Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1873-11-04
A WOMAN'S CURIOSITY.
How a Scrub-WOman Took Her
First Degree in odd Fe low
shin.

SnIps
A certain lodge of the IndepecderO
Order of Odd Fellows determined Io
have their lodge room done up clean
and nice. 1t was resolved unanimous
ly that Mrs. X, should be employed 10
do the job. After the meeting a6-
iourned the guardian, who knew the
inGuisitive character of Mrs. K, pro-
cured billy-goat and placed him lin
the closet that was kept as reser--
vOir for the secret things He then in
formed the lady of the wishes of the
lodge, and requested her to come early
the next Morning, as he would the II
show her what was and what was not
to be done. Morning came, and with
1T Madame K, with her broom, brush
es. Lails, tubs. etc. and found the
guardian waiting for her.
Now, madame" said he, 81 tell
you what we want done, aud how we
came to employ you. The brothers
said it was difficult to get anybody to
do the job, and not be meddIing with
the secret in the closet; we have lost
the key, and cannot find it to lock the
door. assured them that you could
be depended upon"
depend on! | guess I can. My
poor and dead gone husband. he be-
lOngei to the Free MasOnS, or anti-nIa-
sons, don't know which. He used
to tell me all the secrets of the con-
Germ. and when he showed me the
marks of the gridirOn, made when he.
was initiated, and told he how they
fixed poor Morgan, L never told liv-
ing soul to this day; if nobody trOu-
bles your closet to find out your secrets
till do. they will he there till they
rot, they WILL
a. thought So" said the guardian,
land Row | want you TO commence ia
that corner and give the whole room Il
thorough cleaning, and pledge my
word and honor to the fidelity of your
promise now don't 20 into that clos
etj' and then left the lady to herself.
No sooner had she heard the sound
of his feet on the steps than she eX-
claimed Don't get into the clOSet!'
III warrant there's a grIdirOn, or some
nonsense, Just like tho -MasOns for
all the world, I'll he bound. | will
take one peep, and nobody will be any
wiser, "a [ can keep it to myself"
Suiting the action to the word she
stepped lightly to the forbidden closet,
and turned the button, which was no
sooner done than "bau !" went the
biIly-gOat, with Il 81 ring To regain his
liberty which came near upsetting
her ladyship. Both started for the
door, bat it Was filled with imp.e-
nfents for house cleaning. aud all were
swept from their position to the bot
tom OF the stairs.
The hoist and confusion Occasioned
by such unceremoniOuS coming down
the stairs drew all the town to witness
Mrs. KS efforts to get from under the
pile of pals, tubs, brOoms Snd brushes
in the street.
Who should be the first to the spot
but that rascally dOOrkeeper. After
releasing the goat, when was Grip
pie for life and uplifting the rubbish
that bound the good woman to the
earth. anXiousiy inquired if she had
been taking the degrees
Taking the degree ~ exclaimed the
lady " you call tumbling from the
top to the bottom of the stairs with
the devil after ye taking things Ivy de-
erees, have hem. and If ye fright
ened folks as We frightened me, and
hurt To boot, I'll warrant they will
make as much noise as | did"
Il hope you did not open the closet,
madam y said the door keeper.
open the closet? Eve cate the APP
pie she was fOrbdde If you want Il
woman To do anything. tell heI not to
do it, and she'll do il certain. | could |
not stand the temptation. The secret |
was there. ! wanted TO know it. | |
opened the door, and out popped the !
tarnai cr!ttrr right into nay face. | |
thought the old boy had me. and | /
broke for the stairs with the critter |
butting me at every jump. / fell over
the tub and got down stairs as you
found US all in Il heap"
But. madam said the dOOrkeep-
er, you are in possession of the great
secret of our order, and you must go
Ip to be initiated and then 90 in the
regular way"
Regular wavi' exclaimed the la
1y, land do you suppose am going
-arnal crittei without bride or la
iy's saddle? No, don't want any
hing to do with the man that rides it.
I'd look nice perched upon billy
goat, wouldn't /? No, never! I'll
never 90 nigh it again, nor you shall
| can prevent it, no lady
shall ever join the Odd Fellows. Why,
I'd sooner be a Free Mason, and
,roiled, OH a gridiron as long as the
ire could be kept un,ler it, ana pulled
rom garret to cellar with a halter. in
pair of old breeches aud slippers. just
IS my poor dead husband. And he
Ived over it, but never could live
,ver such another ride as | took to-
lay.