The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1873-08-29
A W0MANS CURIOSITY.
How n Scrub Woman Took Her
First Degree In Odd Fellowship.

Il
have their large room done up clean
land nice. Ii was resolved unanimously
that Mrs. IL. should be employed TO do
the Job. After the meeting adjourned
the guardian. who knew the inquisitiye
character of Mrs. X, procured a billy
goat and placed him in the closet that
was kept as reservoir for the secret
things. lie 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
II what was not 10 be done. Morning
came. and with it Madame X. with bcr
broom, brushes. pals. tubs. etc. and
found the guardian waiting for her.
Now. Madame said lac. Il tell you
what we want done. aud how we came
to employ YOU. The brothers said j,
was difficult TO get anybody TO do the
job. and not be meddling with the Sc
crci in the closet we haze lost the key.
and cannot find il TO lock the door.
assured them that you can be depended
on.
I depended ON. | guess ! can. My
poor and dead aud gone husband, lie be-
longed 10 the Free Masons or anti- Ma
sons. don't know which. lie use 10
tell me all the secrets OF the concern.
and when he showed me all the marks
OF the gridirOn made when he was
initiated. and told me how they fixed
poor Morgan. never told living soul
70 this day: if nobody troubles your
closet 70 find out your secrets till do.
they will be there till they rot they VIII.
Il thought so, said the guardian. "and
now | want you 10 commence IN that
corner. and give the whole room q de-
cent cleaning. and pledge my word
and honor for the fidelity 10 Your prom
iise. now, don't 20 into that closet" and
then lcf the lady 20 herself
- sooner had she heard the sound OF
his feet on the last step of the. steps
than lie exclaimed. Don't 30 into that
closet =" IN warrant there's a gridiron.
or some nonsense, just like the anti
Masons for all the world. III he bound.
Z | will take one peep. and moody will
! he any the wiser n ! can keep il 10 my
self" Suiting the acting 10 the word
she stepped lightly 10 the forbidden
lcloset. turned the button. which no
sooner done than bah - went the billy
goat. With spring 10 regain his liberty.
which came near upsctiing her ladyship.
Both started Tor the door. but il was
filled with implements for house clean
ing. and all were swept clear from their
position down 10 the bottom of the
stairs.
The noise and confusion occasioned
lby such unceremonious coming down the
stairs drew half the town 10 witness
Mrs. * IS efforts to get from under the
pile o. pals. tubs, brooms, and brushes
in the street.
Who should be first 70 the spot bu.
the rascally doorkeeper. After releas-
ing the goat. which was cripple for
life. and uplifting the rubbish that
bound the good woman TO the earth.
'anxiously inquired it she had been TAX
ing the degrees.
Taking the degrees exclaimed the
lady: If you call tumbing from the
.iop to the bottom of the stairs with the
devil after We taking things by degrees
| have them. and if We frightened folks
as yc frightened me. and hurt To- boot.
I'll warrant they will make as much
noise ms did"
Il hope you did not open the closet.
madam" said the doorkecper.
ODtl TIC 'iV~'i. llNt dit tuf dDTltI
she was forbidden. If you want wo-l
man to do anything. tell her not 10 do
III. and she'll do it certain. ] could not
stand the temptation. The secret was
there. wanted TO know il. l.opened
the door, and out popped the tarnaI
,critter right into my face. thought
the old boy had inc. and broke for the
stairs with the critter butting me at
every Jump. j fell over the tub, and got
down stairs as you found us, all in a
heap"
But. madam said the doorkeeper.
"you are in possession of he secret of
our order, aud YOU must go up TO initi-
ated and sworn, and then 20 in the rcgu-
lar way
Regular way.r exclaimed the lady.
"and do Won suppose | am going near
that tarnal place. and ride that ar tarnal
critter without bride and lady's sad
die? No. never. don't want nothing
10 do with The man that rides it. Id look
nice perched upon billy goat. wouldn't
n! No. never. I'll never go nigh ii
again. nor you nu,her = il ! can prevcnI
il. no lady shall ever join the Odd Fcl-
lows. Why. I'd sooner he Free Ma
son. and bc broiled Oh gridiron as long
as the fire could be kept under il, and
pulled from garret TO cellar with halter
. in pair of old breeches aud slippers
Just as my poor dear husband. Aud ~,
lived over II. but never could live ovei
! such another ride as took to-day"
| A larger amount Of wheat will b,
sown this fall than for several year
p1st.