Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1873-09-20
S0N COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA. SATURDAY SEP 20 1878 NEW yOL

watched me from my infancy, saw me
grow up to womanhood, had always
loved me, and intended to marry ME;
but, having taken Amelia just after the
law was passed in Congress prohibiting
polygamy, he feared to take another
wife soon after, lest it should make trou-
BILE, or he would have taken me then.
THE OLD SINNER SETS HIS TRAP.
lie wanted father and mother to use
all their influence with me, as it would
be the best thing l could do. He asked
father if good house, well furnished,
aud $1,000 year pocket money would
be enough for me, and added that if it
was not enough l should have more.
Father answered that he thought it
would be sufficient.
Brigham stood two hours or more
with father and kept the whole of the
carriages that conveyed the party stand
ing waiting till after sundown,a and little
did think that was ''the object OF
interest.
HoRRIFIED AT TIE PROPOSAL!
When father came home he told
mother by herself; then they told me. l
cannot describe my feelings; | was
frightened. The thought Of it was a
perfect horror. thought father had
gone crazy, and l would not believe his
statement for hours. When I realized
that it was fact l could do nothing
but cry.
The idea of an old man, 81 years of
ere, the husband of about twenty wives
living, asking me, at %, to be added to
the number, filled me with the utmost
adherence, and when l saw that my
parents were under his influence and
sustained his proposition | was readyto
die In despair. Oh ! the horrible hours
that l spent in crying and moaning no
tongue can picture.
When father saw that / took it so
badly he told me that | would not be
forced into it, but if | could bring my
feelings to it, and accept Brigham It
would be pleasing to him, and mother
favored it in the same way.
THE LADY MEETS THE PROPHET.
About month after this / was in
the city with an intimate lady friend,
and as we were walking near Brighams
house he came to the gate and waited
for our arrival. When l saw him l
thought that would get up courage to
tell him that would not marry him,
but could not say it. That peculiar
influence that he throws over everybody
when he has purpose to effect com
pletely overcame me. He did not al
iude to the subject at all. ] shook hands
and passed on.
BRIGHAM IN A PECKsNIFFIAN ROLE.
He became very kind to my parents,
and saw father frequently. He sent for
me to come to the city on several occa
sions, and met me at my fathers city
residence, and talked to me about mar
riage; told me how pure his feelings
were, and that his only motive was to
do me good-save me in the kingdom
and make me a queen. All that had no
effect upon me, it only disgusted me
the more; and the fear that | dared not
resist him never left him. This contin-
ued for nearly year. My eldest broth
er had some business transactions with
Brigham and one Of his sons, which
resulted in trouble, and ultimately to
financial injury tony brother Brigham
had been very angry with him, and
threatened to cut him off from the
church. heard of these threats, aud
believing at that time in Mormonism, l
heard them with deep sorrow, and con
fess that, in hopes of turning Brishams
anger away from my brother, ] began
to entertain the thought that l would
yield to his request. l argued, as many
inexperienced persons do, that as | had
had sorrowful life,my heart was crush
ed, my future life was nothing, and If !
could sacrifice myself for my brothers
interest, and please my parents, l would
at last submit. Finally
and informed me through my father, that
what l required in preparation for my
marriage he would furnish; but | would
accept nothing. A day before the mar
rage he brought me three dress pat
terms one silk, and two merino-and
handed me purse with $50 bill. In
April, 1868, l was married to him IN
the Endowment House, by Heber {.
Kimball, his First Counselor. Myfath-
er and mother were present, and others.
Brigham's brother, Joseph, also took to
himself wife at the same time After
the ceremony | walked over with him
to the conference, and in the evening |
returned to my fathers house and re-
mained there for a month.
TIE PROPHETS LOVE OF SHORT DURATION.
For the first few months had con-
siderable of his attention.; his visits were
frequent; after that his business cares so
occupied him, he said, that he could call
about once in three months. After that
he came "just as it happened"
When | was married he wanted my
mother to live with me in the city, and
a year from the marriage he sent us to
take charge of his farm, where we re-
mained till last August, and / removed
again into the city. While / was at the
farm he came very seldom 10 see me,
and ofentimes while he would visit and
look round at the farm he never came
into the house. / caused him no trou-
lie; indeed, he had said that was the
best wife he had, for / had never given
him a cross word or look. But for that