He kicked a little
at taking off his pants, because it was cold out there in the storm door
dog house, but I told him they all had to do it. The princes, potentates
and paupers all had to come to it. He asked me how it was when we
initiated women, and I told him women never took that degree. He pulled
off his pants and wanted a check for them, but I told him the Grand Mogul
would hold his clothes, and then I blind-folded him, and with a base ball
club I pounded on the floor as I walked around the gymnasium, while the
lodge, headed by my chum, sung, 'We won't go home till morning' I
stopped in front of the ice water tank, and said, 'Grand Worthy Duke, I
bring before you a pilgrim who has drank of the dregs until his stomach
won't hold water, and who desires to swear off.' The Grand Mogul asked me
if he was worthy and well qualified, and I told him that he had been drunk
more or less since the reunion last summer, which ought to qualify him.
Then the Grand Mogul made Pa repeat the most blood-curdling oath, in which
Pa agreed, if he ever drank another drop, to allow anybody to pull his
toe-nails out with tweezers, to have his liver dug out and fed to dogs,
his head chopped off, and his eyes removed. Then the Mogul said he would
brand the candidate on the bare back with the initial letters of our
order, 'G.
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