makes no advances toward it, and buries the secret which is to render his life a disappointment, in his own bosom. Too late to repair such a misfortune, he learns that circumstances would have yielded to will, mature judgment, or reciprocal affection, and that the obstacles existed only in a sensitive fancy. Then he regards as a misfortune a mere omission or oversight of his own. His whole life may be poisoned, and disappointed in its fondest hopes, from his own misapprehension and omission." Charles Preston blushed deeply as the banker rendered this explanation. He was silent several minutes, and then made the following rejoinder: "I do not doubt the truth of your proposition, Mr. Wilson; but it does appear to me that your illustration has a deeper signification and a more particular meaning than is embraced in the general proposition." 66 "I admit it, but I leave you to make the application of that meaning." "Mr. Wilson, I beg you to explain still farther. I think we ought to understand each other sufficiently to speak out plainly what we mean, instead of presenting our thoughts in hypothetical theo.ries." "Mr. Preston-I will speak plainly what I mean. It is due to you that I should; and yet, the subject is one of such delicacy that I shrink from it. "I learned from poor John Gimlett, before he died, some facts in relation to the young Countess Mont Martre, that came to his knowledge during your sickness, that satisfied me that she cherished a tender affection for you. I have also observed in your own conduct such a reserve and such a remarkable change as to satisfy me that you are not indifferent to her. I fear that, owing to her distinguished position ond your own modest pretensions and retiring nature, you may experience unhappiness from an omission to declare your cherished affection." "I thank you for the concern you manifest on my account, Mr. Wilson, and beg you to point out in my conduct the particular features that lead your mind to such a conclusion." "Your age is that at which every young man who is endowed with the higher attributes of manhood seeks a response to the impulses of affection in the tenderer sex. This is proper, and is expected of every proper young man. able. I have observed your habits; they daily grow more reserved and more secluded. These are as certain indications of It is natural, also, and honor young affec You are daily as tion as the opening bud is of the full-blown rose. sociated with this young lady. She is accomplished, beautiful and attractive. She was pointed out to me at the theatre on the night of the horrible conflagration. It would be very strange, indeed, for one of your age and nature to rise above, or rather sink below, the charms she possesses. "I hope you will pardon me, Mr. Preston, for having noticed what I have mentioned, and have thus expressed it. Pardon me, also, for recommending to you to declare your sentiments of affection to her at once, as I believe by such a step you will secure your own and the young lady's happiness." "Mr. Wilson," said Charles, "I thank yon again for the deep interest you feel for my welfare and happiness in this respect. After the many assurances of your kindness to me, I would be disappointed indeed did you not feel toward me as I am assured you do by this interview. I am flattered by this fraternal interest on your part, and by the high opinion by which you connect me with that most excellent and interesting young lady, Madame Mont Martre. I shall ever feel more proud of myself from the assurances I have received in this conversation that I am not entirely without merit. "But, my dear sir, let me assure you that while I entertain the highest respect for Madame Mont Martre, I have not one spark of that high and holy affection for her that would make a change of our present relation of friendship desirable." "Strange!" said Mr. Wilson, thoughtfully; "then I am entirely mistaken in my suppositions." The conversation was interrupted by the entrance of a servant, who laid the mail of Mr. Wilson on the table before him. Charles Preston arose, bade good morning, and bowing, left the house. (TO BE CONTINUED.) 66 MASONIC EMULATION. BY M. W. ALFRED. Among Masons no contention should ever arise but that noble contention, or rather emulation, who best can work and best agree.”—MONITOR. ABOVE all joys we cherish as our own, Above the wealth of this revolving ball, Above all hope, save hope of heaven alone, Then let our emulation ever be, To try "who best can work and best agree." Strong hearts in our most trying, adverse days, And boldly dared the venomed, bitter strife; Their only emulation was to see That each "the best could work and best agree." From 'neath the evergreen their ashes say, "Ye noble sons, united firmly stand, Your future opens into glorious day, Your peaceful rights shall flourish through the land." To show "who best can work and best agree." No factious spirit ever shall divide Our ranks, as onward still we move; We'll firmly face the billow's foaming tide, Together bound by pure, sweet cords of love; To see "who best can work and best agree." Should men with ebon hearts, and traitorous hand, To rend asunder our united band, And to the dust our Union to consign, With spirits firm we'll emulate, to see That each "the best can work and best agree." Be palsied every restive, treacherous arm, Or dare to sow the bitter seeds of strife! Our hearts fly upward with the thought that we Brothers, our arduous labors soon shall cease, Shall prove "who best can work and best agree." Be banished every servile, groveling thought, Then, in God's strength, let us united be, And show "who best can work and best agree." Though states and empires fill the earth with blood, Ancient Egypt-Palestine and the East-The Shepherd Kings of Memphis Who were They? BY M. W. Alfred, A. M., M. D. CHAPTER IV. IN contemplating scenes which transpired six thousand years ago, the remoteness of those long past days almost bewilders our reason, and is quite inconceivable to our minds. It is like the contemplation of unbounded space. Of this we certainly can form no just conception, since to our limited capacities we necessarily affix a limit to all things that we can comprehend. Ere Homer penned his Illiad and Odyssey, or Cecrops sat on the first throne of Athens, or Abraham dwelt among his flocks on the wild plains of Mamre, Egypt was rich, a mighty Empire, with cities on the Nile studding its banks with temples most magnificent, colossal statues, sphinxes, vast obelisks, and solemn pyramids of stone. Compared with these the best antiquities of Greece or Rome are the productions but of yesterday. The inhabitants of Egypt, the Coptic tribes, have always called this land kemi, or black land; and why the Greeks have named it Aiguptos (our Egypt) we probably shall never learn. MANETHO, who compiled the fragments of Egyptian history B. C. 300 years, speaks of the "Shepherd Kings," as a dynasty ruling lower Egypt, with Memphis for their capital; that Menes founded this city, and was its first king. At length Meniphis fell under the control of foreigners from Phonecia, in Syria. Syria is a portion of Turkey. In Syria once stood the city of Jerusalem, now in desolations. It was from this country that the Israelites immigrated into Egypt, and settled in the vicinity of Memphis. Ancient Egypt, before it fell into the hands of Cambyses, son of Cyrus the Great, (B. C. 525,) according to Manetho, was ruled by thirty dynasties of kings-the thirteenth and fourteenth of these being the "Shepherd Kings," which seem to have been the same as the fifteenth and sixteenth, who were called Hycsos. The Theban dynasty, or the eighteenth, drove them out of Egypt. Here at Memphis the Hebrews dwelt during their long sojourn in Egypt of 430 years, (Exod. 12: 40,) and for the space of about 356 years was lower Egypt ruled by the "Shepherd Kings," or Hycsos. Mr. W. H. D. Adams says: "The thirteenth dynasty began about 1920 years B. C., and was probably tributary to the Shepherd Kings of Memphis. Of these there were three dynasties, the fifteenth, sixteenth and seventeenth. They were invaders, probably of Phoenician race, and seemed to have owed their success to some internal commotion. They overthrew the Xoite (fourteenth) dynasty, captured Memphis, and fixed their seat of government at Haouar. Their epoch was about 2000 years B. C. The native kings of Upper Egypt, after a lapse of about 400 years, found themselves sufficiently powerful to dispossess these intruders, capture their capital, restore the ancient worship, and unite Upper and Lower Egypt under one crown." (p. 17). This he says took place about 1535 years B. C. According to the chronology of Exodus, the Hebrews left Egypt 1491 years B. C. Now if the dynasty of the "Shepherd Kings" was cotemporaneous with the thirteenth dynasty,† B. C. 1920 years, and continued 400 years, at which time they were driven out of Egypt, it must have been B. C. 1520 years, which is only twenty-nine years more than is proved to have elapsed between the immigration of the Israelites into Egypt and their coming back to their own land, which was 1491 years B. C., and this is much nearer than chronologists generally agree. We notice, also, that two mighty nations were not likely to gain ascendancy and sovereignty in Egypt, and be driven out in twenty years of each other. That the Hebrews were thus expelled we read in Exodus. "And Pharoah called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said unto them, rise up and get ye forth from among my people," and they were so hurried away by the Egyptians that they had not time to bake the dough they had mixed for bread. They drave them out. Again the Israelites were Shepherds, and when they came into Egypt chose to be known as Shepherds. "And Joseph said unto his brethren and to his father's house, I will go up and show We quote from the tables of Manetho, and Julian the African. |
