swallowed tho draught and remember nothing more till I awoke . It was sometime before I could recall my scattered ideas , hut about the first thing I recollected was that I was to have sailed that day iu tho Cumberland . Jumping out of bed I seized my watch , which was lying on the

dressing table , looked at it , hut it was either run down or stopped by tho water ; my clothes I found nicely dried and folded , so performing a hasty toilette I rang the bell and asked what time ifc was of tho attendant . 'It is past three o ' clock sir , but I will get yon a cnp of coffee or anything else you woultl liko sir ; thc doctor is out just now , sir , hut will he home to cliue afc six . ' " ' But I can ' t wait for the doctor or am-one else . I

must " ' All-right sir , I know sir , must bo hungry . I'll fix you up a chop in no time , sir . ' "' lt is uot my eating I am telling of , but I must catch thc steamer for Kngland ; sho wns to sail at noon , anel I have already taken my passage in her . ' "' Then I guess you'll not sail in her , as she would

slip when the tide served . " This was what I feared ; however , there might bo a chance of her being detained an hour or two , and taking rather an unceremonious leave , I told the attendant I woultl write to tbe Doctor and thank him . In my hurry it did not occur to mo that I did not evon know the Doctor ' s name , and slipping a sovereign into tho

attendant ' s hand , I rushed down to the tlocks only to find the vessel gone some two hours before . Feeling considerable annoyance and chagrin I weutied my way hack to tho house , which was not difficult to find , anil noticed the name upon the door-plate , Dr . Washington J . Brown . The servant , upon my ringing the boll , saluted mo with ' Ah ! I guessed you'd he too late , them liners aro pooty

punctual ; but there s no time lost sir , I ' ve got yer lunch or yer breakfast ready to bring up ; I got it ready so ns not to keep you wailin ' . Step into tho dining-room and I'll have it up in no time . ' I nectl scarcely tell you that I dill ample justice to tho meal , which 1 had scarcely finished when the Doctor returned . ' Well , how arc we do to-day ? nono the worse of our bath I

reckon , ' saitl he , giving mc a peculiar grasp of tho hand , and then added in an undertone , as if to himself , 'Ah ! not as I thought ; ' then ho saitl aloud , ' wellyes—pulse good . ' 1 of courso thanked him heartily for his kiuehicss , and explained who I was and my situation . His comment , as he helped himself to an enormous cheroot and pushed the box across to mc ,

was this— ' Sorry you missed tho boat , but guess you'll get another to tako you homo before Christmas . ' Then as he passed a light he looked askance at me , and at last gave vent to tho following extraordinary remark , after emitting a double column of smoke from his nostrils , ' I guess stranger you ' ve look mo in consid'able ; you ' re not what 1 took you for . However did you come

to do it , and so natural too ?' " ' 1 really do not understand you , ' I said ; ' I really don't know who or what you took mo for , you gave mc no time lo explain ' " ' That ' s allright as far as that goes ; I ' m glad I was ablo lo do you a good turn , although it ain ' t much , only vou might ha ' got friz if 1 hadn't a run off with yer ;

but what puzzles me is how you camo to give tho sign of distress us neatly us if gnu were in a lodge , and you no Must . n !' " ' Sign of distress ! I gave no sign of distress that I know of . ' " ' Oh , but you did , and that brought mc to your sitlc quicker ' n anything . You weren ' t in a fit state to

examine last night , but I duel out now you ' re not a In-other . I guess I'm sold . ' " ' 1 really am veiy sorry , ' I said . " ' Well , if you sire , say no more about it ; but take ihe / ir .-er opportunity of putting things right by becoming a Freemason , and when you got far enough advanced to know the sicn of distress vou'll know how 1 made

lho uiistako Inst nighi . ' 1 promised to think over it and to write lo him should 1 ever become a Mason . 1 spent a day or two very pleasantly with my new friend , mid alio ! her vessel sailing that same week , I look passago in her . The Doctor saw me oil ' , and his last words were , ' Don't write till you sign yourself , Yours frntiTjiallv . ' "

" My advice too , said Dr . Goodman , when Harry had concluded , " I'm an old i' . M ., anil as I can vouch for you , I'll get you duly proposed whenever you mako np yean- mind . " It is almost needless in add that Harry anel the American doctor regularly correspond , anil that Ham- distinctly remembers how he gave tho sign if e'iWi-eW .

Saund By A Sign;

Harry s narrative was given with a quiet modesty that greatly charmed his hearers . Ho mado the incident of saving the lifo of tho child a subordinate feature , dwelling principally upon the peculiarities of the American doctor and his faithful servant ; but had it not been for his gallantry ancl courage iu saving tho life of a follow-crcaturo , ho himself would have perished

in tho luckless vessel in which ho had arranged to sail . Before concluding this littlo narrative , there is ono circumstance wo must mention . It is not the marriage of our friends , Grace and Harry , dear lady readers , that of courso , took place in duo timo amidst great rejoicing , but wo think our story would be incomplete if wo

omitted to narrate that Harry , m his happiness , did not forgot those who wero less happy , and , in thankfulness for his very providential escape , sought out and privately succoured , before he had been many weeks in England , some of tho most destitute families whose only support and stay had perished in " Tho Wreck of the Cumberland . "

Hannah.

Hannah .

IjjFl jJKlIE Hannah of many long , long years ago comes tfJAJm before me as I write out this story to-day for *' PZi" " " . " * good friend George Kenning ami thc y , V Christmas I- ' reoiiHrsmi . Her portrait nt sixteen is *} £ ? most charming to contemplate , and that striking * face , with its inexpressible and nuextiiiguishablo grace , is almost speaking in the reality and power of its vivid contour . 1 think I see her even now ; I fancy

thafc I cau hear her speak in her melodious voice of old , and the ancient witchery supervenes , and I feel as I once felt , and as many others like myself felt , humble cap . rives in her golden chains . Look on thafc j'icttire with me for a moment ; you soe at onco what character thero is in that vision of grace aud youth aud freshness , iu that vorr " Benufe' dn Diablo , " ol which lions , le Baron

likes to talk . And as thoro is a littlo history attached to that pleasant portrait , which appears to lighten up tho dim and dusty surroundings of an olel bachelor ' s don , I will try and tell it to you , kind readers , now , as it is both a suitable anel seasonable talo for tho Christinas number of tho Freemason , to which I wish nil prosperity , as a dignified and genial representative of true Freemasonry , both in its national aud cosmopolitan

character . Will it supriso you to hoar that Hannah was nevor married ? Why not ? you will ask . Pray listen ; rather kind patrons read on ; if you are sentimental , get your pocket-hnnelkevchiefs ready ; if yon aro not , woll , then never mind ; don ' t tlo anything of tho kind , that is all !

Uauuah Moro was the only daughter of a very worthy squire , Thomas More , and his gootl wife Mary More , horn at Harden , who lived in an old house called Shenloy Grange , in a cortaiu good county nameless for the uonce . It was a curious old-fashioned Manor House , with its moat and its clipfc hedges , and its peacocks and its peahens , and its black oak and its

tapestry , and its old hall and its broad staircase . Ifc was a pleasant place of old , for relatives and friends and visitors , and its stately rafters havo often echoetl back tho words of gaiety and tho tones of lovo , and all thoso many-voiced utterances of joy anel sorrow , grief and glee , love and hate , which mako up tho common tcnour of our earthly anil domestic life .

Shenloy Grunge was , indeed , to many a sojourner liko myself , a harbour of rofugo and a very pleasant loitering place ; for , in addition to the warm welcome always of tho kindly del folk , Hannah was a special attraction to many , and I ' m not wrong in adding tho most genuine friend to all . She herself was an heiress in a double capacity , in that she had iuheriled a

considerable amount of both landed ami personal estate from her old aunt and godmother , Miss Hannah Harden , whose homely name she bore ; and then she was the Squire ' s only daughter , and would take , as the lawyers say , as the " next tenant in tail , " the whole of her gootl father ' s broad acres . Failing her , however , the estate descended to the heir male of her father , tho son of her

first cousin , lor her uncle , Jasper More , had prodeceased her father , and his only son had also passed away , leaving a little boy anel a widow to lament his early loss . But in thoso days we littlo thought of such things . Hannah was with us , Hannah was amongst ns , Hannah was active , blooming , graceful , trusting , tender ; and

the only question that interested us then was who should win tho warm heart nnd claim that " fascinating party" ( as our young men say ) , as his own , and only as his own . Ah ! vain often are the hopes of youth , idle its painted " chateaux en Espagne , " its happy bubbles , and its golden dreams . We seek , but wc find not ; we ask , bnt wc havo not ; anticipations are

seldom realised , and even fruition , when it does come , if ever it does come , hardly ever rewards the longings and the fears , the struggles , flic weariness of years . Among the many visitors who used to " make sunshine" in the rooms ami gardens of the Grange was the son of a neighbour of the Mores , Charles Chelsey . He came from an oltl family fallen in worldly condition ,

and his father , an old soldier , had had much to contend with in respect of a large family ami a small income . All that was left of the once largo possessions of the Chelsey's was a small cottage , or rather manor farm , called Chelsey Lodge , in which tho old colonel , with his half-pay , his wife ' s modest income , anil the interest of a small sum in tho Funds , had weathered the storms ol life since ihe days of his oltl campaigning wero over .