The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1859-07-23
\ Storm for tic Bons.
A LEDGE ROOM ADVENTURE.

Twenty years ago, before the introduce
ton of Rcchabitcs, Red Men, Sons OF
Temperance, aud various other secret
organizations of the same mysterious
character, the vo.y name /" Free Mason
was frcighted with terror to the women
and children of a village of which my
father was resident.
In 1889, l was placed, boy of ten
years, III the academy, which stood on
an elevation i'll the suburbs. The
scholars were all confoundcd one evening,
at the close Of the weeks recitations, by
the announcement from the desk, that,
on the following Monday, we would
assemble in the old Federal Scilooliouse,
which was situated in the very centre of
the town, on an open square. The
academy had been sold to the Roman
Catholics, and was to be rebuilt, en-
larged, and consccratcd to the worship
of God by that sect. / felt attached to
the place heard the proclamation with
sorrow, and shed a quiet tear for the
sacrifice Of the beautiful oak copse where
had been accustomed to play SO happily
with my companions.
In the new playground there was not
spear Of grass, nor a friendly tree,
under which we might sit or lie, in time
or recess, and tell on listen to the relation
of the stories we had read in the Arabian
nights.
Oh. it was pusillanimous removal.
Then, III the second story of the Fed
cral was an old Free MaSon's Lodge, of
which the majority Of us stood greatly in
awc-having heard our mothers and
sisters unfold dreadful tales concerning
the horrible transactions that had taken
place, years ago, up those fearful stairs.
However, we went as directed, the sub
sequent week, and continued our pursuit
OF knowledge for several months, as con-
tcntedly as possible, under the circum-
stances. We often stood outside the
building and threw stones at the window
shutters, or tried 10 peer through the
broken Stats that concealed the wonderful
lodge from our longing eyes and We
convcrsed, i'll low tones, Of the homicide
that had been committed by the order,
as the penalty Of ono of its members for
revealing its secrets. The fraternity
had long since dishandcd. Most Of those
who had composed it were dead and the
few that survived were regarded as
objects OF us much fear as the awful room
itself.
One fortunate day, in a scunle with
one Of nay schoolnatcs, my foot was
thrown violently against the locked door
thai led mp stairs, and u part Of one Of
the panels was broken out. The most
intrepid declared his intention of remoy-
ing the remainder Of the panel, and
making tour Of discovery. Suiting
the action to the word, he drew out the
intervening piece Of wood, and rolling
hlmsclfup, passed throry I'll the aperture.
Like flock Of sheep, W. all followed
but more cautiously. The steps crcakcd
with an onlinous sound the dim LIGHT
that guided our footsteps made the ex-
cursion exceedingly gloomy, and filled
our minds with indcscribablc apprchcn-
sions. With the exception Of three, all
turned before reaching the top Of the
flight, and flying hastily down, declared
the mcarthly noises heard above were
too hldcous to venture among.
My heart beat quietly, and my knees
became trcmulous, but pride and curiosity
encouraged me so, laying hold on the
knob of Il door, and crying " Come on,
brave lads" 1 opened the portal and
entered an ante chamber. 1t was a
small, square room, containing one vim
dow, a closet, and It table, upon which
stood huge stone pitcher. Everything
was covered with dust. We stepped
stealthily around on tip-toe-carcful to
leave the door wide open for escape,
should any Satanic shape suddenly
emerge from the closet or pitcher, into
neither of which had any one the pre-
sumption to look.
Not intimidated by the appearance of
any vague figures, we boldly resolved to
make the hazardous penetration OF anothcr
apartment. In The door / observed a
round hole, and pceping through,
imagined the indistinct form of a long
bearded man advancing toward me, with
d rcd-hot iron rod. Dashing backward
across the room, | knocked over one of
my companions, whose arm struck the
table, upsetting it, and throwing the
pitcher on the floor. Altogether, there
was an uproar more nearly resembling
the noise Of thunder than any other
Three or four Of the descrtcrs had again
joined us, and in the hasty retreat, all
went tumbling head over heels, down
stairs and through the door, scarifying
and bruising our hands and legs.
One vowed he saw the ghost of MUIR
dercd man " the blood all streaming from
his wounded breast" Another affirmed
that "the huge pitcher jumped up and
down three times, and fell over on the
floor before it was touched !" while
George Nick, a young Irish boy,
who always ovcrtopped everybody else
IN extravagant stories, contonded that he
saw &c no more nor less than Satan him
self issue from the hole in the door, with
frebrand in his hand, and spear upon
the end of his tail brandishcd in every
direction -
When an individual once sees Satan,
though armed with full suphurous
pauopoly, he is said to be strangely
fascinating. 1t was so in the present
instance. No sooner had Georoo arrived