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The story of the Guest with the Torn Hat and ragged habiliments was
full of interest to the little party of listeners, and was narrated in a pleasing
manner, and was briefly as follows: He had been ship-wrecked on
the coast of Maine, about six weeks before, with the loss of everything;
and had been dependent upon the charity of persons in the towns he had
passed through for means to reach Boston, where he knew he should be
assisted to Baltimore, his residence, by the association of Odd Fellows, of
which he was a member. He said he had left Baltimore six months before
as supercargo of a ship bound to the North Sea, and was shipwrecked in
her on his return voyage.

`I had no claim,' he said, proceeding on his narration, `upon the citizens
of the small towns I passed through, beyond the ordinary one of charity,
which has become so often reiterated that I find it has got to be little heeded.
I knew if I could find a brother Odd Fellow I should find a friend and
a home. In Portland I inquired, but found there was no Order established
there; and also in Portsmouth and other towns. Finally, this afternoon
I reached Boston a stranger to every person in it. I had previously drawn
up a paper stating my situation, in which I had put the secret designation
of a membership in my Order, knowing that if by chance I should present
it to a “brother” he would immediately recognize the “mystic sign,” and
extend to me, ragged and wretched as I was, the fellowship of his heart and
hand.'

At these words James Layton turned slightly and glanced both at his wife
and brother-in-law, while a quiet smile of prideful triumph sparkled in his
eye.

`I had been to several houses,' continued the stranger, `without obtaining
even courtesy from the servant at the door, yet hoping Providence would
at length bring me to that of a “Fellow” of our Order, of whom I knew
there was a large number in Boston. I had inquired in the street of two
or three, asking if any of them would tell me where I could find an `Odd
Fellow,' when taking my question as an odd one they called me an “odd
fellow,' and bade me walk about my business! I had passed by your door
when something within me prompted me to turn back, and once more

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make an effort; for in finding a member of the order depended my hopes
of sustenance and shelter to-night, as well as my return to Baltimore. I
now feel that Providence prompted me to call at your door, and I cannot
be too grateful for your hospitality and kindness to a stranger.'

`A brother of our Order is never a stranger,' said James, kindly. `I feel
happy in being the instrument of doing you the service you need. Our
brethren meet to-night, and I was going out, when you called, to attend the
meeting. I will lay your case before it to-night, and, as I have no spare
bed, if you will put on this camblet wrapper and oblige me by wearing this
hat—for the night is rough out,—I will accompany you to a comfortable
inn which lies on my way, and find you a lodging. To-morrow at ten
o'clock call on me here, and I will tell you what we have done for you.'

The friendly kindliness of James' voice, and his manner in speaking to
the wayfarer struck both his wife and brother, and his hearty and cordial
hospitality and open-handed benevolence, made a deep impression upon
them. They remained silent for several minutes after Mr. Layton and the
stranger had left, reflecting upon what they had witnessed. At length
Lewis spoke with great emphasis and feeling.

`This is, indeed, wonderful! Henceforth, Catherine, I am an “Odd Fellow.”
'

`How very extraordinary,' said Mr. Layton, speaking after a few moments
reflection, that in a Christian land such language should ever fall from the
lips of the destitute: `in finding a member of my Order depended my only
hopes of sustenance and shelter. Truly Christians should be ashamed
that they are outdone in true charity by a mere human association.'

The wants of the wanderer were inquired into by two of the `brethren'
sent early the next morning by the Order, to the inn where James had left
him; and in a short time, under their kind hands, there was a manifest
change made in his wardrobe and external appearance. Money was also
placed by them in his hands, and they parted from him with that fellowship
and good will which is so beautiful a characteristic of their order.

`It is already past ten o'clock, James,' said Lewis, who had waited at
home to see the issue of his brother-in-law's benevolent purposes towards
the guest of the evening before; he was, also, after a night's sleep upon it,
less zealous in becoming an `Odd Fellow.' The arguments of James had
been partially forgotten and their impression in a manner passed away. `I
should not be surprised, brother,' he said, laughing, as the hands of the
clock indicated half-past ten, `if you never saw your new camblet wrapper
more!'

`You will not triumph over me, Lewis,' answered James pleasantly; `he
will yet be here.'

, You were so generous, too, as to loan him your new beaver, bought
lately at Barry's. You had best call in to-day and purchase another—for
your's is by this time at a pawnbroker's, or on its way to Baltimore or

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Symmzonia! Did you look, Catharine, to see if anything was missing from the
front entry?'

`You laugh at me, Lewis,' said James Layton; `but rest assured you
will not have the victory.'

`He may be a rogue though an Odd Fellow, and so deceive you.'

`No. The principles of our Order have an influence upon the moral
man that no temptations can weaken or throw aside. If it were not, if he
should prove a rogue, yet I have but done my duty in succoring a `brother.'
I am free the guilt remains with him.'

`And so do the new camblet wrapper and the Barry. If you see either
of them again I will become a member of an Order whose moral power is
such as to bring men's vices into subjection to its principles.'

`Whatever motive, Lewis, may lead you to become an Odd Fellow, you
would, believe me, find it greatly to your interest to be one, especially if
you should travel. Everywhere you would find the hand of fellowship extended
to welcome you, and in the face of a stranger find the smiles of a
friend. But we never urge, not even invite any one. If you will be one of
us, we will open our arms to welcome, love, cherish, defend and befriend
you through weal and in wo.'

`If your friend returns I will offer myself at your next meeting. On his
good faith, you see I have hung the faith and honor of your whole order.'

`And on it I am willing it should hang,' said James firmly. There is the
door bell.'

`If it be your Barry and wrapper I am an Odd Fellow from this day,' said
Lewis laughing.

`A gentleman wishes to see you, Mr. Layton,' said the maid.

`Show him in!'

`Are you sure it is a gentleman and not the man who was here last
night?' asked Lewis.

`Yes, indeed. Don't I know a gentleman from a loafer like him! It
took me half an hour this morning to get the mud from his heels off the
rug! This is a gentleman Mr. Lewis you may be sure on on it.'

`It is not your man, James,' said Lewis with a look of triumph, as the
girl returned to the hall.

`You are right,' said James, as she ushered in a very gentlemanly looking
man who bowing politely stood as if he expected to be recognised.

`You do not know me, I see, sir.'

`Now you speak I do,' said Mr. Layton approaching and extending his
hand. `Now, Lewis,' he said aside, `what think you of my camblet and
Barry.'

His brother made no reply, but stood surveying the stranger with incredulity
and surprise.

`You pardon my delay,' said he, `but I was taken in hand by two `brethren,
' whom your kind mention of my misfortune, brought early to my Inn
this morning; and they would not be satisfied till they had taken me to a

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clothing ware-house and provided me with a handsome suit of clothes besides
other conveniences of which I stood in need. It is not a quarter of
an hour since they let me go, when I directly hastened hither. Your hat
and coat, sir, I brought and have left in the hall. I know not how to
thank your hospitality and attention;' he continued pressing James' hand
in both of his own; `I hope you will not fail to present my grateful acknowledgments
to the society which had so generously contributed to my
aid, and accept for yourself and family my best wishes for your happiness.'

`When do you leave?' asked James.

`In the cars this afternoon. I shall be in Baltimore probably in three
days, when I will write you, and assure you that I have not been an unworthy
object of the regard of my order.'

`Pardon my inquiry—but have you money?'

`Yes, furnished me by the two `brethren' sent to execute the will of the
order in my behalf.'

Shortly afterwards Mr. Drumond, for he gave his name as Henry Drumond,
took his leave, followed by the kind wishes both of Lewis and Mr.
Layton.

`Now, Lewis,' said James, as the door closed on their late guest.

`I have sacrificed my prejudices to facts that I can no longer resist. I
must yet ask one indulgence, brother. If the result turns out as I wish, I
will be as strongly the advocate of your Order as I have been its opponent!
'

`Name what you wish.'

`Frankly then, I have to confess a lingering suspicion that while it remains,
will not leave me so free to act as I would wish, should I conclude
to be proposed as a candidate for membership in your noble fraternity.
He says he was shipwrecked six weeks ago on the coast of Maine.'

`This can be proved, then, by reference to Topliff's files.'

`No; yet it would be well enough to look for such a shipwreck in the
reporter's list. He said the name of his ship was the `Trident.' But this
is not my object alone. If he was wrecked six weeks ago in Maine, and is
a man of respectable connection in Baltimore, why did he not write from
the first town for means, and there writ till he heard. Ten days would
have brousht him a reply and money if his tale be a true one. Instead of
that he wanders from town to town and is six weeks reaching this city; I
must confess this looks very suspicious.'

`But he returned the coat and hat, brother—this was test enough of his
honesty in his narrative,' said Catherine, who had a moment before entered
the room, and was listening with deep interest to their conversation.

`It was his policy to do so—besides he had no further need of them, being
well supplied both with clothes and money. This goes for nothing
with me, I will wait until he fulfils his promise in writing from Baltimore.
If he writes even I will advance no further objections and shall be ready
most cheerfully to enrol myself in a society which is distinguished by benevolence
so noble and by a code of principles so pure!'

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That very day James took Lewis with him to Topliff's; and after turning
over a file of papers for several weeks back, saw under date of December
28, an extract of a letter dated Castine, Me., which read as follows:

`We have had a South East gale blowing hard for the last forty-eight
hours, and last night the ship Trident bound from Copenhagen to Baltimore,
was driven ashore three leagues from— light. Out of a crew
of twenty-one seven have been lost, including the captain and mate. Those
who were saved came ashore with the loss of every thing. The ship is
fast going to pieces and will probably with her cargo, be a total loss. No
insurance. Among those saved are the supercargo and second mate, and
one passenger, a Swede.'

The young men on reading this paragraph silently exchanged looks.
Lewis saw the expression of triumph on James' face and said, as if he
were not altogether disposed to give up,

`This is all very well; but he might have known of the wreck of this
ship, and so told his tale.'

`You are incorrigible, Lewis, I see plainly,' said James, laughing. `I see
you have little faith after all in our Order.'

`Yes I have in it. I believe it now to be all you have said; but I am, I
confess, suspicious of the person who has solicited its charity. It seems so
strange that a perfect stranger to you should have been so handsomely relieved
and suffered to depart. Surely, your open handed benevolence
which admits no suspicion, must leave you exposed to deception.'

`No—for none apply who are not of our Order.

`And you contend that all who are of it are infallible in morals.'

`Yes, so far as the sacred character of our Order's charity is concerned.
There is not on the globe one who would make it the instrument of fraud
or vice.'

`If you get a letter from Mr. Drumond, I am silenced save in praise,'
said Lewis as they parted each to go to his place of business.

James Layton, it is time to say, was a junior partner in an extensive Jeweller's
establishment in Washington street, to which trade he had regularly
served an honorable apprenticeship. His late employer had a few months
before taken him into partnership, and as we have seen he did not long afterwards
remain a batchelor. He lived in genteel style in a pleasant part of
the city, and was prosperous in his affairs; while he was to be envied as we
have witnessed, in the happiness and comfort of his domestic arrangements.
Lewis Foster whose sister he had married, was also a junior partner in a
respectable dry goods store. He was a young gentleman of strict morals
and of considerable intelligence. The warmest friendship had long existed
between the two young men, and nothing had ever occurred to interrupt
the harmony of their fraternal intercourse.

A week—ten days—a fortnight passed, and yet no letter had been received
from Baltimore. Lewis was about to declare himself the victor in

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his opinion of the shipwrecked stranger, and James' hopes in his integrity
to misgive him, when a letter mailed at Baltimore was brought from the
post-office. Without opening it James left his store and went to Lewis,
and exhibiting the outside, broke the seal. As he unfolded it hurriedly a
bank note fell from it, and fluttered to the floor. Lewis caught it and exclaimed,

`A hundred dollar note, as I live!—Read the letter!' he cried eagerly.

James read as follows:—

Baltimore, March 10, 183—.

`My Dear friend and `brother':—I am happy to inform you of my safe
arrival here yesterday, having been detained in New York by illness. I am
now quite well again and hasten to return you my acknowledgments for
your kind assistance, and that of your Order. The amount of money generously
advanced me, and the bill for my wardrobe is something under the
amount I enclose, which I beg you will do me the favor to return to the society,
for the aid of others of the Order who like me may be thrown by
Providence in a condition to call for its benevolence. I pray you will present
my regards to your family and accept the assurances of my grateful
friendship. If you, or any of your friends should visit Baltimore, where I
shall remain and engage in the mercantile business, I shall esteem myself
signally happy in extending to you our hospitality.

When James had finished the letter he looked up and met Lewis' eye.

`Forgive me James,' he exclaimed warmly and with much feeling. `I
will no doubt, after this, the purity of your Order, nor the principles of its
members, than I do the goodness of your own heart and the excellency of
your understanding. From this hour I am heart and hand with you. In
your next meeting I hope you will not forget to propose me as a candidate
for initiation as a member of the noble association of the `Independent Order
of Odd Fellows.”

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