The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1873-03-22
LIFE IN UTAH.
TRIALS AT CHRISTMAS TIME.

Bishop Pots, Of Salt Lake City, was
the husband Of three wives aud the hap
py father Of fifteen interesting children.
Early in the winter the bishop determined
that his little ones should have good
time on Christmas, so he concluded to take
trip down to San Francisco to see what
he could find in the shape Of toys to graf
ify and amuse them. The good bishop
packed his carpet-bag, embraced Mrs.
Potts one by one and kissed each Of them
affectionately, and started upon his jour
uey.
He was gone little more than week,
when he came back with fifteen beautiful
mouth-organs in his valise for his darlings
He got out Of the train at Salt Lake
thinking how joyous and exhilarating it
would be at home Christmas morning
when the whole of those mouth-organs
should be in operation upon different tunes
at the same moment But just as he entered
the depot he saw group Of women stand
ing in the ladies room, apparently waiting
for him. As soon as he approached, the
whole twenty of them rushed up, threw
their arms about his neck and kissed him.
exclaiming:
ooh, Theodore, We are 500 glad you
have come back Welcome home Wei
come once more to the bosom Of your fam
lily ~ and then the entire score of them
fell upon his neck and cried over his shirt
and mussed him
The bishop was surprised and confused
Struggling to disengage himself, he blushed
and said
"Really, ladies, this kind of thing is
well enough-it is interesting and all that,
but there must be some kind Of a-that is
an awkward sort Of a--excuse me, ladies,
but there seems to be, as it were, slight
misunderstanding about the--I am Bishop
Potts"
ave know it, we know It, dearest"
they exclaimed in chorus, "and we are
glad to see you safe at home. We have
all been right well while you were away,
love"
at gratifes me, remarked the bishop,
ito learn that none of you have been a
prey to disease. | am filed with blissful
serenity when contemplate the fact but
really | do not understand why you should
rush into this railway station and hug me
because your livers are active and your
digestion good The precedent is bad it
is dangerous y
"0h, but we didn't" they exclaimed
in chorus "We came here to welcome
you because you are our husband. "
Pardon me, but there must be some
little--that is to say, as It were, | should
think not. Women, you must have mis-
taken your man.
'Oh no, dearest" they shouted. We
were married to you while you were away Y
"Whatr exclaimed the bishop, "you
don't mean to say that
HYes love. Our husband, VIM. Brown,
died on Monday, and on Tuesday Brigham
had vison in which he was directed to
seal US to you; and so he performed the
ceremony at once by proxy"
"Th-th-th-th-under r observed the bish-
op, in general sort Of way.
"And, darling, We are all living with
you now--we and the dear children"
"Childrenl children y exclaimed Bish-
Op Potts, turning pale, you don't mean
to say that there is pack of children,
too"
"Yes, love, but only one hundred and
twenty-five, not counting the eight twins
and the triplets.
-wha-wha-what d'you say ?" gasp
ed the bishop, in cold perspiration, Zone
hundred and twenty-five! One hundred
and twenty-five children and twenty more
wives 1t is too much--it is awful T. and
the bishop sat down and groaned, while the
late Mrs. Brown and the rest Of the brides
stood round inaseni-cirele and famed him
with their bonnets,a except the red-haired
one, and she in her trepidation made a
futile effort to fan him with the coal scut-
tie.
After while the bishop became recon
ciled to his new alliance, knowing we'll
that his protests would be unavailing so
he walked home, holding as many Of the
hands of the brides, as he could con-
yeniently grasp in his, while the red-haired
woman carried his umbrella and marched
in front Of the parade to remove obstruc-
.tions and to scare small boys
When the bishop reached the house, he
went round among the cradles which filed
the back parlor and the second story rooms,
and attempted, with such carnestness, to
become acquainted with bis new sons and
daughters that he set the whole one hun
dred and twenty-five and the twias to cry
ing, while his own original fifteen stood
around and joined in the chorus