Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1849-09-12
WoMAN's CURIOSITY.

Jersey. determined 10 have their hall sWep'
out and cleaned, when il was unanimous.
ly resolved that Mrs. Keepsecret should be
called upon,to do the job. -
After he meeting had adjourned, the
lamp lighter, who well knew the inquisi.
tive character Of this lady, went and pro-
cured monstrous william goat, and placed
him in The closet which is kept as reser-
yoir for all secret things. lie then pro-
ceeded to the domcil of .he good lady and
Informed her that the lodge had determined
10 give herthe job of cleaning and sweep
ing their hall, and requested. her TO come
early in The morning, as he would be at lei
sure 10 show her what was aud what WAS
not TO be done. -.
Fhe morning came, and with it appear,
ed madam Keepseeret, according to pro-
mise. with her broom, brushes. pals. tubs,
&c. prepared aud armed for the job, and
found MIR. Doorkeeper in wai,ngcfor her.
Nov madam said the mischieyous
door. keeper, I" l.: will tell you, what we
want done and how we came 10 employ
you. One of The brethren said it twould
be difficult thing to get any body TO do
the job who would not be meddling with
secretsIiu that closet, because we've lost
the key and can't lock it,, j assured them
that YOU could be depended upon.
.Depended upon 2" says madam, II
guess | can; my poor dead and gone hus-
band, who belonged to the flee nasons, or
ant.clasons, ! dou't know which, used to
tell me all The secrets of the concarn, and
when he showed me the mark Of the grid
iron made when be was Initiated, aud told
me all how they fixed poor Morgan, new.
Ter told living soul 10 this day, and If no.
body troobes your closet 10 fluid out your
secrets till lido, they will all lay there til!
they rot-lhat they will"
Il thought so." said The door keeper,
land now want you 10 commence in thai
corner" pointing with bis finger TO a place
where some uudisnifed and indecent bro,b-
er had thrown out guilds Of tobacco, " and
give the whole room decent cleaning, as
| have pledged my word and honor for
your fidelity, 10 promise-DoN'T co IN
THAT CLOSET ~ and then left our lady 10
herself.
No sooner had she heard the sound Of
his feet upon the last step OF The stairs than
she exclaimed, THAT closet! what on
arlh can be there? I'll:warranl thero is
gridiron, or sumo suclr nonsense, just like
The anli-masnns for all The world, I'll be
bound. Ill just take peep in, and no
body'l be any wiser but me, aud / eau
keep il TO myself.
Suiliug The aclion 10 the word she
stepped softly to tho door Of the forbidden
cossl-turned The buIton-whch was no
sooner done than-'Bah-ah ah = went Bill.
ly, with spring 10 regain his liberty,
which came nigh upsetling her ludyship.
Both started for the door, which was filled
with her implements of house cleaning,
when all were swept clear from their posi-
ton clean down 10 the bottom of the stairs,
The noise and confusion occasioued by
such an unceremonious coming down
stairs, drew half The town TO witness Mrs.
Keepsecrel's efforts 10 get from under the
goat, and The pile Of pals, tubs, brooms
and brushes.
Who should be first on tho spo! but tha,
rascally door keeper, who after releasing
The goat, which was made cripple Of for
life, and unpiliQg The other rubbish which
bound the good lady 10 the floor, apxiously
inquired if she had been taking the "de.
grees.''
Taking the degrees !" exclaimed our
lady, ''if you can call tumhlins from the
top to the bottom of the stairs with tar
nal goat to jump upGu ye as ye go, lakiog
things by degrees, have; and if ye gene.
rally rrighen folks as bad as ye have me.
and hurt 'eueio boot, I'll warrant ye they'll
make as much noise as me-"
IL hope you did not open the closet
madam" said the doorkeeper.
"Open The closet an sure did NOT Eve
eat the apple when forbidden F.? If you
want woman to do anything tell her not to
do it, and she'll do it sarlan. could not
stand The temptation. There was The
sccret-l wanted 10 know it, and opened
the clnset door, out popped the larnal goat,
right in my face. thought 10 he sure it
was the devil, and run for The stairs with
il a, my heels, when fell over tho tubs,
and we all arrived at The hcllom of The
stairs, as you found US, in heap together.
"Bu, madam" said the door keeper.
lyon are in possession of the great secret
of the order, and must 20 up and bc inilia.
ted, sworn and ride the goat in the regular
way.
Regular war;" exclaimed The lady,
"and do you suppose am going near
that tarnal criItur again, and without a
bridle or lady's saddle? No never IL
don't wan, nolhin' to do with il, or man
that rides it. I'D look nice pcrchcd on
goat, wouldn't | 2" I'll never 20 nigh it
ngain, nur your hall, nur'her; and if eau
prevent il, no lady shall ever join the Odd
Fellows. Why, Id sooner be Free Ma.
son or Au,i- Mason, and brolsd on a grid
iron rs long as fire could be kept under it,
and pulled from garret 10 cellar with a
halter in IA pair of old brecchcs and slip
pers, just as my poor dead and gone hus-
band used to tell me they served him, aud
he lived over it TOO but never could live
over such another ride as l took with The
goat to-day, you may rest assured | shall
never see goat but what shall think ol
the Odd Fellows"