Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1860-03-20

4 correspondent says:-l was present at
one of the drollest scenes ever saw in all my
born days; l thought | should have died q
larfpp, lodged, when was at Utah, with
a feller who came from Connecticut, one
Simon Drake. know'd him long afore Salt
Lake WAS ever heard of, by long chalk, and,
seein' that he and were old friends he took
me in to stay with him, which was great
luck; for the MormonS, like the Turks, don
like strangers to see inside of their harcms.
Well, Sam had FIVE wives, not counting the
old one he brought along with him from
Hertford. who was brukcn-hcarted looking
rritter that seemed as II she wouldn't long
I've an incumbrance to him. The rest were
all Young, good looking, rollicking hussieS as
you'd see anywhere. As far Us | could oh
serve, they agreed among themselves uncom-
mon well; for neither Of them cared straw
about him, or anything else, unless 1t was the
theater and the asSembly-rOOms Of which
they talked to me for everlastin.
Sim was SO overioyed TO sec one from his
native land, and being able to talk Of old
times and old friends, that the whisky (Which
he drank like water, to drown past recunec-
tions or painful companions gave linn re-
turn of delirium tremeRS, which ] knew he
had had when he was young man. We'll,
one night he broke out all Of a sudden, crow
ing like cock, and making motion as if
he was happin' of his wing. lie actilly
flncied he was one, and that his wives were
hens, and he would make dart at 'em to
peck them, and bite them like anything.
He ordered them to go to rOOst on the gar
den fence, put their heads under their wings
and 20 to sleep; and the way he hunted and
worried them into one corner, and then into
another, and bothered and tOrmented them,
was caution to u dog in II poultry yard.
The poor old wife, who had gone to bed early.
hearin' the noise, put her head in at the door
to see what was going on, aud begged me,
with tears in her eyes, to interfere and keep
him from doing mischief So, says |:
"Sim, my old cock, let you and | 20 out
first and get on the roost and do you crow
your best, and the hens will soon follow"
So takes him into the garden, and, as
passed the water butt trips up his heels and
souses his head in, and held it there us long
as | dared, and then let it up for him TO
breathe, and then in with it again, and SO on
till sobered him, when took him into the
house, gave him an opiate, and put him to
bed Arter this we all separated, each to our
own kennel, and just as was droppin' off to
sleep heard light step on the floor, and Il
low voice saying "Are you asleep, Mr.. Pea-
body?' "NO," says |, 81 amt; but what in
natur is the matter now? Has he broke out
again?n "No, Eph,' said the speaker-and
perceived it was the dear old lady-"he is
quiet now; but came to tell you this is no
place for you. Those young women will get
you into trouble make an excuse in the morn
ing, and leave this house tomorrow, and
don't enter it again, except in company with
the Senator and she was of before | could
thank her. Thinks |, Il nod is as good rs a
wink to a blind horse. | was thinkin' the
same thing myself; edged tools ain't the safest
things in the world to play with. In the
mornin Senator and Joined the caravan for
California, and set our HOSES heads toward
San Francisco.