Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1875-10-06


Mrs Brown and her gossip, Mrs. White. were
conversing about husbands and the secrets
Of Freemasonry. Mr.. Brown was a Free
mason and the fact of not being able to
share the secrets of the Order with him
made Mrs Brown very unhappy. She was
pouring out her grief to Mrs. White, and
saying for the thousandth time, | won
der what they do in the lodge-room 2
." have no doubt but it's dreadful" re-
piled Mrs. White. But if my husband
was mason, I'll bet Id find out what he
did"
But how -? They dare not tell"
" All but I'd make him tell"
" How oh, how ?" asked Mrs. Brown anx-
iously.
flush III tell you but don't breathe it
for the world, because its a dead secret"
"No, no | won't"
Wen. do you know that tickling a per-
sons ear when they are asleep will make
them talk ?"
"No. win it, though ?"
Yes. Now you wait till Brown comes
home from the lodge next time, and have a
broom straw in the bed with you. When he
gets asleep you tickle his ear with it gently,
and he will begin to talk about what he has
been doing at the lodge, and in this way you
can get the whole of the business out Of
him."
"Mercy on me You don't say SO, Mrs,
White ?"
"To be sure do always get my hus
bands secrets out of him in this way
arm do it
"And you'll tell me all about it, won't
youY
"Certainly. But you must never say
anything about it"
"Oh, of course not. | am very close
mouthed," replied Mrs. White, earnestly.
So it was agreed upon, and they separated.
But, unfortunately, Mr.. White had heard the
conspiracy, and lost no time in informing
Mr.. brown, who laughed heartily over it,
A few evenings alterward Brown attended
a meeting of his lodge, and his wife was all
anxiety regarding it. On retiring she armed
herself with n spray from her broom and
wakefully waited for her lord and master to
return. At last she had almost broken
down the veil OF secrecy which had troubled
her so long, aud her heart beat wildly when
she heard him open the front door and
come in.
OF course she pretended to be asleep and
did not see the comical smiles on her hus-
bands face as he turned mp the gas and be-
gan disrobng for bed. But he said nothing,
ana IN q lew moments ne was comfortably
tucked in and giving out premonitory indica-
tions Of approaching sleep
Then Mrs. Brown opened her eyes eau
tiously, and convinced herself that he had
gone to that land from which sleepy hus-
bands never return until sometime next day
Cautiously she reached under the pillow
aud took the broom straw from its hiding
place. Then she reached over carefully aud
began to. tickle her husbands ear, and he
was the while doing his best to keep from
exploding with laughter.
Finally he began TO talk a little, and her
ears We're keenly alive to every syllable
Yes, he must die" said he. " lie be-
trayed our secrets to his wife. I've got to
kill him-the lot fell on me"
Mrs. Brown screamed and leaped from the
bed, while her husband. unable to control
himself, gave vent to his laughter, and dis
turbed the neighbors for the next ten min
utes. But they never came to any under
| standing about the strange affair. She
never asked him what he was laughing at,
aud he never inquired what it was which
made her scream and leap out of bed so
quickly.
Mrs. Brown and Mrs. White don't speak
now. She thinks Mrs. White played joke
on her, and she seems 10 have lost much of
her anxiety regarding the secrets Of Free
! Masonry