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Article MRS. FEBNBRAKE'S "LUCKY BIRD." ← Page 3 of 7 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Mrs. Febnbrake's "Lucky Bird."
" Well , " said the young sailor , '' I was thinking to-day about a man that I met with in Australia ; and I Avas wondering IIOAV he is getting on . But I Avill tell you what I know about him . " One morning , when we Avere in port , I was taking a stroll by the water side , when I met with a respectable-looking man , who was wandering listlessly along , with his hands in his pockets , looking the very picture of despair . I bid him good morning . When he raised ancl returned the liment
his head , comp , I said : — "' You are an Englishman , I see . Will you join me in my walk , ancl then Ave can have a chat about the old country . ' "' Willingly , ' he replied , ' for I am in great trouble ; and if you will kindly listen to niv tale of woe , it may perhaps relieve my mind . ' ' << ' Most willingly , ' said I ; and as Ave walked slowly on together , he began : —
"' I am a married man , and the father of two children . At the commencement of my married life , I was in business in a market tov ? n in the midland counties of England . I tried hard to succeed in life , but everything seemed to go against me . At last I was obliged to give up all I possessed for the benefit of my creditors , and , with my Avife ancl children , Avent to reside for a short time Avith a near relation of hers . Then it was that lie kindly proposed to advance me a sum of money to emigrate with , also a feAV pounds for our immediate wants on arriving at our destination . We landed in Sydney four months
ago ; ancl all my time since then has been spent in trying to find suitable employment , but in vain . Grim want is now staring us in the face ; " and when I came out here this morning , I had Avicked thoughts in my head , for I fancied that it would be better for me to throw myself into the sea than to see my wife and little ones wasting away for Avant of proper food . Your speaking to me so kindly recalled me to myself again , and I see that it Avould be coAvardly of me to leave my dear wife ancl them to struggle alone . ' And , speaking in a loud tone , he said : — ' If I could only meet Avith a good Freemason who Avould give me employment , lie should never have cause to regret having trusted a poor needy brother . '
"These Avords Avere evidently overheard-by a gentleman , who Avas passing at the time , foi' all at once , by means of some secret sign which I then Avot not of , the two Avere soon brought together , and shaking hands . I walked sloAvly on , and in a short time my late companion ran after me , to bid me good morning ; for he said that he had found a brother Mason through his conversation with me , and he hoped that we might meet again . "About a fortni ght afterwards , just \ A'hen we were about to sail for England , I was going along a busy streetwhen a hand Avas laid on shoulderand turning round 1 saAv
, my , , my late companion of the sea-shore . But what a change that short time had made ! A pleasant smile was on his face ; ancl , taking me Avarmly by the hand , he said : — "' I am so . glad that I have met you ! I wanted so much to tell you about my good fortune . The gentleman who overheard part of my conversation with you , has taken me into his office as clerk , and has put me and mine into a nice little cottage ; and I hope , by tod ' s helto make headway in the Avorld yetI shall forget But for
p , . never you . your kindl y word , I shudder to think Avhat might have happened . Think of me sometimes when you are in the clear old country ; and now , Good-bye , ancl God bless you ! Here is my name and address . I should at any time be glad to hear from you , or of you . You see , my friend , what I owe to the Mystic Tie . All true Masons are indeed Brothers !'
1 pondered much on his words , and determined on my return to England , to try to gam an entrance into the Craft . I succeeded ; ancl now , I am proud to say , I also am a "eemason . " . Weel deean , Fred ! " said the old farmer . "Ah like te hear tha taAvk . Bud cum on Jj me , lad . Ah want tha te see a yung boss ' at Ah've boAvt . It wad male a rare hunter . 1 wish thoo Avad at efter thounds sumtahmsasteead
stop yam , mun , an' ean' ' , o' gahin ' sailm' on t' sea . " So saying , the two went out together , i ., f fory , " said Rose , ' ¦ the moon has risen ; don ' t you think we had better go and "ail it now' ?" stop a bit , honeys ! " said the old lady . " Ah mun gan' an' finnd ya a silk hankutcher
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Mrs. Febnbrake's "Lucky Bird."
" Well , " said the young sailor , '' I was thinking to-day about a man that I met with in Australia ; and I Avas wondering IIOAV he is getting on . But I Avill tell you what I know about him . " One morning , when we Avere in port , I was taking a stroll by the water side , when I met with a respectable-looking man , who was wandering listlessly along , with his hands in his pockets , looking the very picture of despair . I bid him good morning . When he raised ancl returned the liment
his head , comp , I said : — "' You are an Englishman , I see . Will you join me in my walk , ancl then Ave can have a chat about the old country . ' "' Willingly , ' he replied , ' for I am in great trouble ; and if you will kindly listen to niv tale of woe , it may perhaps relieve my mind . ' ' << ' Most willingly , ' said I ; and as Ave walked slowly on together , he began : —
"' I am a married man , and the father of two children . At the commencement of my married life , I was in business in a market tov ? n in the midland counties of England . I tried hard to succeed in life , but everything seemed to go against me . At last I was obliged to give up all I possessed for the benefit of my creditors , and , with my Avife ancl children , Avent to reside for a short time Avith a near relation of hers . Then it was that lie kindly proposed to advance me a sum of money to emigrate with , also a feAV pounds for our immediate wants on arriving at our destination . We landed in Sydney four months
ago ; ancl all my time since then has been spent in trying to find suitable employment , but in vain . Grim want is now staring us in the face ; " and when I came out here this morning , I had Avicked thoughts in my head , for I fancied that it would be better for me to throw myself into the sea than to see my wife and little ones wasting away for Avant of proper food . Your speaking to me so kindly recalled me to myself again , and I see that it Avould be coAvardly of me to leave my dear wife ancl them to struggle alone . ' And , speaking in a loud tone , he said : — ' If I could only meet Avith a good Freemason who Avould give me employment , lie should never have cause to regret having trusted a poor needy brother . '
"These Avords Avere evidently overheard-by a gentleman , who Avas passing at the time , foi' all at once , by means of some secret sign which I then Avot not of , the two Avere soon brought together , and shaking hands . I walked sloAvly on , and in a short time my late companion ran after me , to bid me good morning ; for he said that he had found a brother Mason through his conversation with me , and he hoped that we might meet again . "About a fortni ght afterwards , just \ A'hen we were about to sail for England , I was going along a busy streetwhen a hand Avas laid on shoulderand turning round 1 saAv
, my , , my late companion of the sea-shore . But what a change that short time had made ! A pleasant smile was on his face ; ancl , taking me Avarmly by the hand , he said : — "' I am so . glad that I have met you ! I wanted so much to tell you about my good fortune . The gentleman who overheard part of my conversation with you , has taken me into his office as clerk , and has put me and mine into a nice little cottage ; and I hope , by tod ' s helto make headway in the Avorld yetI shall forget But for
p , . never you . your kindl y word , I shudder to think Avhat might have happened . Think of me sometimes when you are in the clear old country ; and now , Good-bye , ancl God bless you ! Here is my name and address . I should at any time be glad to hear from you , or of you . You see , my friend , what I owe to the Mystic Tie . All true Masons are indeed Brothers !'
1 pondered much on his words , and determined on my return to England , to try to gam an entrance into the Craft . I succeeded ; ancl now , I am proud to say , I also am a "eemason . " . Weel deean , Fred ! " said the old farmer . "Ah like te hear tha taAvk . Bud cum on Jj me , lad . Ah want tha te see a yung boss ' at Ah've boAvt . It wad male a rare hunter . 1 wish thoo Avad at efter thounds sumtahmsasteead
stop yam , mun , an' ean' ' , o' gahin ' sailm' on t' sea . " So saying , the two went out together , i ., f fory , " said Rose , ' ¦ the moon has risen ; don ' t you think we had better go and "ail it now' ?" stop a bit , honeys ! " said the old lady . " Ah mun gan' an' finnd ya a silk hankutcher