Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-09-04
RAD EXAMPLE FOR THE young SISTERS

"A BAD tAAMfLE Fuh THE iOokd siSi sho'
On Friday morning / went to An
toinette Doolittle and asked if might
90 with my father to the school-house to
see Minnie. She told me nay, that l
couldn't 60; that l must not expect,
every time my natural relation come, to
60 and see Minnie; it was setting very
bad example to the young people to be go
much with my natural relation. When 1
assured her that had never been there
with my natural relation but once, and
that was two years ago this September,
when my mother and brother were up TO
see me, Antoinette said, " Well, if that's
SO you may 60, but am not willing that
you should go over alone; l will send
one of the sisters with you. | am not
willing that yon should 60 with worlds
man alone, not while you wear o cap
referring to my father. (
WANTED TO LEAVE THE SHAKERS DEN.
1 first informed the members Of the
Society that intended to leave on Sun.
day afternoon, the Goth of June; / was
watched. / stepped into an anti-room,
and asked father if he wouldn't step into
the anti-room, as / had little business /
wanted to transact with him, and when
be camein told him that was tired of
being there, and dissatisfied, and wanted
to 90 home; he asked me if / meant
what said / told him did; he said
he was surprised, but if it was my wish
to 90 home with him, l might 60 by all
means; he said, "Ssy no more about it,
but send for Elder Frederick, and what
ever you have to say, say before him; !"
be was sent for, and came; that was be-
fore Antoinette was there; suggested
sending for her, and she was sent for and
came; tsld her my desire; Antoinette
spoke then of Marion, and said that
Marion would be ready in the morning
to 10 with me she said, of course you
will expect to take Marion with you; l
said of course, she is my child, expect
to take her with me. t"
1 THE FIGHT FOR THE CHILD.
Tuesday, the Sd of July, father and
myself went back to the Shakers; | got
there few minutes past 10 o'clock;
BENJAMIN Gates came in after dinner,
after IL o'clock; stated to those Sisters
in the Office that had come to see Min
ME; then asked Benjamin to be kind
enough to bring her in, / wanted to see
her he then said will bring her in,
but il you do or say anything to influence
her, / will remove her from the room" !"
he went out, and in O short time he re-
turned with Minnie and two sisters, the
other three sisters who we're there still
remained; she walked in the door; | got
ND from my chair and went to meet her;
I took her in my arms and sat her on my
lap; I would say that when she came
into the room she looked the perfect pic
ture of fear; more like culprit than
anything else; / told Minnie that she
must not think / had gone away and left
her willingly; that had gone because
was deceived and been forced to 90 with
out her; Benjamin Gates then ordered
me to sit the child in the chair; told
him no, that would hold her in my lap;
/ had come confectionery and fruit with
me; offered them to her; she refused
to accept of any; then showed her her
fathers picture, and she refused to look
at that. .r fr4 .sf.irr fl
TEARING CHILD FROM ITS MOTHER.
Benjamin Gates then told me again to
put the child in chair; to let her get
down; refused to do it, saying that !
would hold her 10 my lap; when she was
in my lap / had my arms around her
waist, holding her loosely; he then rose
from his chair, and came to the child,
and took the child by both arms between
the elbows and shoulders, and told me to
let 20 of her, and / said / would not; at
the same time he told me to let 60 of her
be was jerking her, and | trying to hold
her in my lap; be jerked her with such
force that my holding on to her he pulled
me from Hy chair and several steps across
the floor; Minnie said, "Qh, don't" and
/, supposing that she was getting hurt,
let loose of her; be then took her and set
her down in the chair by my side.
BoREPLE TEACHINGS OF TIE SHAKERS.
Harriet Goodwin stood beside her,
stroking her hair and pattiug her, and
calling her her child, aud good child we
remained short time longer in the ofice,
and then left; 1 think without another
word with Benjamin Gates Marion, on
Saturday afternoon before ] left, asked
me for some oranges and lemons; had
both oranges and lemsns in the basket
that | bought her, and which she refused
to receive was taught to hate every
thing outside of our gospel, for it belonged
TO the world, the flesh, and the devil
they call all who are not OF tleig belief
the worlds people; l never heard ct aay
of their meetings en- audible prayer !
was there at the death Of my child Eliza
it met with q violent death. la