News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1883-09-13

A letter from Cleveland, Ohio. to th
New York Sun, says: Two dust-covere
horses, a covered wagon containing
man and woman, with a long rope. t
which was attached an aged yellow dog
appeared Oh the streets here recently
The man was dark and swarthy, with
white beard and long flowing hair. TIL
woman was dressed III a faded calico
her skin was as dark as her husbands
"My name Is Sarah Stafford, and TIN
is my husband, Timothy Stafford" sal,
the woman. eve lives, or at least W,
used to live, twenty-eight miles from
Portland, State of Maine. For fou
years we've been galavantin' about on
West, and are now on our way home
thankful that we've. had our lives pre-
served. for we've been III some almighty
tight places, and several times looked
death in the face"
Mrs. Stafford lighted little black
pipe. and after pulling vigorously, con-
tinued:
eve don't look like MormOns, do we:
Well, We amt MOrmOEs any more, but
we once was. The fools amt all dead
vet, which accounts for our bein' here
to-day. You see, my Timothy was al
ways susceptible, and had to do this,
that, and the other thing if 1 wanted to
live with him in peace. Well, one day
while he was cuttjn' grass IN the meader
q lea1ish man with an awful oily tongue
came along and asked him to Join the
Mormous.
''Now, so far as [ was concerned, I
hated Momons WIS than l did pizen:
but when Timothy brought the man to
the house, and he talked so good and
kind like to me and called me his dear
Sister Stafford, l sorter warmed up 10
him and listened to what he said. Oh. he
painted an awful pretty picture of Utah,
where all was love and happiness, and
where there was no backbitin' or SANDER.
he read to Us from his Bible and prayed
and seemed so good that Timothy here
was actually struck, while well, I
guess [ was a little bit struck too.
"Wtl. to make a long story short, rs
the sayin' Is. Timothy and | were per
suaded to sell our farm and go to Utah.
We gOt there in time and was welcomed
by the Mormon Church. The deacons
and other hig guns made a great fuss
over Timothy, while the women looked
after me. One old fellow with a long
neck and q crooked leg said We must buy
farm Mt once and prepare for great re-
spOusibIlities. He then winked kind of
mysterious like at Timothy and went
away. Timothy allowed that he meant
to elect him to some high office in the
Church, but [ told him Office didn't bring
IN bread and butter, so I guessed we'd
postpone bUyin' the farm till we found
out how we liked the community. So
We rented a small house near the town
and held on to orr cash. Ia been
scrapin' and diggin' for nigh onto thirty
years, and didn't propose toget swindled
if I knew it.
"Wel, after we'd bin there a while,
along comes a squad of the deacons,
who looked pious and resigned like, and
said that Timothy ought to take another
wife, young woman who could be a
daughter to me. and comfort my declin-
ing years. Well, sir, If they'd shot me
down there l wouldn't have been more
surprised. After [ had collected my
thoughts a little bit [ went into the
kitchen, and got pot of bilin' water,
and then l sailed into them deacons.
Scatter you better believe they did.
thought they'd break their pious necks
was too small for 'em, and thew went
down the road like a hurricane. | picked
up rake and went after EN-, aud if |
didn't haste the hindermOst my name
amt Srah Stafford. Ill warrant there
wasn't two inches of sound hide left on
him. When | got back to the house l
found Timothy in a terrible rage. He
said [ didn't have his pleasure or com
fort at heart, and that | didn't love him
like / used to in Maize. He even told
me that l was a-gettim' too old for him,
and he ought to have a young wife if he
was goiu' 10 be highcockalorum III the
Church. Well, sir, when he told me
that l used the rake on him.
Mr.. Stafford attempted to speak at
this juuctura, but his wife shut him up
with one decided look and continued:
He don't like to hear what fool he
was among them MormoEs. Now, [
could have married the long-necked
deacon 1 spoke of a short time ago, but
Timothy had been my muinstay and
guide for thirty : ear AID l was satisfied.
1t made me terrible mad, though. to hear
linn labncTiu about Young wife. lest
as If i WGra't good 'nOu@h for him. But
L took him lay the h.taI ami left the
country We walk, until mOrniu' and
put up at a farm house. | bought them
horses aud tha5 wagon of tha farmer,
and Xiv rel Tire wagon myself with mus
lin. Since then we've been travelin' to-
ward lltiNe is fast as them critters will
carry as, AID when We git there well
never leave again ultil they carry us out
feet first. So there. Young man, Is our
story. It, as true as gospI, and if it'll
teach amy aLi fools ii tins country 10
stay at home. mind their business, and
let tine Nor.uo@s alone, yOu can print it
IL your paper, although Ia awlutly hate
my oil uaishbyrs down IL Maine 20 see
It."
Mrs. Stafford, with her Timothy, vel
low dog, and Uicd horses, Left for the
East,