Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-06-18
EVENING STAR.
A TALE OF oDp.FELLowsHIP /;
OR, wOMAN's ClRIosrY.

unanimously that Mrs. K should DC
employed to do this Job.
After the meeting adjourned, the guar
dian, who knew the inquisitive charac-
ter OF Mrs. K, procured billy-goat,
and placed him in closet that was kept
as reservoir for the secret things. lie
hen laformed the lady of the wishes cr
the lodge, and requested her to come
! early the next morning, as he would
then De at leisure 10 show her what was
and what was not to be done.
Morning came, and with it Madame
Il, with her bio2m, brushes. pals,
tubs, &c., prepared and armed for the
JOB, and found the guardian waiting
for her.
"Now, Madame" said be, eI will tell
you what we want done, and how we
came to employ you. The brothers said
Il was Difficult to get anybody to do the
job and not be meidling with the secrets
IN that little closet; we have lost the
key, and cannot find it to lock the door.
assured them that you could be depend
ed on"
Depended On !" said she, al guess I
can. My poor dead and gone hu band
VINO belonged to the Free Masons or the
Anti Masons, don't know which, used
TO tell me the secrets Of the concern
and when he showed me the marks IN.
grldlron made when he was sinitiates, ard
told me how they fixed poor Morgan, |
never teld living soul to this day; il
nobody troubles your closet to find out
your secrets till do, they'll Law there
| TIL they rot-they will"
"a thought SO, said the guardian
land now l want you to commence in
that corner, and give the whole room a
descent cleaning. and l have pledged my
word and honor for your fidelity to your
promise, now don go into that closet -
and then left the lady to herself.
| No sooner had she heard the sound o.
his feet on the last step of the stairs than
she exclaimed: Don't go in that closet .
W by, what on earth can there be in that
closet! LII warrant thlre is pig, grid
iron, or some nonsense, Just like the
Anti MaSOns, for all the world, I'll be
bound. | will just take one peep, and
nobody will be any the wiser, as [ can
keep it to myself"
| SRitlng the action to the word. she
stepped lightly to the forbidden closet,
! turned the button, which was no soaner
done than bah /! went the billy, goat.
with spring to regain his lit orty, which
came nigh upsetting her ladyshin. Both
started for the door, but it was filed
with implements Of houge-cleanine. all
were swept clear from their position
down to the bottom of the stairs.
The noise ard confusion occasioned by
such unceremonlous coming down stairs
drew half the town to witness Mrs.
K eilort to get from under the goat
and pile OF pals, tubs, brooms and
; brushes in the street.
Who should be first on the Snot bit
The raScaiiy ioor-kecper, mho, after re
leasing The goat, which was a CripDlc for
lie, and uplifting the o.her rubbish that
bound the good woman % tho earth
anxicusly inquired if she had been taking
the degrees
- Taking the degrees Z" exciained the
lady, Z" if you call tumbling from the
top to the bottom CT the stairs, with toe
devil after ye, taking things By degrees
! have them, and ii ye frishter folks as
bad as ye have me, and hurt them tc
boot, I'll warrant they'll make as much
noise as did"
" hope you did 10. Open t.,o closet,
madam" said the door keeper.
"Open the closet? Eve ate the apple
she wdS forbidden! # you want q wo-
man 20 90 any thing, tell her not to g.
it, and SHE'LL 90 i: S&rtin could not
stand the temptation. The secre. was
theTe-I wanted to know it-l opened
the door and out popped the tarnal crit
ter right into my face. [ thought the
devil had NE, and [ broke for the stairs
with the devil buttjng me at every Jump:
fell over the tub, and got down stairs
| as yoa found us-all in heap"
&" But, madam" said tie door-keeper.
"you are In possession of the greas Sc
crei OF The order and must go up and be
Initiated, sworn, and ride the goat in the
regular way"
Regular way" exclaimed the lady,
and do you suppose am going near the
tarnal place again, and ride that critter
without bride or ladies saddlel No,
never! don't want nothing to do with
the man that rides it. I'd look nice
perched on billy-goat, would Mt +!
No, no, never! Ill never 60 nigh it
again. Or your hall nuthcr-ifI can ever
prevent it no lady shall ever join the Odd
Fellows. Why, I'd sooner be a Free
Mason, and be broiied On a gridiron as
long as fire could be kept under 1t, and
pulled from garret to cellar, with hal
ter, in pair of old breeches and Slip
perS, just as my poor, dear husband
was! And he lived over it, too, but
never could live over such another ride
as took to day"