The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1873-08-15
a woMAM,s CURIOSITY.

up cteau Blu "A~S'
unanimously that Mrs. K. should be
employed to do the job.
After the meeting adjourned the
Guardian, who knew the inquisitive
character of Mrs. K, procured
billy goat and placed him in the
closet that was kept as reservoir
for the secret things. He then In.
formed the lady Of the wishes of the
lodge, and requested her to come
early next morning, as he would then
show her what was and what was not
to be done.
Morning came, and with il Mad
anne X. with her broom, brushes,
pals, tubs, ETC., and found the Guar
dian waiting for her.
Now, Madame, said he, 4 tell you
what we want done, and how we
came to employ you. The brothers
said it was difficult to get anybody
10 do the Job, and not be meddling
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 on
depend on | guess ! can. My
poor and dead and gone husband, ne
| belonged to The Free Masons or
anti Masons, don't know which
| He used to tell me all the secrets Of
the concern and when he showed me
all the marks of the grid-iron made
when he was initiated, and told me
how they fixed poor Morgan, ! never
told a living soul to this day ; If no
body troubles your closet to find out
your secrets till do, they will lay
there till they rot, they will.
Il thought SO, said the guardian,
.and now / want you to commence
in that corner, and give the whole
room a descent cleaning, and ] pledge
nv word and honor for the fidelity
to your promise, now don't 60 into
that closet, and then 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
get into that closet
sI'll warrant there's grid iron, or
some nonsense. just like the anti
Masons for all the world, iii be bound
| will take one peep, and nobody
will be any the wiser, as | can'keep
it to myself
Suiting the action TO the word she
stepped lightly to the forbidden closet,
turned the button, which was no
sooner done than 'bah-P went the
billy goat, with spring to regain
his liberty, which came near upset.
ting her ladyship. Both started tor
the door, but it was filed with imple-
I ments for house cleaning, and all
8 were swept clear from their position
/. down 10 the bottom of the stairs.
o The noise and confusion occasionec
by such unceremonious coming dowt
the stairs drew half the town to wit
= ness Mrs. ks efforts TO get from
= under the pile of pals, tubs, broom'
and brushes in the street.
n Who should be first to the spot but
the rascally door keeper after re-
J leasing the goat, which was a cripple
for life, and uplifting the rubbish
that bound tho good woman to the
earth, anxiousIy inquired if she had
been taking tho degrees.
Taking the degree exclaimed
the lady, if you call tum5ling from
the top to the bottom of the stairs
with the devil after ye, taking things
by degrees, | have them, and if ye
| frightened folks as ye 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, said the door-keeper
open the closet Eve ate the APP
pie she was forbidden If you want
a 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 wanted to know
il. | opened the door and out pop
ped the tarnal critter right into my
face. / thought the devil had me I;
and broke for the stairs with the
devil butting me at every jump, |
fell over the tub, and got down stairs
as you found US, all in heap
But, madam, said the door
keeper, you are in possession OF the
secret of our order, and you must go
up to be initiated and sworn, and
then go in the regular way
Regular way! exclaimed the lady,
and do you suppose am going near
the tsrnal place, and ride that ar
tarnal critter without bride or
lady's saddlef No, never don't
want nothing to do with the man
that rides il. Id look nice pCrched
upon billy goat, wouldn't I No,
never I'll never go nigh it again,
nor your hall nuther---it ] can pre-
vent it, no lady shall ever Join the
Odd Fellows. Why, I'd sooner be
Free Mason, and be breiled on
grid-iron as long as the fire could be
kept under it, and pulled from gsr>
ret TO cellar with halter, in pair
of old hreeches and SINNERS inst No