Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-09-25
A WOMAN'S CURIOSITY.
How Scrub.WOmRn TOOK Her
First Degree in odd Fellowship.

A certain Lodge of the Independent
Order of Odd Fellows determined to
have their lodge.room done up clean
and nice 1t was resolved unanimously
that Mrs. X. should be employed to do
the Job. After the meeting adjourned
the Guardian, who knew the inquistive
character Of Mrs X, procured billy
goat and placed him in the closet that
was kept as q reservoir for the secret
things. He then informed the lady of
the wishes of the lodge, and requested
her to come early the next morning, as
he would then show her what was and
what was not to be done. Morning
came, and with it Madam X with her
broom, brushes, pals, tubs, etc, and
found the Guardian waiting for her.
Now, madam" said he. " tell you
what we want done, and how we came
to employ you. The brothers said it
was difficult to get anybody to do the
lob, and not be meddling with the Sc
cret in the closet; we have lost the key,
and cannot find it to lock the door. |
assured them that you could be de-
pended upon"
depend onl l guess l can. My
poor and dead gone husband, he be-
ionged to the Free Masons, or ant-Ma.
sons, | don't know which. He used to
tell ms all the secrets of the concern,
and when he showed me the marks of
the gridiron, made when he was initia-
ted, and told ne how they fixed poor
Morgan, | never told a living soul to
this day if nobody troubles your closet
to find out your secrets till do, they
will be there till they rot, they will. =
"I thought so, said the guardian,
"and now | want you to commence in
that corner and give the whole room a
thorough cleaning, and | pledge my
word and honor to the fidelity of 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 feet on the steps than she EXCLAIMED
Don't get into the closet Ill war
rant there's a gridiron, or some non.
sense. just like the anti. Masons for all
the world, I'll be bound. l will take
one peep, and nobody viii be any wiser,
as 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 "bahl" went the billy
goat, with spring to regain his liberty,
which came near upsetting her ladSship.
Both started for the door, but it was
filed with iEplements for house clean
ing, and all were swept from their posi-
I ton TO the bottom of the stairs.
The noise and confusion oecasioned
by such uneeremonious coming down
the stairs drew balf the town to witness
Mrs. KS efforts TO get from under the
pile Of pals, tubs, brooms and brushes
/ ia the street
Who should 6e the frst to the spot but
that rascally do0r.keeper. After releas-
ing the goat, which was . cripple for life,
and uplifting the rubbish that bound the
GOOD woman to the earth, he anxiously
inquired if she had been taking the de-
grees. -,
Taking the degreesi' exclaimed the
lady; II you call tumbling from the TOP
10 the bottom Of the stairs with the devil
after ye taking things by degrees, have
them, and If We frightened folks as ye
frightened me, and hurt 10 boot, ~
sarFsnt they viii make as much noise as
/ did"
4 hope yoa did not open the closet,
madam, said the dOor-keepef.
open the closet2 Eve eat the apple
she was forbidden. II you want a Wo-