Poetry.

Poetry .

THE MASONIC BROTHERS ON THE PRAIRIE OF THE FAR WFST . By Mrs . L . A . CZARNECKI . The sun was gone , and darkness hung , brooding o ' er the prairie plain , The wild horse and lordly door were bounding along tho samo train ,

The panther aud the puma howling and roaring with fierce menace , The ground re-echoing with ' tho thunder of their maddening chaos , The light fast fading , whoso clear brightness had kept them at hay , Now they were gi-imly scenting , and pursuing in quest of prey ; On tho pine and lemon trees birds were singing a wailing refrain ,

Others replying in a hooting , twittering , and mocking strain : The royal palm at every breath of wind waving its majestic head , With a sighing groan , as of one who mourns for the mighty dead , Tho limitless sea of grass , swelling like tho waves of tho ocean , Swaying to and fro like a thing of strango life and motion , The moan of a hundred water streams broke on tho startled ear

, Filling tho mind with profound terror and a nameless fear , Such was the sight on tho boundless prairio of tho far west , A night to try courage and strain it to the greatest tost . What is man before those works of nature gorgeous and grand , Trembling before his Maker ' s face he feels ha doos lowly stand , At a glance he sees his weakness in view of such a power , In adoration his head in sublimo worship bows lower .

A traveller s form emerged from a thicket m that desert land , Exhausted with hunger and fatigue , ho foil on tho boatod sand ; Despoiled of his arms , horseless , and lost on tho prairio plain , Only his faithful dog which clung to him and would over remain ; Overcome with grief , woundod , and helpless , no succour seemed there , His heart was sinking with weakness , horror , and sheer despair , Ho had seen life in various phaseswas learned in ancient lore

, , Had visited far cities and stood on many a foreign shore , One of tho highest of an Order , a brother of the mystic tie , Whose ringing watchwords are Peace , Progress , and Fraternity ; Virtue and truth woro the rules of his groat Masonic career , They were the plumb-line of his deeds , before God ho know no fear .

But to perish in that forest by a fearful and lonely death Was trying to one ovon of his sincere and loving faith —• In tho language of scripture he cried with an exceeding bitter cry , " My God ! hast thori forsaken and loft mo in this desert to die ? "

Tho night was waning , tho starry beams fadiug at the approaching day , The wild beasts had flown to covert , sated with their feast of proy , The silence of death reigned now over this measureless wilderness , Mournful sighs of wind woro stealing through the boughs of tho cypress .

An awful hush , icing tho heart , was folt on that prairio , Unbroken , save for tho screaming of tho eaglo of the sierra , Round an expiring fire , lay a band of Indians in heavy sloop , He who was their chief sat buried in thought , sad and deep , Neither of their country , nor blood ; bo had wrought them a generous action , They prayed bim to bo their loader , loved him with devoted affection .

Ho had borne a bitter wrong in the false world of civilised life , Had flown for a time to those forests , away from tho heartless strife . His soul was heaving with pain and omotion very long suppressed , He tried to school himself to submission and bo at rest ; Hark ! what cry is that—thrilling tho oar with a booming sound ? He started , as a panting dog rushed up with a sweeping bound , And , with imploring , piteous oyes , mutely pleading to tho chief To follow him , not delay , givo one he dearly loved , relief .

Poetry.

With one call to his Indian braves , ho seized his horse ' s reins , Mounted the gallant steed , tho hot blood coursing through his veins ; " Forward , " he cried , and on thoy silent rode , the dog the patient guide ' Whate ' er that chief was called to do , ho knew his mon wore true

and tried . Marching swiftly for an hour , the dog flew off into a grassy glado , Whore lying low upon the ground , a weak and woundod man was laid ; Dismounting from his horso , tha chief advanced , and in a soothing voice , " Fear not" he Said"I will thee helpand to do it I rojoico . "

, , , A cordial to his lips he gave , then skilfully his wound he drest , A couch of branches mado , thoy gently lifted him to rest ; Tho woundod man looked in wonder when to him a sign was given By tho chief , who now stood o'er him , and whose eyes were on him riven . He stretched his hand , received the grip , spoke low the sacrod word ;

Those two were brothers by a lasting bond where ' er 'tis known and heard . The joy that laden sufferer felt was consoling strango and sweet , His life he owed to one who , as a brother , bo could truly greet ; Borne to tho camp , with kindness he was tended day and night , Till strength returned again , and things looked beautiful and bright .

* * Much was provided for tho traveller that day on his journey to start , Long thoy conversed with each other , those two friends so soon to ]} art . " Come with me , my brother , and enter tho stirring world again , Thou hast told me thy story , on thoo there rests not a stain . " " My gratitude is fervent , my duty is to uphold thee through all .

I entreat abandon this life , with thoo I shall stand or fall . " " Tho world judged wrong , my friend , now I heod neither its praise or blame , Not on tho failings of others will I build up my honour or famo ; To these men I teach truth , and dwell where few have ever trod , My life is not in vain , drawing mo near and nearer to my God . Faro thee well , 0 ! brother , think of me in thy daily prayer , How we met upon tho Lovol and parted on tho Square . "

List Of Lodge, &C., Meetings For Week Ending 23rd October, 1869.

LIST OF LODGE , & c ., MEETINGS FOR WEEK ENDING 23 RD OCTOBER , 1869 .

( Abbreviations . —F . M . H ., Freemasons' Hall ; M . H ., Masonic Hall ; M . T ., Masonic Temple ; Tav ., Tavern ; Ho ., Hotel ; R ., Rooms ; L ., Lodge ; St ., Street ; Sq ., Square ) . METEOPOLITAN LODGES AND CHAPTERS . Monday , Oct . 18 th .

Quar . Gen . Meeting Boys' School , at 12 . LODGES .- —Emulation , Albion Tav ., Aldcrsgate-st . ; Felicity , London Tavern , Bishnpsgate-st . ; Tranquility , Hartley ' s , Bridge-st ., Blaekfriars ; Panmure , Balham Ho ., Balham ; Whittington , Anderton ' s Hotel , Fleet-st . ; City of London , Guildhall Coffeehouse , Gresham-st . ; Royal Albert , F . M . H . ; Eclectic , F . M . H . Tuesday , Oct . 19 th .

Board of Gen . Purposes at 3 . LODGES . —Mount Lebanon , Bridge House Ho ., Southwark ; Eastern Star , Ship and Turtle , Leadenball-st . ; Salisbury ,, 71 , Dean-st ., Soho ; Rose of Denmark , White Hart , Barnes . CHAPTERS . —Enoch , F . M . H . ; Mount Sinai , Anderton ' s Ho ., Fleet-st . ; Industry , F . M . H . Wednesday , Oct . Will .

Gen . Com . of Grand Chapter , at 3 ; Lodge of Benevolence , at 7 precisely . United Mariners , George Ho ., Aldermanbury ; St . George's , Trafalgar Ho ., Greenwich ; Sincerity , Cheshire Cheese Tav ., Crutched Friars ; Beadon , Greyhound Tav ., Dulwich ; Nelson , Ma . Ha ., William-st ., Woolwich ; Buckingham and Cbandos , F . M . H .