Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1859-05-18
A Tale Of Odd-Feliowship.

n 1SaAc OA OuO~E cuO"sshsP'
A lodge of Odd Fellows in an interior vii
lage, determined to have their hall renovated
and cleaned up, employed an Irish woman
the Job. The Guardian of the Lodge, who |
had the supervision of the work. knowing the |
inquisitive character of Mrs. K, procured
billy goat and placed him in the closet, which |
is kept as reservoir for the ''secret things"
and when Mrs. Kelly presented herself with
her brooms, brushes, tubs, and the usual
parephernalia of house-cleaning. sac fonnd
the Guardian in waiting to instruct her in
the duties she was to perform.
Now, madam" said he. 81 viii tell you
what we want done, and how we came to
employ you. The brothers said it would be
difficult to get any body to do the job, and
not meddle with the secrets IN that little
closet we have lost the key and cannot find
/ it to lock the door. assure them, however,
that you could be depended upon.
/ 'sDepinded upon" said she, Il guess
can my poor dead and gone husband, who
belonged to the Free Masons, the Anti
| Masons, don't know which, used to tell me
all the secrets of the consarns, and then he
showed me the marks of tue gridiron made
when he was initiated, and l never told q
living soul to this day if nobody troubles
your closet to find your secrets till do,
they'll lay there till they rot-they viii.
4 thought so." said the Guardian, land
[ want you TO commence in the corner, and
give the whole room decent cleaning, and
as l have pledged my word and honor for
your fidelity TO promise, now don't go to that
close. = and then he left the woman to her
self
No sooner had she heard the sound Of his
feet on the last steep of the stairway than she
exclaimed, Don't go to the closetl FL
warrant, there is big gridiron, or some
nonsence just like the Anti-Masons for all
the world. I'll be bound, I'll just take one
peep, and nobody will be any wiser, as can
keep it to myself
Suiting the action to the word, she stepped
softly to the forbidden closet, and turned the
button; 20 sooner was the door opened, than
"Bah-ah- alb r' went the billy y-goat, with a
spring to regain his liberty, which came
; very near upsettng her ladyshp. Both
started for the door, but it was filed with
: the implimeuts of house-cleaning all were
swept clear from their position down 20 the
bottom of the stairs. The noise and con-
: fusion occasioned by such al unwonted &C.
currance, drew half the town to witness Mrs
! | Kelly's efforts to get from under the goa
aud pile of paints, tubs, brushes, and broom'
. iu the street. Who should be the first OF
the spot but the Eaggash Guardian, who af
Il ter releasing the goat, which a crippl
| for life, and uplifting the other rubbish tha
n bound the good woman to the earth, anxious
/, ly inquired if she had been taking the de
C grees.
e Taking The degrees ?" exclaimed Biddy
: IF you call falling from the top to the bot
tom of the stairs, with the devil jumping ol
d yes, taking things by degrees, has thin
: and if yes frighten folks as yes has me, an
e hurt 'em to boot, faix, I'll warrant they
make as much oise as | did
:, Il hope you did not open the closet, mad
l. am 2" said the door keeper.
II "Open the closet Eve ate the apple sh
was forbidden ! If you want woman to d
ANYTHING. tell her not to do it, and she'll d
=. it sure. l could not stand the temptation. -
" The secret was there-I wanted to know it
~ [ opened the door. and out popped the tai
- nal critter right IN my face. | thought til
IS devil had me, and l broke for the stairs wit
=. the devil butting me every jump. fell owe
80 the Tub, and got down stairs as you found u
"A all in heap"
u but. madam" said her tormcntor, ''yc
arc in possession of great secrets OF the Ord
Mt and must go up aud be initiated sworn, an
~ ride the goat in the regular way"
- Regular way?" exclaimed Mrs kell
of ''and do you suppose am gong near IN
ba tarnal place agin, aud ride that critter witt
;or out bridal or lady's saddle No, never
nf [ don't want anything to do with the mi
- that rides it, I'd look nice, perched on a bi
~ ly-goat, if it was goat wouldn't [? n
never I'll never go nigh it agin, or yo
hall mother if can prevent it, no lady sh'
ever Join the Odd Fellows. Why I'd soon
he be Free Mason, and be broiled on a gri
'ts iron as long as fire could be kept under
m and pulled from cellar to garrart, with
III halter, in pair of old brooches and slippe
just as my poor dead and gone husband US
to tell me they served him, and he lived oy
it too, but | never could live over anoti
ride such as I took to-day"
my IL is needless to add that Mrs. Re
could not be induced to finish her job, a
me another woman, less overcome with fear a
g terror, was selected to perform the duties S
my had rcpudiated
ave stHold on dar. Brudder Nose ~