The Planters' banner. [volume] (Franklin, Attakapas Co., Lou.) 1849-1872, 1851-11-15
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From Godey's Lady's Book.l
THE ODD FELLOWS SECRET

TIE ODD. FELLOWS SECRET
Some wise man has suggested tina
il certain legal proclamations shoul
commence with, know one woman.
instead OF, know all men BY thes
presents' &c, the object of SAID pro
cfamation would be much better effect
ed. ], was probably the same erujit,
Feasoner who argued that the Mohome
dan doctrine Of u no women in Para
disc" must be correct. because St. Johr
in the Apocalypse expressly states tha
"There was silence in Heaven for the
space of half an hour" But, however
much the other sex may ridcule the
lDqnacitr or the tattling propensities o.
their weaker sisters, the late researches
into the history of the "heloic women
OF the Revolution have proved most
tconc!usively that, in the midst of dan
ger and in the face of death, some OF
our sex can keep the tongue from be-
traying the well-guarded secret; and
the history Of that learned lady. most
worthy member of the ancient and
ever honorable fraternity OF Free Ma
sons also adds some weight to the con-
clnsinn. That secret, the boast of
Knights masculine. and guarded BY the
pomp of imposing ceremonies, has once
been committed to the porcelain vessel
of fraii wolnan's heart, and, strange to
say, the delicate vase neither burst BY
tho explosive nature of its contents, nor
.oyerhowed with its abundance.
Bnt. nevertheless, we frankly ac-
knowledge that all Of our sex are not
thus gifted. There are Arnolds and
Genrgeys among the brave men who
gitd on the helmet and sword, and it
would be, indeed, wonder if there were
not, among those who have less strength
of arm, also sometimes less firmness of
purpose. At any rate, Aunt Wood
bhty,s though she had great confidence
in her own power of secret-keeping,
was known throughout the neighbor-
slned for her love of gossip and her in
satiable thirst for the marvellous. No
one delighted more to drink water out
OF onotheT's well, and running water
on, of her seighbor's cistern. She knew
how often Mrs. Smith went shopping,
and how much she gave a yard for all
she bought. She learned how many
eggs her neighbor Dodd sold during
the season; and she never rested quiet
In her bed afterwards until she found
out how many eggs this same lady put
In her squash pies.
She was particularly prying into the
affairs of newly-married ladies and
young housekeepers; their secrets, if
she could once get hold of them, were
not only rolled under the tongue like
sweet morseL but were digested and re-
digested, as If she had the two sto-
Inachs of ruminating animal She
never attended parties, for she was
member of the 9 Old South Presbyterian
Church n-aot the noted Old South in
Boston, dear reader, but one thus named
n the fourishing town of Glastonbury.
There were two streets in this village, /
,ne called North street, in which was
be Methodist Westinghouse, the latter
5uutk street, where Aunt Woodbury.
ived, and where also she went to meet
ng very regularly in the large, old
ashioned, high-steepled Presbyterian !
aoHse. Well % I said, she Hever al
ended parties; that self.denial was
lartsof her creed, one of the steps of s
% ladder which elevated her above c
lsr RaighboEs; bdt, in lieu thereof, she I
vas most punosual member of g The a
sewing Society, y and no one did better '
sgries with fingers and tongue. She g
vss also 1--WE must present the bright n
dec her chaEacteFl most punclual 5
sasHdant upon every church meeting. c
lss hnsband, Good Brother Wood |;
arr1 as he was called in the neigh. S
9gilgod Wss "A elder, and, OF course, Y
with Ill the private business \
E the church. As in honor bound, he n
svss revealed it even to his loving p
,euse, unless under peculiar eircum- V
aneeS which circumstances We shall $
explain. Well, some items IL
Isshsir private business would some- u
zmes leak out In the church meetings yp
.8ften in she pFayeFs--at other times htI
Is &he remarks Of brethren, whose ct
arts were burtheaed with sorrow.-- b.
IAsnever one prayed g for that erring :. :
other Whoshad gone astray,n or that th
si Aehaa might be removed ont of itp
. caaap, nthen Sister Woodbury's wits &C
30 saddeuly set to work. 81
4 aWell, pa,n she would say, as seen 70
lshs arrived and had deposited her 81
nsist and shawl in its place and seat al
hsrsslf b. the fire-'' well, pa, what
- Who have yoa got up before as
J session this wsek2 II does seem in
! IL wicksdness increased in high hl
Gcss. | thought when we got Mr.. an
arb Qua of the church for going to see IN