Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-04-04
VIENNA SWEET.
By J. l.. T.

of the big girls in the new school house
which had just entered as child of six.
She became at once very fond of me. and
all the little attentions so grateful to
childhood were showered upon the new
conner. Ii tie teacher sent to Madam
Aliens spring for water. and Vienna was
one Of the chosen, she a, once asked
favor that be allowed the slight recess
which the run of few yards would af-
fond. Then she would lead me carefully
all the way, and beg blossom or two
FOR her little friend, of the kind old lady
who had garden of flowers and vegeta.
bles a. well as a spring. At all our lit
tie Pas'imrs she kept guard over me and
/ protected my rights in most heroic fash
ION. In this way we were much together
for four years, and she made an indelble
impression on my early life. In recalling
Inc boys and girls of that time had
found her face slways full of life, and
instant in coming before me at the sum-
mons of memory.
/ It was during our school-days in the
pleasant valley Of Centreville that the
NormoOs began TO preach in that vicinity.
Joe Smith had jus; dug up his Mormon
bible and all the people round about
we're full Of curiosity to hear the new
prophet and his elders, | remember my
father went 10 Freedom flats one summer
afternoon wien it was given out that GER
tain Mormons would speak in an unknown
tongue He came home and told US it
wss al pre,ense and a sham. II vas
10 tongue at all; but mere gibberish ; so
we were quite safe from the delusion.
A. single thrust i, was msde 10 ap ca
10 u, ctildien in lis true light, aid We
had TO curiosity to explore il.
Not long after, w. we've surprised ard
panied in hearing that neighbor Sweet
had sold his farm and was going off with
the Mormous. He was a man of easy
going habits, one who would be happier
IN he leading strings Of another, than
under the guidance Of anything 80 rugged
a. personal thought and investigation.
Nv father tined TO di>suade him from his
.uia,ua,ion, but he had fallen wholly in
10 The net Of these re;enders, and rea-
son was OF no avail.
The MormOns were then gathering at
Kirkland, Ohio, and thither our neigh6or
iourncyed Besides Vienna. my special
friend. there were three older children Of
another mother, tao ,ols and daughter.
After leaving us, they were as utterly lost
10 any know ledge of their former friends
a. though they had passed into another
world When the camp was moved from
Ohio to Illinois, from Illinois 10 Missouri.
AID thence to Salt Lake, found myself
following them in thought as should
no, have done, but for the loving interest
which centred in my schOOl-ma,e.
A ter plurality of wives became
part Of the religion Of the latter day
saints" often wondered if brigh, and
beautiful Vienna was bound by such an
awful fate, anu knowing the power Of
appeals in tie name Of religion TO cOerce
the life. had i,ti- doubt that she had
been swallowed up in the fatal sea.
That my though, often held her with
peculiarly yearning and tenacious clasp,
seems 10 have been an argury Of yet I'M
acted par, in the relations of our two
lives.
In the spring of 1872 the Dr. was ad-
yis,d 10 seek relief from the threatening
prostration of the winter, in change of
climate. We talked over Europe, and
Florida, bat these tempting names inyol-
we'd certain indi>pesable investments
quite beyond our power, and We settled
the question at length by deciding to
rayel in tie west. A. that time had
two brothers whom | could visit on the
journey, and the DR.. richer always in
/ kindred than |. could count q host of re-
l.tives in that far off land.
We made southern Nebraska our first
objective point, and tarried five or six
weeks in Belleyou, not halt mile from
the Missouri. have often wondered
why health seeker should have halted
within breath of this muddy and pesti-
| lent stream, and the conclusion reached,
puts the question OF health quite aside
from the sought for blessings. A sister,
the wife Of Baptist minister stationed
at this mission post, was doubtless of
mere account in the finest reckoning
than the air about the river or the town.
Many years had gone BY since they
had seen each other. and the visiting was
to be the tonic to cure the DR.. He seem
ell to mend rapidly, and one day after
drive to Omaha, he announced his iDten-
ton of visiting Salt Lake City. | am
,,;ll;o, IN confess that | was very home