A Masonic Dream.

in advance for the coming year . You need not ask me . You have carte blanche . I shall hold you responsible after this . " So , Bro . Editor , as there may be some others in the same boat , I haA'e written out my dream , ancl hope you will publish it , and oblige , yours fraternally , HIRAM AHB . [ AVe reprint the above from the Masonic Advocate . —ED . M . Mi ]

A Strange Language.

A STRANGE LANGUAGE .

A REMINISCENCE OF " PINAFORE . APROPOS of the facility with which phrases are incorporated into the ordinary language of daily conversation , a gentleman recently related one of his experiences . About a year ago he landed in Philadel phia , after a

long sea voyage . Numerous friends were in waiting , but their greeting was such as to lead him to entertain doubts as to their entire sanit y . He said that he had not been actually and finall y on land two hours before he made up his mind that some sporadic mental disease had spread over Philadel phia , resulting in the total and hopeless insanity of the larger portion of its citizens . He tells us the story as follows : After the first cordial greetings of friendsheart

, y and sincere enough , you may be sure , I found speech to remark : " I never expected such an ovation ! " " What , never ? " replied one of my friends . " No , never ! " said I . " What , never ? " with a laugh , asked another . I was about to reply to this second somewhat silly query , when a by-stander , totally unknown to me , drawled out " Well ! h-a-r-d-ly ev-er ! " At this my friends all joined in a hearty laughand I became indignant . Turningwith an

, , angry retort on my lips , I heard some one chant , " His nose should pant , and his lip should curl ; his cheek should flame , ancl his brow should furl . " Determined to resent the fancied insult , I raised my arm to strike , but another bystander took up the strain with , " His bosom should heave and his heart should o-low , and his fist be ever ready for a knock-down blow . " I must confess , my anger was fast getting control of me , when one of my friends clapped me on the

shoulder with the remark , " Why , old boy , you are rather triangular , " with a strong emphasis on the are . Bewildered ancl vexed beyond measure , I began to speak , but only got as far as "Incomprehensible as , " when still another friend finished my sentence with " our utterances are nevertheless inspired by a sincere regard to you . " Some one then asked me if I had ever seen little Buttercup . I looked at him pityingly and said , "Yes ; I have seen little ancl big buttercups , fielddaisies , violets , dandelions and Johnny-jump-ups , and I want to know what you all mean by this infernal nonsense . Tell me at once !"

" If what ? " was the reply . " If what ! " I reiterated , " I don't think I understand you , sir ! " " If you please , " said he , " for we hold that upon the seas the expression ' if you please' a particularly gentlemanly tone implants . " Confused , aud in despair , I turned upon my male friends with the question , " Where are my sisters ? " Avhen with one accord they chorused , " Why , there are your sisters and your cousins and your aunts . " Unable to contain myself

longer I exclaimed , " Why , what a set of idiots you all are . " " Don't say all , dear captain ! " said one . " Yes , all , " I replied , "to receive such treatment as this ; why , d n it , its too bad ! " To complete my confusion the whole part y began to sing , " Did you hear him ? He said 'd n it . '" I tried to break away from the group , when my affianced sang , " Farewell , my own light of my life , farewell . " B .