The Builder's Bargain.

" Ostend ! Now , sir ; look sharp for the boat , sir , if you want to get across to-night . I told the conductor to warn you at Aix , but you were so sound asleep . " * # * # * I scramble to the railway station at Dover as the Christmas bells are pealing through the frosty air . I run throug h Canterbury as the Cathedral chimes are tinklingly ringing out the glad tidings of great comfort

and joy— "Peace on earth and goodwill towards men ! " I arrive in Canonbury , London , as tho pudding , crowned with holly and wreathed in lambent flame , is being carried in procession to the board , surrounded by children , screamingly happy , who divide their attentions between tho smoking ball and newly returned papa . Is it the warmth and emotion of the welcome ,

is it too imprudent indulgence in tho turkey and ancillary sausages , is it tho pudding , or the mince pies , or the roast chestnuts , or tho old port , or the exertion of blind-man ' s-buff and hunt tho slipper- following on a hearty meal ; or is it the excitement of the subsequent round game and the singing and romping under the mislctoe ; or is it , after all , only thc fatigue of the

journey that makes mo so sleepy at night ? And yet wholesome fatignc should uot cause nightmare , but , dream I do and nightmarishly too—my beloved bedfellow oven—bufc I am sure groundless ! y—impeaches me of snoring until tho morning , and then comes happy dreamless sleep , succeeded by sweet composed prophetic vision , and in that imaginary vaticination I sec

the noble minster ou thc banks of thc grand old river gorgeously complete , solemnly , but oh ! how happily and auspiciously consecrated to tho Great Master ' s service—tho traditionary diabolical spell wholly broken —the superstitionsly regarded "derrick" harmlessly and for ever removed—and the accomplished artist who superintends tho happy consummation living , like

Cawdor ' s thnno was supposed prosperously to exist , nn honoured and a worthy gentleman—but that is to bo in tho far future , and lam now , when I dream , young , nnd in Canonbury , London , many years removed from tho completion of tho Rhenish Dom Kirche . I am dreaming dreams and seeing visions hundreds of miles from fair ( but odorous ) Cologne-upon-the-Rhine . It is but

in the year eighteen hundred and fifty and something , and my dear wife is , on this blessed boxing-day morning , airing the daily paper before the fire with which sho iudulges me , as a wayworn traveller , in the bedroom , and startles me by exclaiming—almost shrieking , as she quotes a heading— " ' Shocking accident at Cologne Cathedral ! ' Why you wore

there but tbo day before yesterday , my dear . " 1 start up in bed , snatch tho journal from her hand , and read , " Our special correspondent from Cologne briefly informs us of a terrible accident which occurred at tho Dom Kircho yesterday— -Christmas—morning . A stranger , habited in a red tourist suit , presenting himself with the necessary credentials , induced

the worthy and respected architect nnd esteemed citizen , Ilerr Grntzbaum , to accompany him to tho roof to inspect the works in progress . Tho accomplished Herr , in ascending one of tho uncompleted towers , tho better fo point out to his companion some of tho details of the structure , sought to support himself by tho croekolliiig work , but one of tho staples

unfortunately giving way beneath his grasp , he was precipitated many hundred feet fo the pavement below , whence he was taken np in a crushed mass , life being , of course , totally extinct . Death must have been instantaneous . The visitor hurriedly descended by tho ladders provided , and thc staircase , as far as completed , and at onco gave information to the people iu charge of the church .

It being Christmas morning , there wero no artificers engaged on the works . After having thus called attention to the tragedy , and paused on the plat / , to light the tobacco in the large china howl of an inordinately long pipo , the diluvium from which struck the passers by as

having a strong sulphurous odour , tho strange individual disappeared in the direction of the Railway Station !" As I sank back on thepillo . vs I involuntarily startled nn wife by a profane ejaculation . I exclaimed , " The U—v—I !" And I really believe it was . S . l' .

Peare, Good Will Iowards Men!

Peare , Good Will Iowards Men !

—* S ^ WUCH is the messa ge of each Christmas Day , jjfflS Such the glad truth Freemasonry would proclaim ; 5 ? S ^ y For us the hurrying years they melt away , ^ S S Her precepts still remain , thank God ! the same . Ill Iu vain the storms of earth , the " wreck of time , " Hopeless loud folly ' s curse , or persecution ' s cry ; Freomasonry ' s glad maxims , kind , sublime , Tho bigot ' s wrath , the scorncr ' s jests defy .

I ' o-day , ' mid fleeting dreams and faltering sense , 'Mid falsehood ' s brazen forehead and its shame ; When honest worth yields to inane pretence , Onr good old Craft upholds its honoured name . Unchanged by time , undaunted and erect , While empires pass and ruins strew tho ground , H yet unfurls its flag to mark and to protect

The Craft , wheree ' er on earth it may be found , Long may it flourish , may no foes assail , May it endure , survive , through good and ill , May its glad message ne ' er grow faint or fail—UNTO ALL MORTAL MKN PHAGE AND GOODWILL

How I First Berame A Mason.

How I First Berame a Mason .

ffiKSaT was a gusty , wild , wintry night ou Christmas eve , gtug some forty years ago . Nofc one of those conven-^ 5 »» tional Christmas eve ' s which we are apt " to asso-§ i ciate in our fancies with that sacred time . There 5 was no snow , or frost , or ice . Outsideallwas barren I ¦> and bl eak , and there was a cutting east wind , which , combined with a pelting rain , seemed to freeze your very marrow bones , and make you long for the comfort of a well-lighted and comfortably carpeted room , with

a blazing fire in it , and tho shutters closed . How it was in England that night I do not know , for I am writing about an episode which occurred in my life when I was in an important town iu Norway . I was a young man then , quite a youth in fact , being only about twenty-two . Up till then my life had been very happy . Roared in the charming little village of Bowuoss , whose

shores slope down to and are washed by the beautiful waters of Windermere , I had there passed the whole of my days until thatdato . Then I becamc-as many a cleverer youth than over I was has become—tired of my home , tired of my parent ' s gentle care , tired of the loving creature who had beon my companion from my boyish days , and who had consented to become my partner

through life , and ungrateful boy as I was had come off to this bleak , though , as I shall afterwards toll you , not inhospitable place , to make , as I fully expected , my fortune . It is very strange , but I havo always remarked when a boy leaves his home for the first time ho is always sanguiuo of making his fortune . Visions ever float before him of a ten years' labour and work ,

to be followed by a life of ease and rest amid the riches which ho shall have gathered to himself during his ten years of striving . Perhaps it is well that it should bo so . I believe mysolf that it ought to he so . When tho Great Architect of the Universe created man ho planted in his bosom a precious germ which lurks iu every man's bosom . No matter how despondent an

individual may ho ho will find that ho never loses this precious gift . That gift is hope , and I thank God from my heart that ho has always kept the lamp of hopo burning in my heart . But I am digressing , and some of my readers will say , " Oh , the writer of this is a garrulous old man , who wants to reatl us a long Christmas homily on ' Hope '" Not so , my friends ; I am not naturally

garrulous , so I will , with your permission , return to my narrative , and if it does not read so well as you would have liked it to read , yon must forgive an old man ' s failing powers . I will tell yon what had made mc choose this locality , which , nfc first , m .-iy npjxvir to yon strange nnd undesirable . I hail always had a desire to travel nnd see

now sights antl scones , and I had had a desire to make money . For sinco I had become engaged to my darling Ella my whole thoughts had centred on this one ideahow to attain to a state of affluence so as to maintain her in happiness . Her entreaties that I should stay at homo and live on the little plot of land which my forefathers had cultivated before me for generations , had

no weight whatever with me . A city friend , who had been staying with us in the summer , had fanned this flame of ambition within me , until I had como to look on my departure ns a sacred necessity . Ho told mo how several of his companions had gone over to Norway and wero doing well . After this nothing would satisfy me , bnt that 1 must go myself . And so 1 went . I will

not linger over the leave-takings . I am nn old man now , but the remembrance of that timo will always cling to me as long as I live . I loft tho home of my childhood in August , and I bad been hero for some three months . Things had gone badly with mo , for I had not got , employment , and as far as I could then seo was not likolv to get any for some time to come . A

very important reason kept me from returning home , ami that was lhat I had not . tho wherewithal ! to pay my passage . One thing after another had gone , and I was earnestly cogitating with myself whether it would bo justifiable to purl with a ring that I was wearing—lice ring . Header , have you ever been in that predicament ? If so you will be able to feel for me .

1 had wandered out that night down to tho quay , unable to stay in the house where tho other lodgers wore making merry over their yulctidc . 1 bad hastened out to try to forget my feelings . I was longing and praying that some gootl old Chcryble woultl como across my path and take pity on me , at least till 1 could earn enough money to take mo back to the dear

old place 1 had so ruthlessly cast from mo . Then my thoughts would take a new turn , and 1 would find myself speculating on what they wore doing at homo . I could imagine tho clean snntled floor , the yule log blazing in tho old " ingle nuke , " my parents sitting on each side , with the dear loving face in tho centre , which 1 would have given so much to have hud resting on my

shoulder once more . And 1 could imagine the immense round of beef on the table , flanked by the proverbial sweet pie and tho haver bread antl October-brewed . Then my thoughts wandered slowly back to myself , and I began to discover that I was cold antl wet , so I commenced fo retrace my steps amid coils of tarry rope antl barrels of strongly smelling fish . Away , up in the

town , I could hear the bells proclaiming the anniversary of the Saviour , and this nt any rate was real . I know that they at home would bo listening to the same sounds , and that we could all unite that winter ' s evening in thanking our God for past mercies , and praying for a happy meeting . I am a great believer in fate . I firmly believe that it was my fote to walk out that night on to thc old

How I First Berame A Mason.

quay , and to undergo the strange adventure I am about to relate , as I am of my own existence . At one spot they were loading a vessel , and as I passed , ono of the sailors threw out a rope , with whioh I came in violent contact , causing me to be knocked down . The force of tho blow stunned me for some time , and when I woke I was faint with pain . I had

been carried during my swoon into a strange building which I had often noticed afc the entrance to the pier , but to which I had never had the curiosity to ask for admission . Two or three kind , earnest , faces were bent over me when I recovered , and I was asked in gentle tones , such as a loving brother might have used , whether I felt myself much worse . Smarting with pain I tried

to rise to my feet , but the effort was too much for me , and I sank back exhausted . One of my newly-found friends applied some wine to my lips , whicli greatly revived me , and I was able to ask where I was , or what place I was in . A gentleman bending over me warned me that it would bo much better that I should maintain a perfect quiet , and advised me to endeavour to

obtain some sleep . But my excited state forbade such an idea , and after much entreaty never to divulge what I should see and hear , it was explained to me that I had been observed , when I met with my accident , by some of tho members as they were leaving their boat to attend a meeting of their lodge , aud true to the principles of universal charity inculcated by their

order they had conveyed me there , and had admimstei ed such restoratives ns they thought best . They explained to me that had there been another house near I should never have been brought there , as thoy were ahout to perforin ono of their most Solemn and impressive rites . Four brethren who were to sail on the morrow were to bo initiated , aud for this purpose the lodge bad

mot . I learnt afterwards thafc it was a "lodge of emergency" which had boon called for the occasion . One of the brethren sat by me whilst the beautiful and impressive ceremony was gone through , and in a low voice , modulated by a tender care , explained to mo tho meaning and aims of Freemasonry . When tho initiation of tho four novices was

completed , my friend , who had drawn from me my story , rose , nnd in kind and considerate language related it to his brethren , ending with a motion that as I had soon so much of tho lodge , it was but fair to themselves and mc that I should become a member , nnd moved that the venerable Master proceed with the initiation of his youthful brother , provided the brethren

in full lodgo assembled deemed it advisable . There being no dissentients , I was invited to make my approach to thc Master , which I did , and he read over to mo tho solemn nover-to-bc-forgotton words of the charge . Then liko one in a dream I was invested with t ) w Oiilcr ot Frcmnsonry , and my newly-found friends , and ns I could now call thorn brethren , came forward and

offered mo thoir hearty congratulations . Reader , my story is soon finished . I was taken homo to spend tho glad season of Christinas with tho brother who had proposed my initiation , nnd I found him over a brother to mc . I was , when I became strong again , introduced into his office , and as vacancies occurred by thoso above

me leaving or dying , I was promoted , until at Inst I bocame partner in ono of the first business houses in Copenhagen . Long sinco I married my darling , and aa I look nt my threo boys , brothers as well as sons , 1 am thankful for the stormy Christmas eve when I wandered on tho forsaken old quay , and became a Freemason . W . M . li .

Christmastide.

Christmastide .

* _> trt ^ vii , a pl ^ f ^ ERE is Christmas once again , e $ I * lijj Christmas with its smiling face , tfS ~^* Let ' s usher in tho happy reigu yflj Of Christmas kindness , Christmas grace m * With holly deck , with ivy wreathe

Each pleasant room and hall , Antl let each mystic motto breathe Welcome unto all .

Heap crackling logs upon the fire , Draw tho curtains , light tho tree , Let youth and old ago never tiro Of harmless kindly jollity .

Do not the nusletoo forget , Mysterious is its power , Let youth in sportive pastimes met

Enjoy the smiling hour . Collect true hearts ! tho calls resound , For tho well-decked board to-day ; Antl let tho kindly toast go round

" To dear friends far away . " Lot youth and ago , when now they meet , As loving hearts rejoice , In pleasant hours and converse sweet To greet affection ' s voice .

Oh ! happy scene—oh ! pleasant sight , May peace and lovo abide With age so kind , and youth so bright , In this their Christmastide . P .