Bombay Masonic Widows' And Orphans Fund

of those of our brethren better versed in these matters , who , -we doubt not , Avill favour us with their counsel and advice in this our extremity . We leave the issue in their hands , and earnestly pray that the G . A . O . T . U . will guide their hearts to a right decision in this most righteous cause ; and that we shall have the gratification of announcing in our next issue the first steps taken towards the establishment of " The Bombay Masonic Widows' and Orphans' Pension Fund !"

Poetry.

Poetry .

MASONIC INVITATION . A Voice from Lodge " Felix , " No . 355 " , Aden . Aden being one of the resting places , on the overland route , a place where passengers are continually coming and going , and amongst whom , it is only reasonable to suppose , there

must be many of the Mystic brethren . Indeed , many a time deep grumblings and complaints were heard from ship captains , and passing strangers , about not having known , in sufficient time , that our little lodge had been working , else , they most cheerfully would have paid us a visit , and helped us on with our-labour of We . Taking a hint from this state of things , and being encouraged by a suggestion of the then W . M . ( Bro . HorsfalQ to the effect that a standing general invitation to all

Masonic brethren landing , should be placed in some conspicuous position , near to the landing pier , at Steamer Point , respectfully requesting their attendance , and informing them of the time , and place of meeting . This I thought a fair subject for penning the following lines , and heading them as above : —

Brethren all , of the Mystic tie , Whence ye may come , or whether may hie , Know that in Aden ' s Masonic Hall , Hearty welcome awaits you all . Think not , on viewing our sterile shore , Here can be none versed in symbolic lore , Feel not estranged in this burning strand ,

Travelled and lone in a distant land . Brethren all , & c , & c . Come from the east , where the fierce sun shines Haste to the southern land of the vine , Speed from the north , where the cold winds blow , Hie to the beautiful westward Ho .

Feel ye in sorrow , Avith you in pain , Balm we can offer , to soothe and sustain ; Joyous and free be thy mien and thy heart , Come , we would all of thy spirits impart . Brethren all , & c , & e .

Cheerily we'll hail ye , with three times three , Meet ye as Masons all meet , and should be , Greet you , all loving , with hand and with heart , Brothers in friendship , labour , and art . Thus , on the square , we'll together unite , Casting nil cave , ior a time , from our sight , Pledging our Masterwhose worth we declare

, , Blessing our Sovereign , and all of the fair . Brethren all , & c , & c . C . McM . 1 st October , 1865 .

Hope For The Best.

HOPE FOR THE BEST .

When elouds of darkness o'er earth steal , As low the sun sinks in the west . To-morrow comes with woe or Aveal ; Hope for the Best ! Though Poverty may bind thee fast , And at thy troubles seem to jest ,

A brighter day will come at last ; Hope for the Best ! Should Slander strive to blast thy name , And every honour from thee wrest , Thy course pursue . no fear of shame ; Hope for the Best ! If Vice , that enemy ol peace ,

Should cause thy mind to be distress'd , To shun his wily snares ne ' er cease ; Hope for the Best ! When Death , the summoner , shall come To lull thy weary soul to rest , There is a realm beyond the tomb : Hope for the Best ! Stokesley . HORATIO J . TYVEDDEEL .

Sleeping In The Snow.

SLEEPING IN THE SNOW .

I have never met with anything more touchingly pathetic than the following extract , which I take from that chapter of our late Brother Artemus Ward ' s writings , in which he describes the crossing of the Rocky Mountains . He says : — " One of the passengers , a fair-haired German boy , whose BY BBO . H . MANNING .

sweet ways bad quite won us ail , sank on the snow , and said ' Let me sleep . ' AA' e knew only too well what that meant , and tried hard to rouse him . It was in vain . " Let me sleep , " he said . And so , in the cold starlight he died . AVe took him up tenderly from the snow , and bore him to the sleigh that awaited us some two miles away . The new moon was shining now , and the smile on the sweet white face told how painlessly the poor boy had died . No one knew him . He said that he was going

back to Germany . That was all we knew . So , at sunrise the next morning we buried bim at the foot of the grand mountains that are snow-covored and icy all the year round , far away from the Faderland , where , it may be , some poor mother is crying for her darling who will not come . " Impressed with the pathos of the foregoing , I have written the following lines , which , perchance , some musical brother may think worthy of setting to music , in melancholy recollection of him who whose sweetly pathetic recital called them into being : —

"SLEEPING IN THB SNOAV . " " ' 0 , let me slumber—let me sleep , ' The fair-haired boy in sadness cried : Then sank upon the snowy steep , While friendly hearts to rouse him tried . ' Oh , let me sleep , ' —and as he spake , His weary spirit yearned to rest .

He slept—no more again to wake , Save , haply , there among the blest . Sleep—sleep—sleeping .-He sleeps beneath the starry dome . And , far away , his mother , weeping , AVaits his ccming home , " AVe raised him gently from the snow , And borne him in our arms away , The sweet white face is smiling now , Made whiter by the moon ' s pale ray .