The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1881-05-03
The Much Married Potts.


ing children. Early in the winter the
bishop determined that his little ones
should have good time on Christmas,
so he concluded to take a trip down to
San Francisco to see what he could find
In the shape of toys to crafty and
amuse them. The good bishop packed
his carpet-bag, embraced Mrs. Potts one
by one, kissed each one of them affec-
tionately, and started upon his journey.
He was gone little more than week
and when he came back he had fifteen
mouth organs for his darlings. He got
out of the train at Salt Lake, thinking
how joyous and exhilarating 1t would be
at home on Christmas morning when
the whole of those mouth organs should
be in operation upon differnt tunes at
the same moment. But just as he enter
ed the depot he saw group of women
standing in the ladies' room apparently
waiting for him. AS soon as he APP
preached, the whole twenty of them
rushed up, threw their arms about his
neck exclaiming:
Oh, Theodore, we are so glad-so
glad you have come back. Welcome
home Welcome home, dear, dear
Theodore Welcome once more to the
bosom of your family" !" and then the
entire score of them fell upon his neck
and cried over his shirt and mussed
him.
The bishop was surprised and confus-
ed. Struggling to disengage himself he
blushed and said:
Really, ladies, this kind of thing is
well enough-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 slight
misunderstanding about the, ah-I am
Bishop Potts"
"We know it, we know it dearest"
they exclaimed in chorus, land we
are glad to see you safe, safe at home
We have all been right well while you
were away, love-"
1t gratifies me-" remarked the bish-
op, "to learn that none of you have
been prey to disease. am filled with
blissfull serenity when l contemplate
the fact; but really do not understand
why you should rush into the railway
station and hug me because your livers
are active and your digestion good. The
precedent is bad ; 1t is dangerous.
"Oh, but we didn't ~ they exclaimed
in chorus, 1--WE came here to welcome
you as our husband"
=" Pardon me but there must be some
little-that is to say, as it were, l should
think not. Women, you must have
mistaken your man."
"Oh, no dearest" they shouted, 1--WE
were married to you while you were
away
Wh-what - exclaimed the bishop,
''you don't mean to say that
&C Yes, love. Our husband, William
Brown, died on Monday, and on Tues
day Brigham had a vision in which he
was directed to seal US to you; and so
he performed the ceremony by proxy"
Th-th tn TIL under !" observed the
bishop in general sort of way.
"And darling, we are all living with
you now-we and the dear children"
Children children - exclaimed
Bishop Potts, turning pale, ''you don't
mean to say that there is pack of chill.
dren too ?"
g Yes love but only one hundred and
twenty-five, not counting the eight
twins and the triplets."
"Wha-wha-what de We say? gasped
the bishop, in cold Precipitation zone
hundred and twenty-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 their bonnets, all ex-
cept red haired one, and she in her
trepidation made futile effort to fan him
with the coal scuttle.
After while the Bishop became rec
onciled to his new alliance, knowing
well that his protests would be unavail-
ing; 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 his
umbrella, and marched in front of the
parade to remove distractions and scare
small boys.
When the bishop reached the house
he went round among the cradles which
filled the back parlor ard the second
story rooms, and attempted with suclr
earnestness, to become acquainted with