M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1855-03-16
A TALE Ct cop.FELLowsHIP.
= ORR
Womnn's Cur iOsity.

room done up clean aid nice. il was un'
snimOusly resolved that Mrs. K
should he employed to do the job.
After the meeting adjourned, the
Guardian, who knew the inquisitivs
character Of Mrs. K, procured bill.
ly goat and placed him in cl lOset which
is kept as reservoir for the secret
things. He then informed the lady oil
the wishes Of the lodge, and requested
her to come early the next morning as
he would then be at leisure to show heI
what was and what was not to be done.
Morning came and with il Madame
x with her brooms, brushes. pals
tubs, &C., prepared and armed for the
job, and found the guardian waiting for
her.
Now, madame, said he. ! will tell you
what we want done, and how We came
TO employ you. The brothers said II
was difficult to get any body TO do this
job and not be meddling with secrets in
that closet; we have lost the hey and
cannot find il to lock the door. ] as
sured them that you could be depended
upon.
Depended on said she, u guess
can. my poor, dead and gone husband
who belonged 10 the Free Masons or the
Anti.Masons, don't know which, used
10 tell me all the secrets Of the con-
earns, and when he showed me the marks
Of the gridiron made when he was ini'
tisted, and told me how they iIed poor
Morgan, never told a living soul to
this cay; if nobody troubles your close'
TO find your secrets lilr ! do, they'll Icy
there till they rot-they will.
Il thought so,' said the guardian, and
| want you to commence in that corner,
and give the " hole roUm decent clean.
ing, and as have pledged my word and
honor for your fidelity to promise, now
doa't 90 10 that closet! and then lett the
lady to herself.
No sooner had she heard the sound OF
his feet on the last step Of the stOirS
than she exclaimed, Don't go in that
closet! why, what IN earth can there be
III that closet2 I'll wanent there is a
big gridiron, or some nonsense just like
the Anti Masons. for all the world, III
be bound. will just take one peep,
end nobody will be any the wiser, as
can keep it to myself
Sui,iDg the action to the word, she
stepped softly TO the forbidden closet
turned the button-which was no soon
er done than--Ba sh.ah went the billy
goat, with a spring TO regain his liberty,
which came nigh upsetting her ladyshiP.
Both started for the door, but il was
filled with the implements Of house
cleaning, all were swept clear from their
position down TO the bottom of the
stairs.
The noise and confusion occasioned
by such unceremonious coming down
stairs drew half the town to witness,
Mrs. Ks effort to get from: under The
goat and pile OF pals, tubs, brooms and
brushes in the street.
Who should be first ON the spot but
that rascally doOr.keeper. who after re
leasing the goat, which was a cripple
for life, and uplifting the other rubbish
that bound the good woman to the earth,
anxiously inquired il she had been TAX
ing the degrees7
Taking he degreesT exclaimed our
lady, If you call tumbling from the
top TO the bottom of the stairs, with
the devil jumping after you, taking
things by degrees, have them, and il
ye frighten folks as bad as ye have me
and hurt 'em to boot, III warrent they'll
make as much nose as did
i hope you did not open the closet,
madame said the door. keeper.
Open the closet7 Eve eat the apple
she was forbidden! If you want wo'
man to do anything, tell her not 10 dc
it, and she'll DO il, sartin.'
Il could not stand the temptation.-
The secret was there-l wanted to know
it-I opened the door. and out popped
the tarnal critter right in my face
thought the devil had e.anl broke fol-
the stairs with the devil butting me
every jump fell over the tubs, and
got down stairs as you found us-all il
heap
But madame said the doc keeper
you are in possession Of the great secret
Of the order and must 60 up and be init
ated, sworn, snd ride the goat in tn,
regular way
Regular vay!' exclaimed the lady
'Snd 90 you suppose | am going neal
shat tarnal place again, and ride thai
critter without a bride or ladies sad
die? No, never! | don't want nothing
to do with the man that rides it. I'D
look nice perched on a billy goat, if il
was goat, wouldn'tl' No, never! III
never go nigh it sgain, or your hall nath.
er; If can prevent it, no lady shall
ever join The 0dd.Fellows. Why, I'D
sooner be Free Mason, and be broilet
on gridiron as long as FIRE could be
kept under it, and pulled from a garret
10 cellar, with a halter. in a pair of ole
breeches and slippers, just as my poo
dear, dead and gone husband used tC
tell me they sarved him, and he liveC
over il too, but never could live over
such an other ride as took to-day,
YOU may rest assured | shall never see
a goat but what shall think of the Odd
Fellows and the degrees.
Not long since, an eastern man
while on his way to Boston, was stop.
ped on the highway bya robber. and re