Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-06-12
NO. 1873.
A NORMAN LOVE STORY.

[from George Alfred Townsends Salt Lake Cor.
respondence in the Chicago Tribune]
Mormon, whom we call Brother Nehi
Gibbons, took wife at the blooming age
OF twenty-five. He was pious and indus
trlous, and seemed perfectly satisfied with
his bride, whose name, unfortunate for
heroine, being plain Mary Ann. She was
the best OF wives, and as she sang in the
choir, bore Nehi a child, and helped to
cultivate his vine and fig tree. Their ap-
rlcots and pear trees grew and fiourished,
their cattle and sheep increased, and moth
ing seemed wanting in this comfortable
| establishment. which was the envy of ev-
ry youthful saint. Still there was skel-
eton IN the closet Mary Ann had Sc
cret and a passion. She wanted Nehi to
take second wife This was not only be-
cause he was good, true man. and devo-
ted and able-bodied, but because she had
set her mind upon the ether wife he was
to take. Mary Ann wanted 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 about it.
Mary Ann, who could not be happy where
Susan was not-even at Nehi's side-had
broken the subject to Susan, and her clear
est suspicious were confirmed by the secret
disclosure that both the ladies loved the
same saint. Far from feeling indignant
at this frank and forward confidence,
Nehi's wife received it with delight. She
gave her maiden friend every assurance
that their mutual choice was worthy of their
united ambition, and they set to work to
compel Nehi to accept another Mrs. Glib
bons. 1t being unseemly for Susan to do
more than put herself as frequently as
possible in Mr.. Gibbons way, the plot
ripened slowly, and on comforting with
one of the bishops of the church. he rec
commended both ladies to make the con-
summation subject of prayer.
They lifted up their hearts together that
it might be revealed to Nehi what good
gifts he was neglecting, but Nehi harden
ed his heart, and refused to extend his Ia
ble cloth. He was as yet ignorant of the
new helpmate intended for him, but on
the suggestion of Mrs. Gibbons that he
was not gloryfying his manhood and his
| family, he said that a pair was enough,
| and that he had no wish to marry. Under
these circumstances, a little extreme di-
plomacy was adjudged necessary, and
Mrs Gibbons, to compel marriage, de-
clared that her household work was too
onerous, and finally affected to be griev-
ously ill., Nehi Gibbons, unable to resist
this description of appeal, obeyed the de-
sire OF his wife Mary Ann, but the woman
he married-was not Susan He was too
blind to guess the person intended, and
he married an entirely different woman.
Grave complications ensued upou this pre-
cipitate action of Nehi Gibbons.
The peace of the family was disturbed,
and none the less because, after the usual
period, the second Mrs. Gibbons had
baby. Mary Ann.redoubled her efforts, and
met with no other success than that Mr.
Gibbons took a third wife, and this time
also, it failed TO be Susan. The third eff
fort was more directly made, and with less
diplomacy. Mrs. Gibbons the first sug-
gesting expressly that her choice was her
bosom friend; and the power of candor
was never SO well attested as on this oc-
casion. for Mr.. Gibbons answered: Had
| thought Susan would have accepted me,
my dear Mary Ann, | should have made
her my wife before proposed to your
Thus piety and patience were crowned,
friendship was rewarded, and Susan and
Mary Ann being lovely in life in wedlock
were not divided ... ..-