Year: 1868




to reveal anything you may see or hear
this evening to any human being, nor
your wife, l said f'pon my word L
viii not They then examined my
teeth and felt my muscles. and mads
me put out my tongue, and then
groaned again. / said. If you don't
feel well I have got little bottle hers
that The fat man here took the
bottle from me and told me to shut up.
He then, in voice Of thunder, said,
Bring forth the goat. Another fels
low then came up with big cloth to
blindfold me. No you don't, Mr..
Mason said; mo tricks on travellers,
il you please; don't believe in play.
ing blind mans buff with goat III
ride the devil if you ike, but ! don't
90 it blind. Stand back, OF III knock
you into smithereen! They were too
much for me, however, SO had to
submit and bo blindfolded. The goat
was then led in, and l could hear him
making an awful racket amoug the
furniture. | began to feel that | was
urgently wanted at home, but l was in
for it, and couldn't help myself. Three
or four fellows then seized me, and
with a demoniacal laugh pitched me-
on the animals back, telling me at the
same time to look out for squalls. l
have been in q good many scrapes,
Mr.. Editor. | have been in an elee.
ton 6ght-I've been pitched out OF g
fourth story window-Pve gone down
in a railroad collision, and up in a
steamboat explosion, but this little goat
excursion was ahead of them ali. The
confounded thing must be all wings
and horns. 1t bumped me against the
tables and chairs, and the stove and
the ceiling, but hung on ike To
Jan. / turned front summersaults, and
rolled over and over till ] thought It
was all over with me. was just on
the point Of giving up when the band
age fell from my eyes, and the goat
bounded through the window with a
yell like Camanche Indian giving up
the ghost. was in a Lodge Of Ms.
sons. They were dancing q war dance
around a big skull, and playing leap.
frog, and turning hand. springs, and
the big fat fellow of the ante-room was
standing on bis head in the corner,
finishing the contents Of my little bot
| tie. Order was som restored, and !
was led up to desk and told 10 stand
at my ease. The Chief Engineer Of
the establishment then put his thumb
to his nose, and stretching out his
fingers in the shape Of fan towards
me, commanded silence. The rest Of
the brethren did likewise, and were
silent. The Governor then addressed
mr.: Brother Knobb, you are now one
of u.s. You are now a member Of an
institution that has lasted over ten mil
lions of years. From this time forward
your constitution is sound. You are
impervious to light and heat. or any
other atmospheric influence. You are
waterproof 6re-proof and oyer-prcof.
With impunity you may walk through
the lake, or sit on a red-hot stove;
with impunity drink aqusfortis, rye
whiskey, Wshoo Bitters, or any other
poisonous substance. You are free
from rheumatism, dyspepsia, whooping
cough, or the measles. The Sheriff
dare not seize you for debt nor the po-
licsmau arrest you for misdemeanor.
You are of US, and you are safe. Hera
is the password; with that and big
club YOU can get into any lodge in
Christendom." l then took the oath
on pack of cards, stood the whisksy
and water all around, and ! was q
Mason.