Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1873-01-24

1
the bride, stood around in a scmi-circle
and famed him with her bonnets, all
except the red-haired one, and she in
her trcpidation, made futile effort to
fan him with the coal-scuttle.
But after while the bishop became
reconciled 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 bride as he could
conveniently grasp in his, while the red
haired woman carried umbrella and
marched in front of the parade TO remove
distractions and to scare of small boys.
When the bishop reached the house,
he went around among the cradles which
filled the back parlor and the two second
story rooms, and attempted with such
earnestness to become 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 whit
tic stick and solemnly think, while
Mrs Potts distributed herself around in
twentythree 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 rcpacked his carpet-bag
and began again to bid farewell to his ia
mily. He tendcrly 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 hand
kerchiefs at him--all except the woman
with the warm hair, and she, in a fit of
Observation-Disclosures, held one of the twins
by the leg and brandishcd it at Potts as
he fled 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 forty-four mouth-organs,
when telegram was handed him. II
contained information to the effect that
the auburn-haire Mrs. Potts had just
had a daughter. This induced the bish-
oy to return to the city for the purpose
of purchasing an additional organ.
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 toward him, shouting
There's pa! Here comes pa Oh, pa,
but we're glad to sec you ! Hurrah for
pa p etc, etc.
The Bishop looked at tko children as
they flockcd around him and chung to his
legs and coat, and was astonished to per-
ceive that they were neither his nor the
late Browns. He said, "You young
sters have made mistake am not
your father y and the bishop smiled good
naturally.
ooh, yes you are thought screamed
the little ones in chorus.
g But say am not" said the bish-
OPP, severely and frowning you ought
to be ashamed of yourselves! Don't you
know where little story-tollers 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, 1--WE know it is, and so is ours I;
that is our name 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 tear. Then he asked:
"Who was your father p
Mr.. Simpson" said the crowd, "and
he died on Tuesday"
And how many Of his internal old
widows-I mean how many of your mo-
theirs are thcre?" "Only twenty-seven,
replied the children. "and there are only
sixty-four of US, and we are awful glad
you have come home"
The bishop did not seem unusually
glad somehow he failed to enter into
the enthusiasm Of the occasion. There
appeared to be, in 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 COM
manded to seal Simpsons widow to
Potts.
Then the bishop stumbled around
among the cradles to his writing-desk,
where he felt among the gum rings and
rattles for his letter paper, and then adj
dressed note to Brigham, asking him
as personal favor to keep awake until
after Christmas. "The man must take
me for founding hospital" he said
Then the bishop saw clearly enough that
if he gave presents to the other children
and not to the late Simpsons, the bride
(relict of Simpson, would probably souse
down on him, tumble among his hair and
make things warm for him. SO repack-
ing his carpet bag, he started again for
San Francisco for sixty-four more mouth
organs, while Mrs Potts gradually took
leave Of him in the entry-all but the
red-haired woman, who was upstairs, and
who had to be satisfied with a scrcechIng
goodbye at the top Of her voice.
On bis way home after his last visit to
San Francisco, the bishop sat in the car
by the side Of man who had left Salt
| Lake the dav before. The stranger was