The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1879-06-25
Letter From Bascum.

LONE VALLEY, June 5th, 1879.
To the Editor OF the Morr1stown Gazette: l
Notwithstanding the hard times
and the many mlsfortunes we meet
with in this vale of tears. yet, we
meet with many things on our blest
journey through life to make glad
the heart. be it ever so sad. Strange
as it may seem to you, yet l some
times read the Bible, and almost
every time / read in that book I find
something that can rejoice at.
There is one place in that good old
book where the life and adventures
Of man by the name of Solomon
is given, and amongst other things
connected with bis life is a statement
to the effect that he had three hundred
wives. This fact ofitself is q source
of much pleasure to me, and I'll tell
you for why. You know Cousin John,
that very many men Of the few past
generations, as also of the present,
devote much of their time in trying
to excel every other man in some
thing or another, aud such men are
always ready to brag of their sue
cess in excelling others, but it does
my very heart good to know that
none Of my acquaintance have as yet
even come in sight Of that great and
wise man Solomon in the little item
of wives.
My old friend Brigham Young un-
dertook to excel Solomon, but he
was distanced on the first heat and
died in despair. Had he succeeded
the world would never have heard
the last of it. tell you am proud
of that old veteran Solomon" But,
Cousin John, there is one thing left
unpublished in the life of Solomon
that am glad of, and that is as to
how that little family got along
or not there were any little
Jars amongst the female women.
Now, some who are not quite so wise
as Solomon was, try to get around !
this thing by saying that there was a
made ia the translation of
this little matter, that instead of
wives il was three hundred calves;
that Solomon was regular cattle
dealer and raised many calves, and |
that plenty of men have owned more
calves than that since Solomon's
day. But that's too thin. 1t meant |
wives, and was wives, and I am
glad Of it, for it stops many an old |
fellow from telling what his Father |
has done. But nay gracious, wouldn't
laugh to see Col. Solomon tackle
on to just about six that happen to
know. l would just like to hear one |
Of them give the word of command |
for Master Solomoo to bring buck.
et Of water or string beans for din.
ner, or to drive the hens cut of the
onion bed, but not to throw rocks at 1
them, or to mind the children while 4
she went out shopping. Yes, I'd
ike to see this, especially If Sol had !
done without his coffee for breakfast
and was irclined to be sullen, and
slow about coming to time. Then
I'd like to see Master Solomon look
ng up Dentist to probe for an old I
shoe, said to be located somewhere
in the neighborhood of his internal
Improvements. I'll just bet he would
be little slow about getting up that
little remainder of 294 wives.
Cousin dohn, lam truly glad Solo,
mon lived just at the time he did,
and that be had 800 wives. for if he
had lived within the last thousand
years the thing would be disputed
Dy scores of men who live At this
time. many of whom can give a full
detail from memory of things that
happened several hundred years ago.
It's right funny to hear some Of the
old ones tell about how this country
looked when they first come here
from "Old Ferginny" About what
hard work they had in digging cut