Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-10-09
A Curious Story.

ABOUT ten years ago, in the State of
Kentucky, there lived lady on a nice
little farm about two miles south of a
beautiful little village, situated in the
Blue Grass country Of that old and hon
| ored State, sometimes called the clark
and bloody ground" and through which
farm gravel or turnpike road passed
and which was great thorOughfare; and
very near to this road was her comforta-
bic dwelling, with porch in front; and in
the yard, under very large black heart
cherry tree, there was a fine well of pure,
| cool water, where many weary traveller
was wont to quench his thirst On one
occasion this little widow was seated in
her porch enjoying the cool shade and the
breezes that were blowing around her re-
treat; weary and thirsty footman who
was passing by, and seeing the well. the
inviting shade, and the pleasant face of
the landlady in the porch, halted at the
gate, and asked if he could get drink of
water. lie was politely asked to walk
III and take seat in the porch, which he
did, and the little widow went to the well
and drew from it the desired beverage.
| and gave him to drink, for which he re-
turned many thanks; and finding him
self so comfortable, and the lady so agree
able, he entered into conversation with
her, and soon ascertained that she was a
| widow and owner Of the snug little farm
around him. A thought struck him that
there might be a chance for a wife and
home combined, and he being rather on
| the bachelor list, was little timid about
coming directly to the point, but he con-
cluded that a faint heart never won a fair
lady, and that he would ask permission to
call again, as he expected to return
shortly. She readily consented,
and requested him to do so, and
some short time elapsed and he again
called, and the result was a wedding, al
though she knew nothing in the world
| about this stranger; he being a foreigner,
an lrishman, lately from sweet Ireland
he was also a Catholic and she an old
Baptist, and the consequence was there
had to be a double wedding, he insisting
on having priest perform the ceremony,
and she her old Baptist minister; there
fore they were married twice, and all
went on joyously and happily for several
years; but all of sudden this Irish stran-
ger disappeared, and turned up in New
York on his way back to old Erin, as he
wrote to his wife, to settle up some bust
ness there, and that it was uncertain when
he would return.
lie sailed from that port and was not
heard from directly again, but a report or
rumOr came to his wife that the vessel in
which he sailed was wrecked, and that
nearly all on board persisted, and he not
| returning for five or six years, confirmed
her in the belief that he was lost or dead
and after her mourning weeds were laid
aside she was again married to another
old bachelor, and had been living with
IN some two or three years, when 10 and
behold her Irish husband returned and
claimed her as his wife. Here was quite
| a difficulty, and could only be settled by
leaving it to the choice Of the lady which
she would have, which was agreed upon
| by the cOntcnding husbands, and she de-
cided to stick to the last one, for for the
| lrishman might take it into his head to
go to Ireland again. And So, by mutual
agreement, the last husband held the WIFE
and the Irishman departed for a time.
Some three years passed rapidly by,
and the lady became widow the third
time. The Irish husband, having learned
this fact, returned to her again and they
were legally married the third time-this
time only the Protestant marriage service
being said, he having in the mean time
become member ofthe Christian church,
which took place during the interval be-
tween the first and second marriages. He
was converted to the Christian faith short
~ after his first marriage. Being il the
town near to where they lived, he was &C
cidentally thrown into the church during
a protracted meeting, conducted by one of
kentucky's ablest Christian preachers.
The preaching was something new and
attractive to him. He listened with great
attention and interest, it being the first
sermon Of the kind he had ever heard,
and when he returned home, said to his
wife that he wanted her to go to church
with him that night, as he wanted to hear
more. She readily consented, and went
with him, and he became more and more
interested every sermon that he heard,
and after listening for several days he pro
posed to his wife that they both give up
their religious positions and become one
in Christ and unite with the Church of
God upon the Word of the Lord, which
they did, and became very jealous dis
ciples, The writer is well acquainted
with the parties, was an Elder of the con-
gregation to which they were attached,
and was present on the occasion referred
to. This novel and remarkable case is
stranger than fiction, and every word is
true.-Cla1hsyiNe (No.) Sentinel.
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