.1839-4 - THE BROTHERHOOD OF TRUTH. 95 



refusals, acceptances, and juste milieu, milk-and-water 

 epistles, written in the most approved style, which will be 

 sold in lots to suit intending purchasers. At the same time, 

 a quantity of acrostics, including Christian and surname, 

 odes to love-locks, and sonnets to mistresses' eyebrows, will 

 be disposed of at reduced prices. 



" ' Country orders punctually attended to. 

 " ' No connexion with any other house. 



" ' Hill of Parnassus, Highest Cliff, 

 " ' 1 4ooth Olympiad.' 



" They have sent me the red ribbon, and so constituted 

 me one of the friends of the Brotherhood of Truth. The 

 ribbon * I now wear, to the great wonderment and offence 

 of many of my well-wishers, who see damage to my charac- 

 ter from any connexion with the dubious persons composing 

 it ; but my character does not hang on a ribbon, and when 

 I called on Forbes, he spoke to me in the kindest manner, 

 explained the helping, unselfish character of the Society, its 

 freedom from forms and vices ; and wound it up by offering 

 and promising to do everything to help me, especially to- 

 wards getting a lectureship in the provincial towns, perhaps 

 Liverpool. At present there are unions in France, Germany, 

 England, and India, so that the craft thrives. Some of the 

 best fellows about College are in it, to know whom were 

 reward enough. 



" Mary sends you her kindest love. She is not better, I 

 am sorry to say, but confined to bed a large portion of the 

 day. I fear you will come home to a sad household ; but 



* This ribbon had interwoven in its texture, the letters O. E. M 

 those being the initials of its motto, OINO2, EPH2, MA0H2I2, and was 

 worn across the breast. 



