, 1858-02-26
Curiosity and is consequences.

After the meeting adjourned, the Guar
} dian, who knew the inquisitive character O
Mrs. K, procured billy-goat, and place,
him in closet that was kept as reservio
for the secret things. aue then Informed
the lady Of the wishes Of the Lodge, ant
requested her to come early next morning
as he would then be at leisure TO show he
what was and what was not to be done
Morning came, and with it Madam X.
with broom, brushes, pals, tubs, &C., pre-
pared and armed for the job, and found tht
Guardian waiting for her.
"Now, Madam" said he, II tell yor
what we want done, and how we came tc
employ you. The brothers said it was diff
feult TO get anybody to do the job and mol
be meddling with the secrets in that little
closet; we have lost the key, and cannot
find it to lock the door l assured then
that you could be depended on"
Depended on " she said; 81 guess ]
can. My poor dead and gone husband
who belonged to the Free Masons, or An
ti-Masons, don't know which, used to tell
me all the secrets Of the concern, and when
he showed me all the SECRETS of the con
cern, and when he showed rhe all the marks
the gridiron made when be was initiated
and told me how they fixed poor Morgan
| never told a living soul TO this day; il
nobody troubles your closets to find out
your secrets till do, they'll lay there till
they rot-they will"
81 thought so," said the Guardian, "and
now want you to commence in that cor
ner 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 he left the
lady TO herself.
No sooner had she heard the sound of his
feet on the last step Of the stairs, than she
exclaimed-"Don't go into that closet!-
I'll warrant there is gridron, or some
nonsense, just like the Anti Masons for all
the world-Pll be bound. Twill just take
one peep and nobody will be any wiser, as
/ can keep it to myself"
Suiting the action to the word, she STEP
ped 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 upset
ting her ladyship. Both started for the
door, but it was filed with implements for
house cleaning, and oil were swept clear
from their position down to tho bottom Of
the stairs.
The noise and confusion occasionod by
such unceremonious coming down stairs,
drew half the town to witness Mrs. K g
efforts to get from under the pals, tubs,
broom, and brushes in the street.
Who should be first 10 the spot but the
rascally deorkeeper, who, after releasing
the goat, which was 4 cripple for life, and
uplifting the rubbish that bound the good
woman to the earth, anxiously inquired il
she had been taking the degrees.
Taking the degreesp exclaimed the
lady; 'if you call tumbling from the top to
the bottom Of the stairs, with the devil af-
ter ye, taking things by degrees, / have
them; and il you frighten folks as ye have
me- and hurt them TO boot, Til warrant
they'll make as much noise as l did,"
IL hope you did not open the closet,
Madam" said the doerkeeper. I'D.
"0pen the closstl Eve ate the apple
she was forbiddenl II you want woman
to do anything, tell her not to do it, and
she'll do it certain. could not stand the
temptation. The secret was there-I want
ed to know il. opened the door, and out
popped the tarnal critter right into my
face. l thought the devil had me, and l
broke for the stairs, with the devil butting
me at every jump l fell over the tub and
got down stairs as you found Us, all in 4
heap"
"But, Madam, said the doorkeeper,
you are in possession of the great secret
OF the Order, and must be initiated, sworn,
and then 60 in the regular way"
Regular wayp exclaimed the lady,
"and do you suppose l am going near the
tarnal place again, and ride that are critter
without bride or lady's saddle2 No,
never! l don't want nothing to do with
the man that rides III I'd look nice perch
ed on o billy-goat, wouldn't l? No, never
III never go near it again, nor your Hall
nuther. If l can prevent it, no lady shall
ever join the Odd Fellows. Why, I'd soon.
er be Free Mason, and be broiled on a
gridiron as long as fire could be keptunder
it, and pulled from garrct to cellar with a
halter, in pair Of old breeches and slip.
pers, just as my poor dear husband was
Aud he lived over it, but | never could live
over such another ride as l took to-day"
PS- The quantity of eggs exported from
the State OF Maine is enormous. The