The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1895-05-09
JUST LIKE A WOMAN.

Mrs. >. should be employed TO 90
the job. After the meeting adj
journed, the guardian, who knew
the inquisitive character OF Mrs.
S. procured a billy goat and placed
him in closet that was kept as a
reservoir for the secret things.
He then informed the woman OF
the wishes of the lodge, and re-
quested her to come early the next
morning, as he would then show
her what was and what was not to
be done.
Morning came, and with it Mrs.
S. with her broom, brushes, pals,
etc, and found the guardian wait
ing for her.
Now, madam he said, Il will
tell you what we want done, and
how we came to employ you. The
brothers said it was difficult to get
anybody to do the job and not
NEEDLE with the secrets OF the
closet. We have lost the key and
cannot find it to lock the door. L
assured them that you could be
depended on"
depended on | guess | can!
NV poor and dead and gone hus-
band he belonged to the Free Ma
sons and anti-Masons. and l don't
know which. He used to tell me
all the secrets Of that concern, and
when he showed me all the marks
of the grid-iron, made when he
was initiated, and told me how
they fixed poor Morgan, | never
told a living soul to this day. Ii
nobody troubles your closet till |
do they will lie there till they rot;
so they will"
Il thought So said the guar
dian, land | want you to COM
mence in that corner and give the
whole room decent cleaning.
Now, don't 60 into that closet,
and then he left the woman to
herself.
No sooner had she heard the
last step on the stairs than she ex-
claimed, Don't 90 into the closet!
I'll warrant there's a grid-iron or
some nonsense, just like the anti
Masons for all the world, I'll be
bound. | will take one peek, and
nobody will be any wiser; [ can
keep it to myself
4lo action 10 +ho word
she stepped lightly to the forbid
den closet and turned the button,
which was no sooner done than
'Bahr' went the billy goat, with
a spring to regain his liberty,
which came near upsetting the
ladyship. Both started for the
door, but it was filled with nipple
ments for house cleaning, and all
were swept clear from position
down to the bottom of the stairs
The noise and the confusion
drew half the town to witness
Mrs. SIS effort to get from under
a pile of pals, tubs, brooms and
brushes in the street. Who should
be the first on the spot, but the
rascally door-keeper. After re-
leasing the goat, which was Grip
pied for life. and uplifting the
rubbish that bound the good wo-
man to the earth, he anxiously in
quired if she had taken the degree.
Taken the degree! If you call
rumbling from the top to the bot
tom of the stairs with the devil
after you. taking things by de-
grees, [ have them; and if We
Brighten folks as We brighten me,
and hurt to boot, I'll warrant they
will make as much noise as [ did
Il hope you didn't open the
closet, madam" said the door
keeper.
"Open the closet? Eve ate the
apple she was forbidden. If you
want woman to do anything, tell
her not to do it, and she'll do it
certain. [ could not stand the
temptation. The secret was there
[ wanted to know it. | opened
the door and out popped that
tarnal critter into my face. !
thought the old boy had me, and |
broke for the stairs and the OLD
critter butting me at every jump
[ fell over the tub, and down the
stairs as you found us, all in heap
But, madam" said the door.
keeper, you are in possession Of
the great secret Of our order, yor
must 90 up to be initiated ano
sworn, and then go in in the reg
ular way"
Regular way!" exclaimed the
lady. And do you suppose l an