The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1873-06-06
WHY LEFT THE M1scNs.

Want to know why | left the Ma
sons? Well, III tell you, and l rather
think You would leave them too, if you
GOT into such a scrapc as | did.
Years ago, when | first joined, l was
very punctual in my attendance at the
Lodge meetings, much to the disgust
Of my wife, who, with the whole fami-
ly, was continually quizzing me about
our dOings at our meetings, and upon
my asserting that riding q goat was a
part of my business, she insisted upon
! knowing all the particulars about the
animal until, to silence her, | said
would bring him home and show him.
| Of course | never intended to keep my
promise, but an unlucky fate ruled
| otherwise.
One night about II o'clock, as I was
| plOdding home from the Lodge, | heard
/ in advance of me continuous pathetic
| bIeating, and | soon came up with q
large goat standing upon the walk,
who had evidently lost his bearings
and wandered away, and being in great
grief, was crying, Il want to 90 home -
| never. liked goats, and my firstim-
pulse was to kick this one (and | have
! always regretted l didn't do it), but
| the mOurnful tone of his voice created
| a little sympathy for him in nv breast,
and | patted him kindly on the head,
and went on. But the goat followed
! close to my heels, and although | as
surcd him his home did not lie this
way, but was probably down the street
we had Just crossed, he persisted. AS
we approached my home | more ear
nestlv demonstrated with him on his
folly, and finally persuaded him by 60
ing with him and constantly patting
! him on the rear with the toe of my
! boot, to return one row. | was much
out Of breath myself, and | said to the
goat, Now, old fellow, sit down on
! the curb and rest vourself-yOu're tired
-I'll be back in a minute-iust want
! to 90 around the cOrner''-and | start
ed on the run, but in a moment the
goat was at my heels. i reached home,
| darted up the steps, opened the door,
and with feeling of great relief step
| ped in; when, to my horror, through
my legs into the hall bounded that
! goat with a triumphant bleat that
echoed through the upper halls and
! chambers, awakening the whole house
hold. The hall lamp was burning
/ brightly, but up the stairway all was
! dark, and | saw at a glance that every
thing was arranged for the special con-
venience of gazers from above. The
goat had retired to the further end of
the hall and stood facing me, occasion
ally bleating, but as L began to be
somewhat exercised in my mind about
! them, | cannot say whether the tones
/ were those of triumph or ridicule, or
of defiance. Whatever they were,
declared war at once and made for the
goat, who seemed to understand that
| meant business, and he met me half
way with blow from his head which
! staggered me, following it up with an
other and another, till l began to ina
! CINE myself a fortress assaulted by a
small battering ram, and was about TO
yield to the enemy; when he had driven
me back to the foot of the stairs, he
retreated to his position at the other
end of the hall, and again faced me.
! "Round number One-tirst hit for
= the goat" came to my ears from aloft,
and as | cast my eyes upward a peal
of laughter came tearing down the
stairs, and | could just perceive crowd