-
Articles/Ads
Article MASONIC REMINISCENCES. ← Page 2 of 7 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Masonic Reminiscences.
right of primogeniture , was entitled to look down AA'ith supercilious pride , upon all the younger branches of the family . It Avill not surprize that Mr . Johnson and his accomplished daughter were frequent guests at the Hall , indeed an invitation "was almost unnecessary , as they generally had some little matter of business to make a short call necessaryheto enquire if the last dish of trout reached in
, , time for yesterday ' s dinner , and she to exhibit to Mrs . Simpson the last " duck of a bonnet" sent to her direct from Paris , by her cousin , the Hon . Mrs . Outis . This identical bonnet had been manufactured by her oiA'n nimble fingers , in the peaceful shades of " Elysium , " the classic name of her father ' s residence .
Mr . Johnson dwelt upon the rare and eminent virtues of Miss Johnson , and her affectionate tenderness for Mrs . Simpson , while Miss Johnson dilated upon the devoted friendship of her father , for the Avhole family of the Simpsons . The independent and unsophisticated hosts of Simpson Hall , had butlittle chance with such able diplomatists as Mr . and Miss Johnson . indeed
so much were they now in the ascendant , that Mr . and Mrs . Simpson were firmly impressed with the conviction , that Miss Lavinia Johnson wasthe only . being in . the world capable of making their Phil happy , whilethat young gentleman himself , never thought at all upon the matter . It Avas now , however , considered time to urge him on the point , and impress him Avith the necessity of taking unto himself a wife . His father
told him of his own increasing infirmities , and his mother ' s strong wishes to see her son settled in life , by the choice of an amiable partner , who should be unto her as a daughter , and AVIIO AA'ould relieve her from a portion of those domestic duties , which now pressed heavily on her in her advancing years ; he pointed out Miss Lavinia Johnson , as the object of their choice , in Avhom was centred all the cardinal virtues ; he ran over the
names of all the honourables , and some right honourables , she had refused , and begged of Phil to look on her as his " ladye love , " to be attentive to her , and to speak seriously to her on the first opportunity . Phil promised to do as he was told , but added , that if it would not make so great a difference to his parents , and as he did not care about a wife , he should much prefer their allowing him to purchase an additional
hunter , and he had seen a great beauty , if the price Avas not too high-Phil was a forward horseman and devoted to the chase , it Avas , in reality , the only thing he thought of , or cared about . The father promised if he managed matters satisfactorily with Miss Lavinia , he shoidd have the hunter . The young ' people were UOAV left as much as possible together , Mr .
Johnson having instructed his daughter in all the little delicate tactics calculated to draw Phil into a declaration . A few evenings after the paternal lectures , they happened to be seated in a lovely arbour , and unimpassioned must be that heart , Avhich could not be stirred into feelings of tender emotion , by the surrounding scene : the music of floAving Avater , which always impresses us with sensations of sweet sadness , and sounds as if the gentle spirit of the stream poured forth in melancholy murmurs ,
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Masonic Reminiscences.
right of primogeniture , was entitled to look down AA'ith supercilious pride , upon all the younger branches of the family . It Avill not surprize that Mr . Johnson and his accomplished daughter were frequent guests at the Hall , indeed an invitation "was almost unnecessary , as they generally had some little matter of business to make a short call necessaryheto enquire if the last dish of trout reached in
, , time for yesterday ' s dinner , and she to exhibit to Mrs . Simpson the last " duck of a bonnet" sent to her direct from Paris , by her cousin , the Hon . Mrs . Outis . This identical bonnet had been manufactured by her oiA'n nimble fingers , in the peaceful shades of " Elysium , " the classic name of her father ' s residence .
Mr . Johnson dwelt upon the rare and eminent virtues of Miss Johnson , and her affectionate tenderness for Mrs . Simpson , while Miss Johnson dilated upon the devoted friendship of her father , for the Avhole family of the Simpsons . The independent and unsophisticated hosts of Simpson Hall , had butlittle chance with such able diplomatists as Mr . and Miss Johnson . indeed
so much were they now in the ascendant , that Mr . and Mrs . Simpson were firmly impressed with the conviction , that Miss Lavinia Johnson wasthe only . being in . the world capable of making their Phil happy , whilethat young gentleman himself , never thought at all upon the matter . It Avas now , however , considered time to urge him on the point , and impress him Avith the necessity of taking unto himself a wife . His father
told him of his own increasing infirmities , and his mother ' s strong wishes to see her son settled in life , by the choice of an amiable partner , who should be unto her as a daughter , and AVIIO AA'ould relieve her from a portion of those domestic duties , which now pressed heavily on her in her advancing years ; he pointed out Miss Lavinia Johnson , as the object of their choice , in Avhom was centred all the cardinal virtues ; he ran over the
names of all the honourables , and some right honourables , she had refused , and begged of Phil to look on her as his " ladye love , " to be attentive to her , and to speak seriously to her on the first opportunity . Phil promised to do as he was told , but added , that if it would not make so great a difference to his parents , and as he did not care about a wife , he should much prefer their allowing him to purchase an additional
hunter , and he had seen a great beauty , if the price Avas not too high-Phil was a forward horseman and devoted to the chase , it Avas , in reality , the only thing he thought of , or cared about . The father promised if he managed matters satisfactorily with Miss Lavinia , he shoidd have the hunter . The young ' people were UOAV left as much as possible together , Mr .
Johnson having instructed his daughter in all the little delicate tactics calculated to draw Phil into a declaration . A few evenings after the paternal lectures , they happened to be seated in a lovely arbour , and unimpassioned must be that heart , Avhich could not be stirred into feelings of tender emotion , by the surrounding scene : the music of floAving Avater , which always impresses us with sensations of sweet sadness , and sounds as if the gentle spirit of the stream poured forth in melancholy murmurs ,