Year: 1874

Order Of Odd Fellows determined to
have their lodge-room done up clean and
nice. 1t was resolved unanimously that
Mrs. K. should be employed to do the
JOB. After the meeting adjourned, the
guardian, who knew the inquisitive char
acter of Mrs. K, procured billy goat
and placed him in closet that was kept
as reservoir for the secret things. He
then informed the woman of the wishes
Of the lodge, and requested 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 Madame K. with her broom,
brushes, pals, etc., and found the guar
dian waiting for her


Now, madame said he, 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 be meddling with the secrets
in the closet; we have lost the key, and
cannot find it to lock the door. I
assured them that you can be depended
on"


"Depended on 1 guess can. I My
poor and dead and gone husband, he be-
longed to the Free Masons or aqti- Ma
sons, | 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 ini-
tiated, and told me how they fixed poor
Morgan, l never told living soul to
this day; if nobody trout thes your closet
to find out your sec7ets~till I do, they
will lie there till they rot, they will


{" [ thought So, said the guardian,
'and | want you to commence in that
corner and give the whole room decent
cleaning: now, don't 90 into the closet. "
and then left the woman to herself.


No sooner had she heard the sound of
his feet on the last step of the stairs than
she exclaimed, "Don't 60 into that
closet I'll warrant there's gridiron,
or some nonsense. just like the anti Ma
sons for all the world, I'll be bound.
will take one peep, and nobody will be
any wiser, as [ can keep it to myself
Sultlng the action to the word, she
stepped lightly to the forbidden closet,
turned the button, which was no sooner
done than "bah !" went the billy-goat
with spring to regain his liberty.
which came near upsetting her ladyship.
Both started for the door, but it was
filed with implements for house clean.
ing, and all were swept clear from their
position down to the bottom of the stairs.


The noise and confusion occasioned
by such unceremonious coming down
the stairs drew half the town to witness
Mrs. KS efforts to get from under the
pile Of pals. tubs, brooms. and brushes
in the street.


Who should be the first at the spo|
but the rascally doorkeeper? After re-
leasing the goat. which was cripple
for life, and uplifting the rubbish that
bound the good woman to the earth
he anxiously inquired if she had beer
taking the degrees.


"Taking the degrees If you cal
tumbling from the top to the bottom o
the stairs with the devil after ye taking
things by degrees. I have them, and i
ye frighten folks as ye frighten me, an<
hurt to boot. I'll warrant thew will max,
as much noise as I did"


Il hope you didn't open the closet
madam said the doorkeeper.


"Open the closet? Eve ate the ap
pie she was forbidden. fyou want


woman to do anything, tell her not t.
do it, and she'll do it certain. coul,