The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1875-08-17
Finding Ont the Secret.

White, were conversing about husbands
and the secrets of Freemasonry. Mr..
Brown was Freemason, 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
thousandlh time, 81 wonder what they
do in the lodge room2'
Il have no doubt but it's dreadful"
replied Mrs White. 'sBut if my hus-
band was Mason, l II bet I'd find out
what he did"
"But how? They dare not tell"
sAh but I'd make him tell.
seHow! oh, howl" asked Mrs. Brown,
anxiously.
"Hush! Ill tell you, but dent
breathe it for the world, because it is a
dead secret"
"No, no; l won't"
"Well, do you know that tickling
persons ear when they are asleep will
make them talk ?"
No Wilt though p
Eyes. Now you wait till Brown
comes home from the lodge next time,
and have 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
lodge, and in this way you can get the
whole of the business out of him."
"Gracious me! You don't say so
Mrs. White p
"To be sure I do. I always get my
husbands secrets out OF him in this
way"
I'll do it."
"And you'll tell me all about it won't
you?"
"Celtainly. But you must never say
anything about it"
"Oh, of course not. I'm very close
mouthed," replied Mrs. White, earnestly.
So it was agreed upon, and they sep
arated. But unfortunately Mr.. White
had overheard the conspiracy, and lost
no time in informing Mr.. Brown, who
laughed heartily over it.
A few evenings afterwar1 Brown at
tended meeting of his lodge, and his
wife was all anxiety regarding it. On
! retiring she armed herself with spray
from her broom and wakefully awaited
her lord and master to return. At last
she had almost broken down the veil of
secrecy which had troubled her so long,
and 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 smile on
her husbands face asihe turned upsthe
gas and began disrobing for bed. But
he said nothing, and in few minutes
he was comfortably tucked in and Civ.
ing out premonitory indications Of ap.
preaching sleep.
| Then Mrs. Brown opened her eyes
cautiously, and convinced herself tha,
he had gone to that land from which
sleepy husbands never return until some
| time next day. Cautiously she reached
i under the pillow and took the broom
straw from its hiding place. Then sht
reached over carefully and began to
tickle her husbands ear, and he was al
the while doing his best to keep from
exploding with laughter.
/ Finally he began to talk q little ani
her ears were keenly alive to every
syllable
Yes, he must die," said he. "H,
betrayed our secrets to his wife. ",
got to kill him-the lot fell on me.''
I Mrs. Brown screamed and leape(
from the bed, while her husband, unabl
to control himself, gave vent to hi
laughter and disturbed the neighbour
for the next ten minutes. But they new
er came to any understanding about th
strange affair She never asked hin
what he was laughing at, and he neve
inquired what it was that made he
scream and leap out Of bed so quickly
Mrs. Brown and Mrs. White dom
speak now. She thinks Mrs. Whit
played a joke on her, aud she seems t.
have lost much of her anxiety regard
ing the secrets of Freemasonry