West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1890-06-19

n mlddle ageu lady, WIN Dlack
alpaca dress, worn shiny at the ell
bows, and cheap shawl and
cheap bonnet, and her hands puck
cred up and blue, rs though she had
just got her washing ont, went into
the Office of prominent Mason
few mornings since, and took n
chair.
She wiped her nose and the per-
spiration from her face on blue
checkered apron, and when the
Mason looked at her with an inter
ested, brotherly look, as though she
was in trouble. she said
care you the Boss Mason?"
lie blushed, told her he was Il
Mason. but not the highest in the
land.
She hesitated moment, fingered
the corner of her apron, and curled
it up like boy speaking piece at
school, and asked:
"IIave you taken the whole 233
degrees of Masonry"
The man laughed and told her
there were only 33 degrees, and that
he had only taken 81. The other
degree could only be taken by a
very few, who were recommended
by the grand lodge, and they had
to go to New York to get the SD
degree.
"Where does my husband get
the other 200 degrees, them"
The prominent Mason said he
guessed her husband never got 200
degrees, unles he had degree fac
tory. He said he didn't under
stand the lady.
"Does my husband have to set
ny with corpse three nights out of
the week." she asked, her eyes
flashing fire. ''Do you keep lot
of sick Masons on tap for my hus-
band TO set up with ?''
The prominent Mason said he
was thankful that few Masons died,
and only occasionly was one ever
sick enough to call for Masonic as
sistance. When a Mason was sick,
and away from home, or when his
family desired it, the brethren were
only too glad to sit up with him,
but there were so many Masons and
so few sick, that it was only once in
two or three months that a
brother was called to sit up with
anybody.
"But why do you ask these ques-
tions, madam ?" said the promi-
nent Mason.
The woman picked the fringe of
her shawl, hung her head down and
said
"Well my husband began to join
the Masons about two years ago,
and he has been taking degrees or
sitting up with people every night
since, and he comes home at all
times Of the night smelling with
beer and cheese. / thought at first
that the cheese was the result Of HE
going to the morgue to help carry
brother Masons home after they had
been found in the river.
He has come home twice with the
wrong pair Of drawers on, and
when ! asked him how it was, he
said it was secret he could not
reveal under the penalty Of being
shot with cannon. All that he
could say was that he took a degree.
/ have kept a little track Of it,
and ] figure that he has taken 233
degrees, including the grand SKY
fugle degree, which be took the
night he came home with his lip cut
and bis ear hanging by o piece Of
skin"
ooh madam, "sald the prominent
Mason, ether is no Skyfuglo de-
gree in Masonry. Your husband
has lied to YOU"
"Tbats what ] think" said she,
az baloful light appeared in her
eyes. lie said hc vas taking the
Skyfugle degree and fell through
the skylight. bad BIN 5owed up
and he was ready foI mere degrees.
"After he had taken, j think,
about 80 degrees, ] told him ]
should think hc would let up on it,
and put some potatoes in the cellar
for winter, but Bee said when q man
once got started on the degrees bc
u.