Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1873-02-01

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and marched in front of the parade to
remove distractions and to scare of
small boys. ....
When the the bishop reached the
house, he went around among the era
dies which filled the back parlor and
the two second-story rooms, and at
tempted with such earnestness to be-
come acquainted with his new sons and
daughters that he set the whole one
hundred and twenty-five and the twins
to crying, while his own original fifteen
stood around and joined in the chorus.
Then the bishop went out and sat on
the garden fence to whittle stick and
solemnly think, while Mrs. Potts dis
tributed herself around in twenty-three
places and soothed the children. 1t
occurred to the bishop while he unused,
out there on the fence, that he had not
enough mouth-organs to go around
among the children as the family now
stood; and so, rather than seem to be
partial, he determined to go back to
San Francisco for one hundred and
forty-four more.
So the bishop repacked his carpet-bag
and began again to bid farewell to his
family. He tenderly kissed all of Mrs.
Potts who were at home, and started
for the depot, while Mrs. Potts stood
at the various windows and waved her
handkerchiefs at him--all except the
woman with the warm hair, and she, in
fit of observation-disclosures, held one of
the twins by the leg and brandished it
at Potts as he fed down the street.
The bishop reached San Francisco,
completed his purchases, and was just
about to get on the train with his one
hundred and fourty-four mouth-organs,
when a dispatch was handed him. 1t
contained information to the effect that
the auburn-haired Mrs. Potts had just
had daughter. This induced the
bishop to return to the city for the pur-
pose of purchasing IN additional organ.
On the following Saturday he returned
home. AS he approached his house a
swarm Of young children flew out of
the front gate and ran toward him,
shouting, There's pa! Here comes
pa! Oh, pa, but we're glad to see you'll
Hurrah for pa!' etc., etc.
The bishop looked at the children as
they focked around him and clung to
his legs and coat, and was astonished
to perceive that they were neither his
nor the late Browns. He said s' You
youngsters have made mistake; I am
not your father" and the bishop smiled
good naturedly.
"Oh yes, you are, though" screamed
the little ones in chorus.
"But say I am not, said the bishop,
severely, and frowning. "You ought
to be ashamed of yourselves. Don't
you know where little story-tellers go?
1t is scandalous for you to violate the
truth in this manner. My name is
Potts"
Yes, we know it is" exclaimed the
children" we know it is, and SO is
ours. That is our name now, too, since
the wedding"
"Since what wedding?" demanded
the bishop, turning pale.
Why, mas wedding, of course.
She was married yesterday to you by
Mr.. Young, and we are all living at your
house now with our new little brothers
and sisters"
The bishop sat down on the pavement
and wiped away a tear. Then he asked :?
"Who was your father
"Mr. Simpson" said the crowd,
"and he died on Tuesday"
"And how many of the Internal old
widows-I mean how many of your
mother are there?'
"Only twenty-seven," replied the
children, "and there are only sixty
four of us, and we are awful glad to
have you come home"
The bishop did not seem to be unus-
aally glad; somehow, he failed to enter
into the enthusiasm of the occasion.
There appeared to be, in certain sense,
to much sameness about these sir.
prises, SO he sat there with his hat
pulled over his eyes and considered
the situation. Finally, seeing there
was nc help fer i, he went to the house,
and fourty-eisht Mrs. Potts rushed to
him and kissed him, and told him how
the prophet had had another vision, in
which he was commanded to seal Simp-
sons widow to Potts.