The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1885-09-04
AMONG THE SAINTS. -

ctahuiuDD HeaE IL ue WOulU ulTCcC Inc tC
the hotel.
'.Hotel! There amt no hotel in this
town.
Where do people go who want to
stay in Lehigh over night?'
''They 60 to the Bishops house ovel
there
The Bishops house A Mormon
Bishop, and l Yankee school-teacher
sen: out as a missionary from the Epis.
copal Church! But there was no help
for it, as must have shelter for the
night; SO l crossed the road and
Knocked boldly at the door. 1t was
opened by the Bishops wife, a tall,
thin, careworn woman, who eyed me
sharply.
''Can I stay here all nigh.3' asked;
81 have Just come to Leligh on the
train"
"Who be you?''
l told her my name, and added that
had lived part OF my life in Louisiana,
that portion of our country being less
obnoxious to these people than the
Eastern States.
''Be you Gentile?' she inquired
after another sharp look at me.
81 am not a jew, that's certain" 1
said. laughing, $50 l suppose l must be
a Gentle.
THE Bishop don't allow Gentiles in
this town. They never set foot here.
But you can come in if you want to. $"
l was surprised at the end of her
sentence, which bore no resemblance
to the beginning. and gladly accepted
the rather equivocal invitation.
The room which 1 entered was small
and poor. used for parlor, dining room
and general sitting room. In the apart
meat beyond l heard the click of a
sewiug-machine and the sound of girls
voices.
"What dye come to Lehigh for?"
Mrs. Evans inquired, still cycling me
with immense curiosity.
Il came here to open school,"
said.
"A school! What sort of a SCHOOL,"
"A school for all the boys and girls
that want to come. Haven't you
daughters that you would like to sendP"
She ignored the last question and
faced me with her arms akimbo:
what be you goin' to charger"
Nothing"
'Nothin'! That's q queer way to
keep a school. Guess you'll get tired
of it soon enough"
A long pause followed, during which
She seemed to be studying me and
growing more and more perplexcd. At
last she shot at me this question:
"Be you Presbyterian?''
mo"
"A Methody?"
"No."
She turned around abruptly and
lung open the door of the next room
where l heard the sewing-machine.
''Girls, como out here. Here's q
woman, an she's young an she's goin'
to keep school, an you can all 60,
m she amt goin' to charge a cent, an
'he amt a Presbyterian or Methody!'
1t is impossible to express the vigor
If her tones rs she announced these
facts, each one seeming equal
y surprising to her.
The girls crowded around me-such
number of them!
care all these your daughters?"
inquired, though I felt that it could not
'e possible.
''Oh. no. They are Matilda's, and
lanes. and Loreny and Martha
AIMS"
"And who is Matilda, and Jane. and
1oreny and Martha Ann?''
1.-THE Bishops families!'' and she set
Ter teeth hard and turned away from
ne.
found afterwards that no first wife
II Mormon ever speaks of the other
who are sealed to her hus-
band rs his wives" They are always
families"
noticed a small organ in the back
Dom, standing opposite to the sewing
do you play?" asked.
They all shook their heads rather
ably. l learned that the organ was to
hem great and awful mystery. 1t
lad never been opened since it was
brought into the house some months be-
ore. taken by the Bishop in payment
# debt There was q man at the
abroad station, they told me, who
ould play on an organ. Evidently
hey felt the greatest admiration for the
nan at the station.
In packing my trunk that morning l
lad accidentally left out little singing
ook, and at the last minute tucked it
nto my sachel. I was thankful that l
ad it within reach. I sat down to the
Ryan and played and sang to them.
IS l went on from one piece to another,
hey grew more open mouthed and
':How many tunes do you know?'
ne Of them asked ut last.
l laughed IS l told them knew 4
ood many-could not tell just how
lany.
'.Never counted 'em?'
mo; l had never counted them"