The Odd-Fellows' Offering (Paperback)

Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: AN ODD-FELLOW'S SKETCH. " Nay, nay ! you must not go to-night," said a lady to her husband one evening, as he was about to leave her to attend to the duties of his office in a Lodge of Odd-Fellows to which he belonged; " there is no need that you should attend so punctually. These Odd-Fellows, I am sure, will never do you any good; but, on the contrary, they will get all they can from you, and then discard you. Do, now, leave them, for my sake." " Not so, my dear," replied the husband; " I cannot listen to you, when you ask of me such a sacrifice as this. You are wrong in your impressions of this Society; be assured, you are wrong. These brethren, in whom you have so little confidence, will not forsake me, I am certain; and the time may yet come when both you and I shall require their aid." As he concluded he advanced towards the door, while the mistaken but really affectionate wife smilingly shook her head, and allowed him to depart without further remark. Often afterward she strove to dissuade him from attendingany longer to his Lodge, but without success; and finally seeing that her efforts would not avail, she prudently concluded to drop the subject, and say nothing further about it. Years rolled by, and the gentleman, of whom mention has here been made, was still attached to his Lodge, while the lady was still opposed to it. But the time came at length when a sudden reverse of fortune swept away their earthly all, and grief and poverty so preyed on the husband's health that he was stretched on a bed of sickness, destitute and friendless. " Now," thought the afflicted partner of his sorrows, " we are indeed wretched: who will give us aid in this hour of adversity ?" As this inquiry arose in her mind, a knock was heard at the door, and, on answering it, two strang...