The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1871-06-08

George Alfred Townsend writes this from
Salt.Lake City to the Chicago Tribune:
A Mormon, whom we will call Brother Ne
nj Glbl ons, took wife at the blooming aoe
OF twenty-five. He was pious and industTi-
Gus, and seemed to be perfectly satisfied with
ms bride, whose name was unfortunate for
a hero'ne, being plain Mary Ann She was
the best OF wives, and she sang in the choir,
pore Nehl child, and helped to cultivate
his vine and fg tree. Their apricots and
pear trees grew and fiourished, their cattle
and sheep increased, and nothing seemed
Wanting in this comfortable establishment,
which was the envy OF every youthful saint.
Still, there was skeleton in the closet.
Mary Ann had secret and passion. She
wanted Nehi to take second wife! This was
not only because he was a good and true man,
and devoted and abe-boded, but because she
had set her mind upon the other wife he was
70 take Mary Ann wal ted to provide for
her bosom friend, Susan, who was in every
way deserving OF Nehi's affection, and who
loved Nehi as purely and as really as Mary
Ann herself! They had conferred together
about 1t. Mary Ann, who could not be hap
py where Susan was lot even at Nebi's side
had broken the subject TO Susan, and her
cleaiest suspicious were confirmed by the Sc
cret disclosure that both the ladies loved the
same saint. Far from feeling indignant at
wife received it with delight. She gave her
maiden friend every assurance that their mu-
tual choice was worthy of their un tied ambi-
ton, and they set to work TO compel Nehi to
accept another Mrs. Gibbons.
1t teiDg unseemly for Susanl to do more
than put herself as frequently as possible ia
Mr.. Gbbon's way, the plot ripened slowly,
and, on conlerring with one OF the Bishops Of
the Church, he recommended both ladies to
make the ms q ~
They lifted up their hearts together that It
might be revealed to Nehi what good gifts he
wss neglecting, but Neki hardened his heart,
and refused to extend his tGble cloth. Hc
was as yet ignorant of the new helpmate in
tended for him, but on the suggestions OF Mrs.
Gibbons that he was not glori,ying his man
hood and his family, he said that pair was
enough, and that he had no wish to merry.
Under these circumstances a little extreme
diplomacy was adjudgel necessary, and Mrs.
Gibbons, to compel marrir ye, declared that
her household work was too Onerous, and f.
nally affected to be grievously i'll. Nehi Glib
bons, unable to resist this description of al
peal, Obeyed the desire of his wife, Mary Ann,
but the woman he married-was not SUSAN
He was too blind 70 guess the person intend
ed. and he married an entirely different wo-
man.
Grave complications ensued upon this pre-
cipitate action of Nehi Gibbons. The peace
of his family was disturbed, and none the less
because, after the usual period, the second
Mrs. Gibbons had baby. Mary Ann, re-
doubling her efforts, met with no other sue
cess than that Mr.. Gibbons took a third vie,
and this time, ESQ, it failed to be Susan. The
fourth effort we nore directly made, and with
less diplomacy, Mrs. Gibbons the first, sug-
ges'ing expressly that her choice was her
bosom friend; and the power OF candor was
never so well attested as on this occasion, for
Mr.. Gibbons answered.:
"Had thought Susan would have accepted
me, my dear May Ann, 1 should have made
her my wife before l proposed to youp
Thus, piety end patience were crowned,
friendship was rewarded, and Susan and Ma
ry Ann, being lovely in fife, in wedlock were
| not divided. GATH.