Masonic Reminiscences.

Mrs . Phil would not read , could not paint , cared little for music , and the crocliet stitch was not as generally known in her day , as at present . Like the lil y of the field , pale and interesting , " she toiled not , neither did she spin , " but passed the chief portion of her time , in quarrelling with and being reconciled to her maid , to whose tender care we shall now leave her , and turn to our brother the Eector , who has just arrived , to

communicate to the Colonel all he knew of the generous highwayman who had been so strangely influenced by Freemasonry . An interchange of the usual greetings had scarcely passed , ere the anxiety of the Colonel impelled him to enquire if the Eector knew anything of Mr . Starlight . He had the gratification to hear in reply , " Yes , peculiar circumstances have made me acquainted with his mournful history ; the main

points of which I shall sketch for you as briefly as I can . " " Maurice de Courcy is the son of one of my oldest friends , his father and I were class fellows at school , chums in College , initiated as brother Masons , in the same lodge , on the same night , and remained firm friends , and brothers to the close of his stainless and honorable life ; he was descended from an ancient and illustrious family , but being a younger son was

rather limited as to fortune . Maurice , the subject of our present conference , was handsome , talented , accomplished and daring ; his father entertained high hopes that his career would be a brilliant one , and had sufficient influence to have him appointed , while yet very young , attache to an important embass 3 r , the duties of which he most creditably discharged , but unfortunatelythe noble ambassadorunder whom he servedgot into a

, , , bad state of health , and resigned , and Maurice joyfully returned to the home he loved , and the attractive sports and friends of his boyhood , but there was one for whom Maurice ' s true heart throbbed more fondly still , than for friends , or home , or all the world beside .

" In a modest and secluded villa , not far from the old mansion of De Courcy , resided Mrs . Butler , the widow of as distinguished a soldier as ever won glory on the red field of war . With her pension and small patrimony , she contrived to educate two lovely daughters , the treasured idols of her heart , and the admiration of all who knew them . The Butlers , like the de Courcys , could also look back to ancestors high in the roll of

fame as warriors and statesmen ; both families were proud , and of high bearing ; they had none , however , of that mushroom pride which looks with disdain upon all of humbler birth , but rather that higher pride of true nobility , which disdains to disgrace their high lineage by any act of meanness or dishonour , and who think the best tribute they can offer to the illustrious dead , is to imitate their virtues , and when their ashes shall

mingle with their fathers , to leave behind a pure and stainless name . "' Mary , the elder daughter , was now budding into the lovely and luxuriant roundness of incipient womanhood , like some lovely flower opening its glittering petals to the sun , and sending forth in sweet perfume , its noiseless hymn of grateful incense to its Maker , so the rich treasures of Mary ' s mind shone out , as her beauteous form expanded ; mind and body

in her seemed meetly wedded , and both approached as close to perfection as aught of earth can . Maurice de Courcy and Mary Butler were playmates from childhood , together in the buoyancy of youthful innocence they