Year: 1873

1t was resolved unanimously that Mrs.
X. should be employed to do the Job.
After the meeting had adjourned the
guardian who knew of Mrs. X. procured
billy goat and placed him in the closet
that was kept rs reservoir for the secret
things. He then Informed the lady of
the wishes of the lodge, and requested
her to come early the next morning, and
ne would then show her what was and
what was not to be done. Morning came
aHd with i: Madame X. win her broom,
brushes, pals, tubs, etc., and found the
guardian waiting for her.


"Now, madame" said he, 81 will tell
you what We want done and how we came
10 employ you. The brothers said it was
difficult to get anybody to do 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
you could be depended upon"


depended on 1 guess l can. My
poor and dead and gone husband, he be-
longed to the Free Masons or anti Ma
sons, don't know which. He used to
tell me all the secrets of the concern, and
VIII IN he showed me all the marks of the
gridiron, made when he was initiated,
and ;old me how they fixed poor Morgan,
never told a living soul to this day; if
nobody troubles your closet to find out
your secrets till l do, they will be there
till they rot, they will"


II thought so," said the guai dian,
"and now / want you to commence in
that corner and give the whole room
thorough cleaning, and pledge my word
and honor to the fidelity of your promise;
now don't go into that closet;" and then
he left the lady to herself.


No sooner had she heard the sound of
his feet on the last of the steps than she
exclaimed


Don't go into that closet = I'll war
rant there's a gridiron, or some nonsense,
just like the anti-masons for all the world,
III be bound. | will take one peep, and
nobody will be any wiser, as l can keep
it to myself"


Stepping lightly to the forbidden closet
and turned the button, which was no
sooner done thBn 'bah-hp went the billy
goat, with a spring to regain his liberty,
which came near upsetting her ladyship.
Both started for the door, but it was filed
with implements for house cleaning, and
all were swept from their position to the
foot of the stairs.


The noiso and confusion occasioned by
such an unceremonius 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 street.


Who should be first to the door but
that rascally doorkeeper. After releasing
the goat, which was cripple for life,
and uplifting the rubbish that bound the
good woman to the earth, anxiously in
quired If she had been taking the degrees.


Taking the degrees !" exclaimed the
lady. "if you call tumbling down from
top to bottom of the stairs with the devil
after ye taking things by degrees, have
them, and if ye frightened folks as ye
frightened me, and hurt to boot, I'll war
rant ye they will make as much noise as
] did,"


II hope you did not open the closet,
madam, !" said he.


"Open the closet Eve eat the ap-
PIE she was forbidden. If you want a
woman to do anything, tell her not to do
If, and she'll do it certain. / could not
stand the temptation. The secret was
there. / wanted to know it. l opened
the door, and out popped the tarnel crit
ter right into my face. / thought the old
boy had me, and l broke for the door
with the critter butting me at every
jump. / fell over the tub and got down
stairs as you found US all in q heap"


"But, madam" said the doorkeeper,
you are in possession of the great secret
of our order. and you must go up to be
Initiated and then go in the regular way"


Regular way!" exclaimed the lady,
land do you suppose L am going near
the tarnal place and ride that ar tarnal
crittcr without bride or lady's saddle.
No, never | don't want nothing to do
with the man that rides it. I'd look nice
perched upon billy-goat, wouldn't L?
No. never I'll never go nigh it again,
nor you shan't, nuther-if 1 can prevent
it, no lady shall ever join the Odd Eel
lows. Why, I'd rather be Free Mason
and be broiled on a gridiron as long as
fire could be kept under it, and pulled
from garret to cellar with halter, in a
pair Of old breeches and slippers, just as
my poor dead husband, and he lived over
it, but never could live over such anoth-
or ride as / took to-day"