Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-08-27
DRUMMER AMONG HORIZONS.
a Bishop Points to a Rifle and Hos
pitably Entertaius Him.
Cincinnati Enquirer


On my arrival at Lehl l was direct
ed, as usual, 10 the bishops house for
entertainment. Rapping at the door,
was soon confronted by a large,
heavy built broad shouidered fellow.
who asked nae, in anything but polite
language. what | wanted. [ informed
him that [ desired entertainment for
the night
"Where are you from9"
California, sir. -"
Nv here are you going?"
South, [ answered. After plying
me Wits a few more questions of a
similar nature, ne invited me In. On
entering the house, he turned to me
and said:
DO you see that rifle up thereQ"
Looking up to the point indicated /
saw one of those long, murderoYs
rifles, commonly called Mississippi
rifles, resting snugly upon the antlers
of Rocky mountain buck. [ told
him that | saw it, and much admired
the artistic manner of hanging it.
well, Mister, that is our lawmaker.
When anyone comes among US and
commits any dirt we do not hesitate
to use it. Now, isten TO me. | am
the bishop Of this settlement, / have
two wives and several daughters.
Now, if you can promise nae not To
speak TO, or even look at, any of my
women folks, you are welcome to re-
main over night, Keep your eye on
that rifle, and mind what I told you.
| Can you do it?'
1t was mighty hard job, but first
told hi n that [ was at MS command,
and II 1t was his honest desire why of
course l would obey him. At that
time he babe me to follow him into an
adjoining room, where his family was
assembled [ was dimly conscious
| that shera were several females seated
around the fire. He drew up chair
for me and babe me be seated. Turn
ing to the women, he gave them or
ders to prepare supper, he himself
! taking my orders for what I wished.
Ali this time I dared not turn my
head nor look toward anyone but the
bishop [ knew that his eyes were
upon me, and that his two wives and
daughters were studying me closely.
| was greatly embarrassed, but withal
managed to dispose of a hearty supper,
at the conclusion of which we again
returned 10 the sitting room. 1t was
by this time quite dark; and his son,
q large. athletic fellow, coming in, the
! bishop told him to entertain me, and
at the proper time to show me TO bed.
| Putting on his overcoat and fur cap,
for il was quite cold, he babe me good
night, saying that he was compelled
| re- Of
closing the door he pointed to the rifle
overhead and said: Remember,
young man, what told you?"
Ii was positively unkind of him to
remind me Of 1t, for the COMPOUNDED
old gun was constantly on nay mind.
[ had seen some of their treacherous
work, and had heard much more. [
knew what they were capable of doing
and, under the circumstances, dared
not disobey his warning. The door
closed, and he was gone. The ladies
were seated on my right, the ron on
ray left. To make assurance dOubly
sure ] turned my back to the ladies,
and facing the young man, entered
into conversation with him. One of
the ladies' got up and went to the door
several times. Finally she came up
and bluntly asked me If | was Nor
mon. | hardly knew what to do. [
had been warned against speaking to
or even looking at any of the women.
Was she trying to draw me into trOu-
BILE? She certainly knew that l had
been forbidden TO address her under
penalty of death. Yet there she stood,
calmly inviting me to nv fate, The
young mans eyes were upon me.
Great beads of perspiration started out
on my forehead.
''Do not fear to speak, young man;
he has gone, and will not return before
midnight, she said, and at that she
laid her hand on my head.
Its all right, stranger" said the
son. ITS all right, speak up and
look around as much as you please.
I'll vouch for youc safety"
The ice was now broken and turning
to the old lady [ said that I was not q
Mormon.
"Thank God FOR that, ;" she said, aad
then the conversation became general.
[ was told all about the heartaches
and sufferings Of the first or original
wife; how In almost every case they
had been deIuded into j0inIng the
Mormon faith under false pretenses;
what shame and modification came
over them when it was found out that
8 second or third wife was to be
taken into the household. I was rath~
er reticent and did not express my
opinion on the subject as I otherwise
would have done. The two daughters
were conely and full of life. About
10 O'Clock they bade me good night
and retired. 4 half an hour later l
WAS conducted TO nay room by the
| young man.