Mountain Democrat., 1857-08-15
Wonlan,a Curioaitr.


done up clean and nice; and it was re-
solved unanimously that Mrs. X should
be employed to do the job.
Alter the meeting adjourned, the guar
dian, who knew the inquisitivc character
Of Mrs. K, procured billy goat and pla-
ced him in closet that was kept as
reservoir for the secret things. He then
informed the lady Of the wishes of the
lodge, and requested her to come early
the next morning, as he would then be at
leisure to show her what was and what
was not TO be done.
Morning came, and with it, Mrs. X.
with her bFOoln, brushes, pals, tubs, ETC.,
prepared for the job, and found the guar.
dian waiting for her.
Now, madam" said he, 81 will tell
you Whist We want done, and how VIC
came TO employ you. The brothers said
it was difficult to got any body to do the
job, and not be meddling with the secrets
in that little closet; VIC have lost the key
and cannot find il to lock the door. l
assured thCn that you could be depended
on"
Depended on" said she, II guess
can. My poor dead and gone husband,
who used to belong to the Masons or An
Ii MasOnH, | don't know which, used to
tell me all tho secrets, and when he show
cd me the marks the gridirOn made when
he was initiated, and told me how they
fixed poor Morgan, never told living
soul to this day. If no body troubles
your closet to find out your secrets, till l
do, they'll lay there till they rot-thcy
will"
"I thoughtsO, said the guardian, ''and
now want you to commence in that cor
ner and give tho whole room decent
cleaning; and have pledged my word
and honor for your fidelity to your prom
ise. Now, don't 60 into that closet!" and
he Loft the lady 10 herself.
No sooner had she heard the sound of
his feet on the last step Of tho stairs, than
she exclaimed:
Don't 90 into that closet ! Why,
what on earth can there be, in that closet!
Ill warrant there's q pig, gridiron, or
some nonsense, Just like the Anti -Masons.
for al the world, I'll be bound. I'll Just
take one peep, and nobody will be any
the wiser, as can keep it to myself"
Suiting the action to tho word, she
stepped lightly to the closet, turned the
button, which was no sooner done than
bah went the billy goat, with spring
70 regain his liberty, which came nigh
upsetting her ladyship. Both started for
tho door, but It was filled with implc-
ments Of house-cleaning, and 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. IS
efforts 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 the
rascally door-kecper, who, after releasing
the goat, which was crippled for life, AMI
uplifting the other rubbish that bound the
good woman to tho earth, anxiously in
quired If she had bCen taking tho de-
grees!
"Taking the dcgrOcs!" exclaimed the
lady, "if you call tumbling from the top
TO thC bottom of the stairs, with the devil
after ye, taking things by degrees, Ihaye
them and II 70 ffighten folks as bad as
you have me, and hurt TO boot, I'll war
rant they'll make as much noise as did,"
II hope you did not open tho closet,
Madam" j." said the door.keoper.
"Open the closctl Eve ate the apple
she was forbidden! Ifyou want woman
TO do anything, tell her not to do it, and
she'll do 1t certain! couldn't stand the
temptation. the secret was thcrc-T want
cd to know i'll opened tho door, and out
popped the tarnal critter right into my
face. thought the devil had me, and I
broke for the stairs with the devil butting
mo ct every jump. / fell over the tub,
and got down stairs rs you found us-all
in heap"
But, Madam" said tho door keeper,
you are in possession of the great secret
Of the Order, and must 60 up and bo ini-
tiAted, sworn, and ride the goat in tho
regular way"
Regular way" exclaimed the old Ia
dy, ''and do you suppose l am going near
the tarnal place again, and ride that crit.
ter without bride and lady's saddle p
No, neverl don't want nothing to do
with the msn that rides it I'dloOk nice
perChed on billy goat, wouldn't II No,
no, neverl I'll never go nigh it again,
nor your hall nutherl i'll can prevent
it no lady shall ever join tho Odd Follows.
Why, I'd sooner be . Free Mason, and
get broiled on . gridiron as long IS fire
could be kept under it. and pulled from
gaEret 10 cellar, with . halter, in pair of
old brooches and slippers, just as my
poor, dear, dead and gone husband was!
And he lived over It. too; but could
never live over another such ride as
took to-day"