The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1857-02-13
VOL. IX.--NO. 43s.
THE WOMAN THAT JUST WANTED TO
PEEP INTO THAT PRIVATE CLOSET.


up clean and nice, and it was resolved unani.
mously that Mrs. X. should be employed to
do the Job. After the meeting adjourned, the
guardian who knew the inquisitive character
of Mrs. K, procured goat and placed 1t in
the closet which 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 next morning. as he would
then be at leisure 60 show her what was and
what was not to be done.
Morning came and with it Madame X. with
her broom, brushes. pals, tubs, &C., prepared
and armed for the job, and found the guardian
waiting for her. ~.
Now, madame. said he, I'll 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 meddling
with the secrets within that little closet; we
have lost the key and cannot find it to lock
the door. assured that you could be de-
pended on
Depended on + said she, guess l can
My poor dead husband. who belonged TO the
Free Masons, or Anti-Masons, don't know
which, used to tell me oil the secrets Of the
concern, and when he showed me all the
marks the gridiron made when he was init.
ated, and told me how they fixed poor Nor
gan, I never told living soul to this day;
and if nobody troubled your closet to find
out your secrets till do. they'll lay there
till they rot--they will s 14 ef
Il thought so, said the guardian and now
I want you to commence in that corner and
give the whole room a decent cleaning, and
have pledged my word and honor for the
fidelity to your promise. now don't go into
that closet, and then left the lady to herself
No sooner had she heard the sound Of his
foot on the last step Of the stairs than she
exclaimed-'Don't go into that closeti I'll
warrant there is gridiron, or some nonsense.
just like the Anti.Masons, for all the world.
III be bound. will just peep and nobody
will oe any wiser, as can keep it to myself
Suiting the action to the word she stepped
lightly to the forbidden closet-turned the
button--which was no sooner done than bah,
went the billy goat, with spring to regain
his liberty. which came near upsetting her
ladyship. Both started for the door, but it
was filed with implements for household
cleaning, and all were swept clear from their
position down to the bottom Of the stairs.
The noise and confusion occasoned by such
uneeremonious coming down stairs, drew half
the town to witness Mrs. K.'s efforts to get
from under the pile of pails tubs, brooms
and brushes into the street. yts
Who should be first on the spot but tho
door keeper, who after releasing the goat,
which was cripple for life. and uplifting
the rubbish that bound the good woman to
the earth, auxiously inquired If she had been
taking the degrees.
Taking the degreesr exclaimed shelf
you call tumbling from the top to the bottom
of the stairs. with the devil after you, taking
things by degrees. have them, AMI if you
frighten folks as you have me, and hurt them
to boot, I'll warrant they'll make as much
noise as did,
4 hope you did not open the closet, man,
said the doorkeeper.
Open the closeti Eve ate the apple she
was forbiddeni If you want woman to do
anything, tell her not to do it, and she'll do
it certain. I could not stand the temptation.
The secret was there. wanted to know it.
opened the door and out popped the tarnal
critter right into my face. thought the
| davil bad mo and hroLa for tb. % aha ,,,;tb
the devil butting me behind at every jump
I fell over the tub and got down stairs as you
found us, all in heap
But, madam said the door.keeper, you
are in possession Of the secret Of the Order,
and must 60 up and be initiated, sworn, and
60 in the regular way ~
Regular wayl' exclaimed the lady, and
do you suppose / am going near the tarnal
place again, and ride that ar crtter without
bride or a lady's saddle No. neveri I'll
never 60 nigh it again, nor your hall nuther.
If I can prevent it, no lady shall ever join
the Odd Fellows. Why. I'd sooner be Free
Mason, and be broiled on gridiron as long as
fire could be kept under it, and pulled from
garret to cellar with halter in pair Of old
breeches and slippers, just as my poor dead
husband was; he lived over it, but could
never live over such another ride as took
to-day .,.ef. ..ii
The causes of revolutions are often unwrit.
ten and as often unknown. A woman,--but
this Is nothing remarkable, for women are