Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1856-02-15

town. determined 20 have their Lodge
room done up clean and nice; Il was
resolved unanimously that Mrs. k---
should be employed 10 do this Job.
After the meeting adjourned. the
guardian. who knew the Inquisisive
character Of Mra. X, procured billy
goat, and placed hIm In closet that
was kept az reservoir for secret
things. lie then informed the lady Of
the wishes OF the Lodge. and request.
cd her 20 como earl, Tho next morn.
ing, % she would be al leisure 70
show her what was and what was no!
10 be done.
Morning came and with II Madame
X, with her broom. brushes. pals.
tubs, DO, prepared and armed for the
Job. and iound the guardian waiting
for hor.
"Now madam" said he ~ will lell
you what we want done, and how We
came 70 lmploy you. The brothers
said Il was difficult 10 get any one 10
do the job and not meddle with the
secrets IN that little olutel; we have
lost the Key and cannot Gnd IL 10 loch
the door, | assured them that you
could be depended on"
Depended onl" said she; ~ guess
can. My poor dead and gone hus.
bund. who belonged to the Free Ma.
sons or Anti Masons, l don't know
which, used 10 tell mo NIL the secrets
OF the concern. and when he showed
me the marks that the gridiron made
ho was initiated, and he told me how
they fixed poor Morgan. I never told
a living soul 10 this day; IL nobody
troubles your closet 10 find out yoal
secrets I'LL l do. they'll lay there ill
they rot--they will"
III thought Sc. said the guardian,
"and want you TO commence in
that corner. and give the whole room
decent cleaning. and | have pledged
my word and honor TO your fidelity "a
your promise. Now don't 90 into
that CLOSET for your life."
He then left the lady to herself.
No sooner had she heard the sound
Of his foot on the last step Of the stairi
than she exclaimed:
Don't 60 into that closetl Why
what on earth can there be in tina
closet? III warrant there is bi.
gridiron, or some nonsense just like
the Anti Masons, for all the world
I'll be bound l will take but ont
peep, and nobody will be any the wi
ser, as / can keep it TO myself"
Sulting the action to the word. sh'
stepped lightly to the forbidden closet
trrned the button which no soone
done than u-a-hl went the bill,
goat, with a spring to regain his liber
ty. which came nigh upsetting he
ladyship. Both started for the door
but it was filed with implements 0
house-cleaning. and all were swep
clear from their position down to tn
bottom Of the stairs.
The noise and confusion occasiones
by such unceremonious coming dow
stairs, drew half the town to witnes
Mrs. KS effort to get from under tn
goat and pile ofpails, tubs, DC. in tn
street.
Who would be first to the spot bu
the rascslly doorkeeper, who. after re
leasing the goat. which was crippl
for life. and uplifting the rubbish tha
bound the woman to the earth, anx
iously inquired if she had been takinI
the degrees.
Taking the degreesl' exclaime'
the lady, "if You call tumbling frou
the top to the bottom of the stairs
with the devil arter ye, takin' thing
by degrees. have them; il you frigh.
en- folks as bad as ye have me, an
hurt to boot, I'll warrant they'll max
as much n,ise as 1 did"
81 hope you did notop the close
madam" said the doorkeeper.
"Open the closetl Eve ate the ap
pie she was forbidden. If you want
woman to do anything, tell her not I
do so, and she'll do it, certain.
could not resist the temptation. TIL
secret was there; wanted to know;
opened the door and out popped tn
tarnal crittsr right into my face.
thought the devil had me, and brok
for the stairs with the devil butting q
me at every jump 1 fell over tn
tub, and got down stairs as you lint
US, all in a heap"
"But. madam. said the door-keepel
.'you are in possession Of the great Sc
cret of the order, and must 90 up an
be initiated, sworn, and ride the gos
10 the regular way"
Irregular wayr' exclaimed the Ia
dy: "and do you suppose ! am goln
near the tarnal place again. and rid
that critter without bride or ladie'
saddle? No, neverl l don't wal
nothing to do do with the Odd Fellow