THE ORPHANS’ FIHEXD.
H’c«ln^sday. A;>ril 19, (^70.
IN TSii: MOLN'i’AINS.
Off for Aslieville. On tlie train
Lear of the death of Bishop Johns,
the 'oldnian eloquent,’ of Virginia.
Such a man is a great treasure
while living, and an unspeakable
loss when dead. We also see that
Mr. Davi.s, of Marshall, has per
suaded Miss Sallie Hawkins to
leave Hendersonville and bless
his home away down the French
Broad. Two clever people are mar
ried ; but a friend from Hender-
s )nville says they have a few more
of the same sort leit. In Salis
bury wo attend church and hoar
a good sermon by Mr. Murdock.
The people call him ‘high church.’
Perhaps he may be high ; but he
is certainly full of earnest devo
tion and holy consecration. High
or low, lie is a friend of the or-
jdians and we like him. After
breakfast the train glides quietly
on, and we dine in Hickory, and
(Japt. Murrell gives us papers to
road. We reach Old Fort at 4 p.
111. Now w'e stand on the plat
form and ride right up the Blue
Ridge. At our feet, now on one
side, now on the other, are the
crystal waters of the cool Ca
tawba, leaping along and rushing
over tlie rocks, and sending up
their silver spra}’, and making
tiny rainbow's. On either side
the sharp peaks shoot np towards
the sky and seem to shut us in—
no .V again we dash across the wa
ters and dive into the dark and
solemn tunnel. Out again in the
beautiful daylight, and passing a
charming waterfall wo are in
sight of the new hotel at Henry
Station. There is hardly room to
build so large a town as will be
needed here, but the sides of the
mountains can he dug away.
Messrs. Pearson and Sprague in
tend to keep a good hotel, and if
tliey fail, well, we would just as
soon expect a failure from Mr.
Hassell or Mrs. Tucker. May the
Lord bless and prosper all who
“teed the hungry,” and thus obey
the Scripture. But speaking of
eating, here is Mr. Weddin, of the
Eagle Hotel, and Mr. Pence, the
famous and wondertul driver, al
ready “on the box.” We start
three miles nearer Asheville. 0
for Ramsay and Whitaker,
Broughton and Ward to consoli
date tneir forces, chain down the
monster and dry up the grog
shops on this mountain side!
How can people push their work
when temptations dog them at
every step 1
Across the Ridge at “Grey
Eagle” two of us push for supper.
Our friend cleans up the sw'eet-
ihilk and pours out his second
glass of butter-milk when w'e
leave him alone in his glory,
washing down eggs with butter
milk. He is a Yankee and loses
nothing in the quarter invested in
8upi)er. At mignight, w'e reach
the Orphan House, put away our
baggage, and just as we are going
to sleep, Mr. Moore is heard in
quiring if any one has heard any
thing of the stage.
AsiiEviLun, N. C. ?
April, 11th 1876. j
Since my last communication I
have made two short excursions
—one with a wagon up Hominy
and Beaver-dam Creeks on a for
aging expedition ; the other with
our little band of singers to
YV oaverville to give a concert—the
results of both will ho seen in
our i-eport of contributions. At
YVeavervillo our reception and
entertainment were pleasant, the
audience was large—the Chapel
of the new College
building be
ing tendered for the concert—and
the collectioti quite liberal. Rev.
Ur. Fraser npenesl the exercises
with prayer and interested him
self in behalf of tb.o work by pre
cept and example.
YVeaverville College is a flour
ishing institution and is doing
great good in educating the
youth of this part of the Slate.
The faculty is an able one, the
location healthy, society good
and the necessary expenses light.
Wo have a few sick among die
children, owing mainly to want
of room in the dormitories. This
difficulty we hope soon to remedy.
In other respects we are getting
on pretty well. The Spring is
now opening, birds singing, grass
springing, and everything prom
ising a pleasant season in the
mountains.
J. II. Moore.
OU58 ©SSPHASI WOIili.
Eternity alone will be able to
sum up the permanent good that
has already been done by the Or
phan asylums of this State; so
much of which is being- seen by
the public and felt by those little
ones as once to challenge our ad
miration and continued substan
tial cooperation. One of those
little incidents that are repeatedly
transpiring with this noble work
was repeated to us the other day
by a gentleman ivlio is not a Ma-
sonbut theiecilal ofwhichwasac-
coinpanied by a glow of counte
nance and an enthusiasm of ex
pression that plainly said “God
bless that noble work !” coupled
with declaration from him that
the fact he was about to relate to
us was ample pay for all that had
been done for this noble Institu
tion. The story as told to us
(names and places purposely
witliheld by us) is this :
There was at the Asheville
Asylum a beautiful bright-eyed
little girl of five summers, who
from her Lapp}', sunshiny char
acter had quietly attached herself
to all in the Institution. Last
week one of the lady teachers
resigned and on leaving desired
to take little Mary with her with
the view of securing for her a
home in some kind family where
she would be properly trained and
educated. Last week she appli
ed, with the child, to a wealthy,
Christian famil}- who are childless,
and the little one at once so won
the affections of these kind peo
ple that she was immediately do
miciled as part and parcel of that
household for all time to come,
and we have no doubt that, when
she blooms out into an accom
plished and educated j'oung wo
man, it will be the pride ,of her
life to refer with a grateful heart
to the kind hands and affection
ate hearts that have trained and
watched over her, and ever bless
the day that gave birth to those
institutions, the Oxford and Ashe
ville Orphan Asylums.
Wo reler to this little circum
stance to show something of what
Masonry is doing in this State,
and as these Asylums are not in
telligence offices where servants may
he procured at the lowest rates, but
homes for the friendless orphans,
whether their fathers were Ma
sons or not, where they are fed,
clothed, trained and educated un
til such time as they can be Se
cured good homes in good fami
lies, where they will be provided
and cared for as members of those
families.
This institution, with its Ashe
ville branch, is mainly dependent
upon the voluntary contribution
ot the };u'olic for its support. In
view of wbathas already been ac
compli; ho! and the coustantlv
increasiiig good that is growing
out of the orphan work daily,
will not our people continue and
increase the free-will offerings up
on such an Altar ? Let it not be
said that the Masons of North
Carolina began such a glorious
work, and that for the lack of the
cooperation of the people of the
State, who are equal h' interested,
it failed. These orphans are the
children of the Grand Lodge and
of the people, and we must take
care of them.—Masonic Journal.
A SKELE'E'©;^ JK EVESEY BSWITSE.
It is long since, the story on
which was founded “ there is a
skeleton in every house,” has
been in print. It will be new to
many who are familiar with the
truthful and suggestive proverb.
It is found in Waldie’s Circulat
ing Library for Aug. 26, 1834,
wher' it was copied from Cham-
ber’f Journal.
A \viaow of Naples, the Coun
tess Corsini, had but one remain
ing sou to give her an interest in
life. He was remarkable for the
elegance of his person, as well as
for every amiable and graceful
quality. YVhen grown, this young
gentleman w'as sent to pursue his
studies at one University of
Bologna, where he became one ot
the most distinguished scholars,
and gained the affection of all
who knew him by ids singularly
noble gliaraoter. Just as he was
completing his studies, and was
about to return to Naples, he W'as
seized with a danErerous illness,
which, notwithstanding the efforts
of the best ph3’s!cians in Bologna,
brought him in three days to the
brink of the grave. Seeing he
could not survive, his onlj' care,
so far as the v/orld was concern
ed, was for his mother, and it
W'as for his most anxious w'ish
that some means should be taken
to prevent her being entirelj'
overcome. He finally resorted to
this expedient: he wrote to his
mother informing her of his ill
ness, but not of his threatening
character, and requesting that,she
w'ould send him a shirt made by
the happiest lady in all Naples,
or she v/ho appeared most free
from the cares and soitows of this
woi'ld, for he had taken a fancy
that by wearing such an article
he should be speedily cured. The
countess thought tier son’s request
rather singular, but being loth to
refuse him, immediately set about
her inquirj' for the happiest lady
in Naples, Her efforts were tedi
ous and difficult; everj’body slie
could think of, or ’.vho w’as point
ed out to her, was found, on
searching nearer, to Iiavelier ow'n
sliare of troubles. Slio was at
length introduced to one, who not
only appeared to liave all the
materials of worldly bliss, but
bore eveiy external mark of be
ing cheerful, and contented in
her situation. To this fortunate
ladj' the countess preferred her
request, making tiie circumstan
ces of lier case an excuse for so
strange an application. “ My
dear Countess,” said tlie lad}',
“ spare all apolog}', for if I were
really qualified for the task, I
w'ould gladlj' undertake it. But
if you will follow me to another
room, I w'ill proye to j'ou that I
am the most miserable tvoman in
Naples.” So sajnng, she led the
countess to a remote chamber,
where there was nothing appar
ently hut a curtain hung from the
ceiling to the floor. This being
drawn aside, she disclosed, to the
horror of her visitor, a skeleton
suspened from a beam. Oh !
dreadful!” The lad\' regarded
her monrnfulh', and said, after a
moment’s silence, “This was a
■\ oiith who loved me before m\'
marriage, and with whom I w'as
obliged to part when my relations
compelled me to marry my pres
ent husband. Afterwards Are re
newed our acquaintance, and my
husband, in his impatience at
finding- him in my presence one
day, drew his sword, and run him
through the heart. He afterwards
caused his skeleton to he sus
pended here, and every night and
morning, since then, has compell
ed me to come and view these re
mains. To the world I may bear
a cheerful aspect, and seem pos
sessed of all the comforts of life,
but v'oii ma}' judge if I can really
be entitled to the j-eputation you
have given me, or am qualified to
execute j’our son’s commission.”
The Countess Corsini readil}' ac-
knoAvledged that her situation
was most miserable, and retired
to her own house. “ Alas !” she
said to herself, “no one is exempt
from the distresses and sorrows of
life ; there is a skeleton in every
house.
YFlien she reached homo she
found a letter infoi'ining her of
the death of her son. This terri
ble news Avould have overturned
her reason, broken her heart, had
not the foresight of her son pre
pared her to feel that others had
sorrows as great as lier own, and
in alleviating them her OAvn Avere
lightened.
A Scautilul Extract.
I saAT a temple reared by the
hand of m.an, standing AA’ith its
high pinnacles in the distant plain.
The streams boat upon it—the
God of Nature hurried His thun
derbolts against it—and >et it
stood as firm as adamant. Revelry
Avas the in its halls the gay, the
hapjAv and the beautiful were
there. I returned, and the tempi i
Avas no more, its high Avails lay
scattered in ruins ; moss and av 1 i
grassgreAv there. The young, and
the gay that revelled tlei-j I al
passed awaj'.
I saw a child rejoicing in his
youth—the idol of his mother, the
pride of his father. I returned ;
the child liad become old—-tremb
ling Avith the AV eight of years, he
stood the last of his generation—
a stranger amidst the desolation
around him.
I saw an old oak standing in
all its pride on the mountains—
tlie birds Avere caroling on its
boughs. I returned; the oak*
Avas leafless and sapless, the Avlnds
Avero playing at their pastime
throngh its branches.
Who is the destroyer? said I
to mj' guardian aaAgel.
“It is Time” said he. When
the morning stars sang together
in joy over the new made Avorld,
he commenced his course. And
Avhen he shall have destroyed all
that is beautiful of the earth—
plucked the sun from his sphere,
veiled the moon in blood ; yea,
Avhen he shall have rolled heaven
and earth away as a scroll; then
shall an angel from the throne of
God come forth, and Avith one
foot on the sea and tlie other on
the land, lift uj) his hand tOAvards
Heaven eternal, and sav'. Time
is, Time was, but time shall be
no more !
VEjX'riJLA'ElOIV.
If tAvo persons are to occupy a
bed-room during the night, let
them step upon Aveighing scales
as they retire, and then again in
the morning, and they Avill find
their actual weight is at least a
pound less in the morning. Fre
quently the loss Avill be more,
and the average loss throughout
the A'ear will b.e all of that. That
is, during the night there is a loss
of a pound of matter, Avhich has
gone off from their bodies, partly
from their lungs and partly
through the pores of the skin.
The escaped material is carbonic
acid and refuse animal matter, or
poisonous exhalations. This is
diffused through the air in part,
and in part absorbed by the bed
clothes. If a single ounce of
Avood or cotton be burned in a
room, it Avill so completely' satu
rate the air Avith smoko that one
can hardly breathe, though there
can only "be one ounce of foreign
matter in the air. If an ounce of
cotton be burned ever}' half hour
during the night the air Avill be
kept continually saturated Avith
smoke, unless there be an open
door or AvindoAv for its escape.
Noav the sixteen ounces of smoko
thus formed are far less poisonous
than the sixteen ounces of exhal
ations from the lungs of tAvo per
sons Avho have lost a pound in
Aveight during eight hours of
sleeping ; for Avhile the dry smoke
is mainly taken into the lungs,
the damp d»is from the body
are absorbed, both into the lungs
and into the pores of the Avhole
bod}'. Need more be said to
s' ow the -mportai ce of having
bed-rooms Avell ventilated, and of
thoroughly airing the sheets,
blanket, coverlids and mattresses
in the morning before packing
them up in the form of a neatly
made bed ? —Methodist Protestant.
VOECABfOES EKBEK THE SEA.
It seems that in several places
In the Avorld there are vo'canoes
under the sea. Such volc.anoes,
of course, do )iot send up volumes
of flame and smoke. Instead,
they pour -forth streams of sul
phurous acid vapor that mingle
with the seawater. Some of these
volcanoes are situated in bays
where ships can safely ride at
-anchor.
As is Avell knoAvn, the bottoms
of UAany ships are protected by a
covering of copper. This copper
after a time, becomes corroded
by the action ot the sea-water ; a
sort of green mold forms, sea-
mosses begin to groAv, and even
small sea-animals, like the barna
cles, build their shell -hoAises upon
it. Of course, all these things
roughen the ship’s bottom, and as
the A'essel gathers more and more,
it sails very much sloAver by rea
son of the great accumulation.
Then, if she happen to be any
where in the neighborhood of one
ot these submerged volcanoes, the
captain sails her thither to be
scoured.
This scouring process does not
require hands or machinery of
any sort. All that is necessary is
that the ship should lie quieth' at
anchor Avhere the sulphurous acid
vapor, mingling with the sea-wa
ter, can gently Avash her sides
and bottom. In a feAv days, or
Aveeks, as the case may be, not a
weed, not a barnacle, not a bit of
the dark green mold remains, and
the ship can sail off ag^in, her
copper bottom as clean and bright
as when it was first put on.
By a late report of the Ru.ssian
Minister of Education it appears
that there were in 1873—-22,653
primary schools with 933,000
scholars, of whom 748,866 Avere
boys and only 185,034 girls. This
in an empire of eighty-one mil
lions !
During the seven yeffrs of the
existence of the New Y”ork Found
ling Asylum 6600 children have
been received into it. There are
now about 1450 children under
the care of the institution.
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