Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1884-02-28
4 Nenas's Curiosity.

uaSS enotI ioukc EVoW uoue up ciean
and nice. 1t was resolved unani-
mously that Mrs. x. should be en-
ployed to do the job. After the
meeting adjourned, the guardian,
who knew the inqnisitiye character Of
Mrs. X, procured . billy goat and
placed him in the closet that was
Kept as Q reservoir for the secret
.hings. He then informed the lady
# the wishes Of the lodge, and re-
luested her to come early next morn
ng, as he would then show her what
was and what was not to be done.
Morning came, and with it Madame
E., with her broom, brushes, pals,
tubs, ETC., and found the guardian
waiting for her. er.r----~-------
!. Snow, naadalne, = said he, "I'n.
lell you what We want dene, and how
we came to employ you. The brothers
said it was difficult to get anybody to
10 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 Sou
can be depended on"
depended on! / guess ] can.
My poor, dead and gone husband,
he 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 gridiron made
when he was initiated, and told me
how they fixed poor Morgan, l never
told living soul to this day; il no
body troubles your closet to find out
your secrets till 1 do, they will lie
there till they rot, they wlll.'
81 thought so," said the guardian,
"and now I want you to commence
in that corner, and give the whole
room decent cleaning, and I pledge
my word and honor for the fidelity Of
your promise now, don't go 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 steps
than she exclaimed, "Don't get into
that closet! I'll warrant there's q
gridiron, or some nonsense, just like
the anti-Masons fol all the world, I'll
be bornd. 1 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 light.
ly to the forbidden closet, turned th<
button, which was no sooner dont
than "bah!" went the billy goat with
a spring to regain his liberty, which
came near upsetting her ladyship
Both started for the door, but it va
filed with implements for house-cIean
ing, and all were swept clear frou
their position down to the bottom o
the stairs. .....
The noise and confusion occaslone,
by such unceremonious coming dow
the stairs, drew half the town to wit
ness Mrs. KS efforts to get fron
under the pile Of pals, tubs, broom
and brushes in the street.
Who should be first to the spot bu
the rascally doorkeeper. After re
leasing the goat, which was cripplet
for life, and uplifting the rubbisl
that bound the good woman to th
earth, he anxiously inquired if sh'
had been taking the degrees.
Taking the degrees!" exclaimed
the lady; ''if you call tumbling fror
the top to the bottom of the stair
with the devil after ye, taking thing
by degrees, I have then; and il y
frightened folks as ye frightened me
and hurt to boot, I'll warrant the
will make as much noise as / did,"
81 hope you did not open th
closet, madam" said the doorkeepel
'Open the closet! Eve eat th
apple she was forbidden. If yo
want a woman to do anything, te
her not to do it, and she'll do it Gel
tain. I could not stand the tempt.
ton. The secret was there. Ivan
ed 20 know 1t. I opened the doc
and out popped the tarnal critt'
right into my face. 1 thought IL
old boy had me, and l broke for Il
stairs with the eritter butting me
every jump. fell over the tub, ar
lgot down stairs as you found us, 8
in heap"
/ "But, madam" SAID the doc
keeper, lyon are in possession Of Il
great secret Of our order, and yo
must go up to be initiated and sworl
and then 60 in the regular way"
Regular wayl" exclaimed Il
lady, land do you suppose ! am g
ing near the tarnal place, and ri.
that ar tarnal critter without brid
or a lady's saddle! No neverl
don't want nothing to do with Il
man that rides it! I'd look nj
perched upon billy goat, wouldr
/? No, never! III never 60 nigh
again, nor you shall nuther--if I G
: prevent it, no lady shall ever join I
, Odd Fellows. Why, I'd sooner be
, Free Mason, and be broiled on q gri
e iron as long Is the FIRE could be ke
!: under it, and pulled from garret
cellar with q halter, In a pair Q
breeches and slippers just as my pc
e dead husband. And be lived over
but I never could live over such 9
s other ride as / took to-day"