Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-01-04

Bishop Potts Of Salt Lake City was the has
baud Of three wives and the happy father of
dfteen interesting children. Early in the win
ter the bishop determined that his little ones
should have good time on Christmas, 70 he
concluded to take trip down to San Francisco
to zee what he could find in the shape of toys
with which 70 crafty and amuse them. The
Mrs. Potts one by one and kissed each of her
afectionately, and started upon his journey.
He was gone little more tha a week, when
ne came back With fifteen beautiful mouth-or-
Of the train at Salt Lake, thinkisg how Joyous
and celebrating it would be at home on Christ
mas morning when the whole fifteen OF those
moutn-organs should be in operation upon diff
ferent tunes At the same moment. But Just as
he entered the depot he saw q group of women
standing In the ladies' room apparently waiting
twenty of them rushed up, threw their arms
about his neck and kissed him, exclaiming:-
On, Theodore. We are $3.50 glad you have
dear TheOdorel Welcome once more to the
bosom OF your famibs!" and then the entire
score Of them fell upon his neck and cried over
h' ISL snirt ront and mussed him.
The bishop seemed surprised and embarras-
SEQ: struggling to disengags himself, he
Really, ladies, this kind of thing is well
must be some kind of a-that Is, an awkward
sort of a-excuse me, ladies, but there seems to
be. az 1t were, slight Misunderstanding about
We knew it, we know it, dearest, !" they ex-
claimed in chorus, "and We are so glad to see
you safe, safe at home. We have ali been right
we'll while you were away, love-"
1t gratiies me-" remarked the Bishop 0to
learn that none of you have been Q prey to dis
ease. am filed with blssful serenity when
contemplate the fact; but really do not UNDER
stand why you should rush into this railway
station and hug me because your livers are &C.
tive and your digestion good. The precedent is
bad; It is dangerous"
chorus. We came here to welcome you be-
cause you are our husband"
Pardon me, but there must be some little
that that is to say, .s it were: I should think not.
sob no, dearest" they shouted, 1--WE were
married to Won while you were away!"
What" exclaimed the bishop, "you don't
4" Yes, love. Our husband, william Brown,
died on Monday, and on Thursday Bringham
lad vision in which he was directed to seal
us to you; and 80 he performed the ceremony at
" Th;th-th:under!" observed the bishop, in a
general sort Of way.
nowNws and us dear child H lying with you
=" Children! children!" exclaimed Bishop
Potts, turning pale, 'you don't mean to saw
that there is pack Of children, tOo?"
Yes; love, but only one hundred and twenty
ave, not counting the eight twins and the trip
let"
/" wha-wha wha-what d. you say?" gasped the
and twenty One hanSfsd and f twsntS,
five children and twenty more wives! 1t is too
much-it is awful" and the bishop sat down
and groaned, while the late Mrs. Brown. the
bride, stood around in a semicircle and famed
him with her bonnets, all except the red-haired
one, and che in her trepidation made futile
c fort to fan him with the coal
But after a while the bishop became recon-
ciied to his new alliance, Knowing we'll that
protests would be unavailing; so he walked
home, holding as many Of the little hands of the
while the red-haired woman carried his UNI
brella and marched in front of the parade to re-
move distinctions and TO scare OFF small BOYS.
When the bishop reached the house, he went
around among the cradles which filed the back
parlor and the two second-story rooms, and at
tempted with such earnestness to become ac-
quainted with his new sons and daughters that
he set the whole one hundred and twenty Fl 20
and the twins to crying, while his own orr ginai
fifteen stood around and Joined in tue chorus.
Then the bishop went out and sat on the garden
fence to white stick and sslemnly think,
while Mrs. Potts distributed herself around in
twenty-three places and sO0thed the children.
1tOccurred to the bishop while he unused, out
there on the fence, that he had not enough
mouth organs to 60 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 be-
gan to bid farewell to his family. He tenderly
Kissed all of Mrs. Potts who were at home, and
sCdTlSu IOT inc depot, Wnlie Mrs. SOtCS STOOD at
the various windows and waved her handker-
chiefs at him-all except the woman with the
warm hair, and she, in fit OF absent-miuded-
ness, held one OF the twins by the leg and brand
ished it at Potts as he fed down the street.
The bishOpireached Sap Francisco, completed
his purchases, and WAS just about to get on the
train with his one hundred and forty-four
him. 1t contained information to the effect
that the authenticated Mrs. Potts had Just had
daughter This induced the bishop to return
to the city for the purpose Of purchasing an ad-
ON the Following Saturday he returned home.
As he approached his house a swarm Of young
children few out Of the front gate and ran to-
pa! Oh, pa, but we're glad to see you! Hur-
The bishop locked at the children as they
coat, and was astonlshed to perceive that they
Were neither his nor the late Browns. He said,
" You youngster have made a mistake. 1 am
not your father" and the bishop smiled good
"Oh, YES. You are thoughr' screamed the lit
"But say / am not" said the bishop, Sc
of yourselves. Don't you know where little
etory- tellers 60? 1t Is scandalous for you to
violate the trath in this manner. My name is
Potts."
"Yes, We know 1t is," exclaimed the child
ren-"we know 1t is and 30 is ours, that Is our
name now too, since the wedding"
"Since what wedding?" demanded the bishop,
"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 q tear. Then he asked
"Who was your father?"
Mr.. Simpson, }" said the crowd, "and he died
on Tuesday,"
"And how many Of his internal old widows
mean how many OF your mothers are there?"
"Only twenty-seven," replied the children,
"and there are only sixty-four Of Us, and we are
awfui glad you have come home"
The bishop did not seem to be unusually
glad; somehow he failed to enter the enthusiasm
Of the occasion. There appeared to be in Q
certain sense, too much sameness about these
surprises, SO he sat there with his hat pulled
over his eyes and considered the situation. FL
nally, seeing there was no help for it, he went
TO the house, and forty eight of Mrs. Potts
rushed up to him and kissed him, and told him
how the prophet had had another vision In
which he was commanded to seal simpsons
widow to Pot Q.
Then the bishop stumbled among the cradles
to his writing desk, where he felt among the
gum rings and rattles for his letter-paper, and
then addressed q nete to Bingham asking him
IS personal favor to keep awake until after
Christmas. "The man must take me for q
founding hospital" he said. Then the bishop
saw clearly enough that If he gave presents to
the other children and not to the late Simp-
sons, the bride (relict OF Simpson) would