The Two Boyhoods.*

of fortune have been borne long and bravely , and the hand is just stretched to grasp its goal— " Put ye in the sickle . " And when there are hut a few in the midst of a nation , to save it , or to teach , or to cherish ; and all its life is hound up in those few golden ears" Put ye in the sickle , pale reapers , and pour hemlock for your feast of harvest home . " This was the sight which opened on the young eyes , this the watchword sounding within the heart of Turner in his youth .

So taught , and prepared for his life's labour , sate the boy at last alone among his fair English hills ; and began to paint , with cautious toil , the rocks , ancl fields , ancl trickling brooks , and soft white clouds of heaven .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES .

LEGEND OF SOL 03 ION AXD THE QUEES OP SIIEIlA . Some one lately enquired about legends of tho Grand Master King Solomon ; I send one ivhich I met with a few clays since : — One day the Queen of Sheba gave Solomon a ring , and many score of oxen . She bade him bestow it on the wisest of his sages . So Solomon commanded his wise men to appear before him , on tbe full moon .

They came from Bethel and Dan , the court and the school of the prophets . Then King Solomon , arrayed in regal robes , sat on his throne , the sceptre of Israel in his right hand . The Queen of Sheba sat beside him . He commanded his sages to speak . Many opened their mouths , ancl discoursed right eloquently . They told of many wondrous things . The eyes of the Queen shone like dew-drops which quiver at

sunrise on the peach blossoms . Solomon was sad . At last one arose of courtly mien . Ho told of wondrous cities in far-off lands . How the sun scalds tho dew in Sahara . How it forsakes the chill north for whole months , leaving the cool moon in its own place . He spoke ofthe fleets that go down into the sea ; he told how they weave wax at Tyrus , spin gold at Ophir ; of the twisted shell that comes from Orba ; and the linen in Egypt that endures the fire . He spoke of fleets , of laws , of the art that makes

man happy . " Truly , he is wise , " said the King ; " hut let others speak . " Another came forth—he was young in years . His cheek was burning with enthusiasm . The fire of genius shone in his eye like the day star , when all others are swallowed up in light . He spoke of the works of the Great One . Told how the cedar of Lebanon , when the sun kisses its forehead , lifts up its great arm with a shout , shaking off the feathery snow in winter , or the pearly dew of autumn , to freshen the calm lake that glitters at its foot . He spoke ofthe elephant , the antelope , the jackal , the eagle , and the

mule . He knew them all . He told them of the fish that make glad the waters , as the seasons dance and frolic round about their heads . He sang , in liquid softness , of the daughters of the air who melt the heavens into song ; he arose to the stars , spoke of old chaos , of the world , the offering of love ; he spoke of the stars Afazzagarth , and the tall ladder Jacob saw . He sang again the song of creation . " He is wiser than Solomon , " said the King . ' ¦ ' To him belong :. -,

the prize . " But at that moment some men , in humble garb , brought a stranger unwillingly along . His raiment was poor , hut comely , ancl snow-white . The seal of labour was on his hand , the dust of travel covered his sandals . His heard , long and silvery , went down to his girdle . A sweet smile , like a sleeping infant's , sat unsconscious on his lips . His eye was the angel's lampthat burns

, in still devotion before the Court of Paradise . As ho leaned ou his shepherd ' s stall ) in the gay court , a blush like a girl ' s stole over his cheek . " Speak , " said tho King . " " I have nothing to say , " exclaimed the hoary man . " I know only how unwise and frail I am . I am no sage . " And Solomon ' s countenance arose . " By " the sceptre of El-Shaddai

, I charge thee to speak , thou ancient man . " Then he began : " Aly study is myself ) my acts , my sentiments . I learn how frail I am . I , of myself , can do nothing . I listen to that voice within , and I know all—I can do all . " Then be spoke of his joys and his gloom , his hopes , his aspirations , and bis ftiith . He sjioke of nature , the modest trees , the pure golden stars . AVhen he came to Him who is all in allhe bowed his faceand was dumb

, , . " Give him the ring , " said Solomon . " He knows himself— -he is the wisest . Tho spirit ofthe Holy One is iu him . " " Take back the gift , " said the sago . " I need it not . He that knows himself needs no reward . Alas ! I do but feebly know myself . I deserve no ring . Let me returmto my home and my duty . " —JOSEPH ISAACS .

SMOX oi ? STR . YCI . SE . Who was Simon of Syracuse , anil under what circumstances did his treachery take place , and when ?—SHRES . THE EGYCTlAX rVKAjIIUS . Is there , in any chambers of 'the Egyptian pyramids , representations of the mysteries which may throw a light upon similar Masonic jiroceedings ?—[ Consult Bro . " Belzoni ' s " Narrative of the Operations and Recent Discoveries within the Pyramids , " etc . 4 to ., London , 1821 . 1

GEXEKAL COOKE AXI ) E . 11 . COOKE . Ill a late lmnrbcr of the Note York Courier , there is the following reply to a query which appeared in . tho PBEEJIASONS MAGAZINE some time since . If you have not seon ib I send the paragraph for insertion . —A . W ., Glasgovj .

GEJTEBAI , COOKE AND E . D . COOKE . " AVill some reader of ' Notes and Queries' tell me if there is any connection between General Cooke , a former visitor from the United States , and the present E . I ) . Cooke , from Kentucky . Is it not a Masonic speculation that brought each of them here , and what was the fracas about the first mentioned ? " —f—t" AVe copy the above from the London Pit i . mt . isoxs MAGAZINE , of the 30 th June last . The first named Cooke ivas an impostor

, and , on detection , was exposed , and , we think , expelled from Alasonry . He was successful in deceiving the Karl of Zetland , Grand Master , and many other eminent brethren in . England , by ivhom he ivas kincllv received and introduced into the higher circles of society . Our knowledge of the latter is derived wholly from tho London EREEIIASOXS AlAG-Azuri . and private letters from England , where he has caused sonic discussion by his pretensions and

claims ; ami where , judging from the tone of the articles in the London magazine , he has not added anything to the reputation of the Order in this country , nor contributed to strengthen the sympathy and kindly feelings which it is desirable should exist between the brethren on both sides of the Atlantic . "—Freemasons Moiiihl ji Magazine . The General Cooke , above alluded to , never was a general at all . He was the proprietor of what was known to a certain degraded

class as the Lock Hospital , at Albany , X . X . There bo made some money , we do not wish to say how , and , for services rendered to a . Mormon , it is said , was elected a major-general in tho Xauvoo Legion . A heated term set in at Albany , which affected his persona ! comfort , and he jirescribed for himself a voyage to Europe . After his arrival there , he announced himself as a Alason , and presented his card , ivhich , in addition to his name , bore the affix ,

"Alajor-General , V . S . A . " Being rather a respectable-looking man , with a fair address , he ivas invited to attend oae of the Masonic charity festivals in London , at which the Earl of Zetland ivas jiresent . When the jilttte was handed round , he gave his cheque for fifty guineas—a princely donation—and was at once received as a full-fledged and genuine representative of the American nation . Indeed , he worked his cards so well , that the Earl of Zetland appointed him f . epi-csentative of the Grant ! Lodge of England to

that of Xew York , and presented him ivith a full suit of regalia with which to decorate himself . With such liassiiorts , he ventured to offer himself to the G . Lodge of Xew York , in March , 18-J . S , for the purpose of being accredited ; when , his antecedents being wellknown to the then Grand JIaster , Mr . \\~ . Joint i ) . i ' viiiai-d , he was refused admittance ; and , the facts of the case being made known to the Grand Lodge of England , he was expelled the English Craft . The other Afr . Cooke we onlknown of by rumour ; from letters we

y have received from the oitld country , and from his own jmblislicil eni-i-espondeiice . Temporarily discarding the hitler , which ajipears to be highly coloured , we agree with the conclusion come to by our contemporary of the Free-mesons Munthlji JLigaziiie , that he has not " contributed to strengthen the sympathy and kindly feelings which it is desirable should exist between the brethren on both sides of the Atlantic . " One left for the benefit of fresh air , and met his deserts ; the other as a . 'peculation . Indeedwe hurdly

, knoiv which of the twain to admire most , as far as drawing the long bow was concerned ; for E . 1 ) . ( . ' --. oko , ;; - ; we learn from our Loudon contemporary , assured a Masonic . i .-semblagc in England , " that on a recent visit of two Eiieaiiipiner-U of K . T . to Xew 1 ork , the President ofthe I " . S . and his officers went out to meet them !" Strange wc never heard of it here , where we have lived so long .

CO . STL ' JIJJ OE TICK KNIGHTS OF ' . V . U . tA . Where can I ascertain what was r !• ..: •costume of tho Knights of Malta?—E . B . G . — flu the ; " Histoivo des Chevaliers tic Maltc , Ornoe do . 'I'lusicnrs Gravurcs , " 12 mo ., Paris , 18-13 . ] rin-: GUANO sEcuiiTAfiv ' s of . 'ic . i :. When were the jiresent [ ircmi ; .- _ .-.- ; , ' .::.. v-. 'ti as the Grancl Secretary ' s Office , ( ir .-t allotted ui lhat , L ' aiielhuary V— \\ . C ,