Democratic banner., 1849-08-13
I. o. OF o. F.
WoMAN's

Week before last, the brethren ofthe Lodge
of Odd Fellows at Woodstock, N. J., Dc,
terminsd to have their Hall swept out and
cleaned, and it was unanimously resolved
that Mrs. Keep Secret should be called up.
on to do the job.
After the meeting had adjourned, the
lamplighter who knew the inquisitiye char.
sctar Of Mrs. Keep Secret, went and pro.
cured q monstrous Billy goat. and placed il
in the closet which is kept as q reservoir
for ell secret things. He then proceeded
to the domicil ofths good lady, and inform.
ed her that the Lodge had determined tc
give her the job Of cleaning and sweeping
their Hall, and requested her to como early
the next morning, as he then would be al
leisure to show her what was, and what
was not to be done. ..s a.. .a-a..: 5.
The morning came, and with it Madame
Keep Secret appeared according to promise,
with her brooms, brushes, pals, tubs, &C.,
prepared and armed for the job, and found
the d~oorkssper in waiting for her. .
snow, madam said the mischs.ious door.
keeper Il will tell you what We want done,
and how we came to employ you. One of
brethren said it would be difficult to
get any body to do the job, who would not
be meddling with our secrets In that closet,
because we've lost the key and hsin't lock-
ed it. / assured him that you could be
and so they ordered me to call on
you, as knew you could be depended up.
on.' " i'} j.
Depended upon says Madam, q guess ]
can ; my poor husband that's dead and gone,
who belonged to the Free Mssons or Anti.
.asons, ! don't know which, used to tell
me all the secrets Of the consarn and when
he showed me the marks Of the gridiron
made when he was initiated, and told me
how they fixed peor Morgan, i never told 9
soul to this day, and it. nobody trou.
bles the closet to find out the secrets till j
do. they'll all lay there till they rot that
they will. 'i' 30 1" ''. ''''
Il thought so,' said the d~oorkeeper, s,nd
want you to commence st that e corner
pointed to. . place where some undigni6ed
and indecent brother had thrown out quids
tobacco, sand give the. whole room a de-
cent cleansing, and as I have pledged my
word and honor for your fidelity to promises
go tn that cbset,' and Left our
lady to herself:
No sooner had she heard the sound of his
feet upon the last step Of the, stairs, than
'he exclaimed, shat .closet-what on earth
can be there-I'n warrant g1ridirons or some
such nonsense, Just like the Anti Masohs
For all the world. I'll be! bound 1sll Just
lake q peep; there's nobodyN be any the
wiser but me, and Ill keepajtt to my
,elf.'
Suiting the action to the word, she step
ped softly to the door o. the forbidden closet
turned the button-which wss no sooner
lone them .baba, ba, ba.' went Billy with .
Ipripg to regain. bis liberty, which came
high upsstting her ladyship. Both started
or Che doorway, which was filed with her
Of house cleaning, when al vas
Iwept eileen from their position 70 the bot
:om Of. the stairs. The noise and confusion
accustomed by such - uRnersmoplons COM
down stairs, drew bali the town 70 Wit
ssss Mrs Keep Secrets efforts to get from.
inder . pile ofgoat, psils, broons, tuts, and,
'crubbing brushes. h1ih 'Hk 37sI