Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1885-08-27

A Bishop Points TO a Rifle and Hos
pitably EntertaIns Him.
Cincinnati Enquirer

ed, as usual, TO the bishops house for
entertainment. Raoping AZ tSe door,
| was soon confronted by a large,
heavy built broad shouldered fellow,
who asked me, in anything but polite
language. Whist | wanted. ] informed
HIM that | desired entertainment for
the night
"Where are you 'front.'
"Cahiornla, sir"
Where are you going2N
south, ! answered. After plying
me witA a few more questions of a
similar nature, he invited me IN. On
entering the house, he turned TO me
and SAID.
ID you see that rifle up there2"
Looking up to the point indicated |
saw n of those long, murderous
rifles, commonly called Mississippi
rifles, resting snugly upon the autlers
of a Rocky mountain buck. | told
him that / saw it, and much admired
the artistic manner of hanging il.
"\Nell, Mister, that is our lawmaker.
When anyone comes among us and
commits any dirt we do hct hesitate
to use it. Now, listen 10 me, | am
the bishop Of this settlement, | have
two wives and several daughters.
Now, il you can promise me not to
speak to, or even look at, any of my
women folks, you are welcome to re-
nam over night Keep your eye on
that rife, and mind what | told you.
Can you do itR'
1t was q mighty hard job, but I first
tAlH hF n shaf l xuaU - Eta- r.,.fw.n, 49,
and if IL vas his honest desire why Of
course | would obey him. AT that
time he babe me TO follow him into AN
adjoining room, where his family was
assembled l was dimly conscious
that there were several females seated
around the lire. He drew up a chair
for me and babe me be seated. Turn
ing to the women, he gave them or
dcrs to prepare supper, he himself
taking my orders for Uhat ! wished.
An this time | dared not turn my
head nor look toward anyone but the
bishop l knew that his eyes were
upon me, and that his two wives aud
daughters were studying me closely.
| was greatly embarrassed, but wlthal
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 aad his son.,
a large, athletic fellow, coming in, the
bishop told him 10 entertain me, and
at the proper time to show me TO bed.
Putting on ms overcoat and fur cap,
for il was quite cold, he babe me good
night, saying that he was compelled
to attend n ward meeting. Before
! closing the door he pointed TO the rifle
overhead and said: Remember,
young man, what ! told your
II vas positively unkind OF him to
remind me of 1t, for the COMPOUNDED
old gun was constantly on my mlud.
| had seen some of their trescherous
WORK., and had heard much more. |
knew what they We're capable Of doing
and, under the circumstances, dared
not disobey his warning. Tbe door
closed, aud he was gone. The ladies
were seated ON my right, the on on
my 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 tunes. Finally she came up
and bluntly asked me # | was a Nor
mon. | haidly knew what TO do. /
had been warned against speaking TO
or even looking at any Of the women.
Was she trying TO draw mt into trou~
ble2 She certainly knew that had
been forbidden TO address her uuder
penalty Of death. Yet there She stood,
calmly inviting me to my fste, The
young mans eyes were upon me.
Great beads of Precipitation started out
ON my forehead.
"Do not fear TO speak, young maa
he has gone, and will not return before
midnight, She said, aud 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 your safety"
The ice was now broken aud turning
to the old lady ! SAID that / was not a
Mormon.
THANK God for that" she said, and
then the conversation became general.
/ was told all about the heartaches
and sutferings of the first or original
wife; how IN almost every case they
bad been deluded into j9inlng the
Mormon faith under false pretenses
what shame and modification came
over them when il was found out that
a second or n third wife was to be
taken into the household. ! was rathS
err reticent and did not express my
opinion on Ike subject as | Otherwise
woulI have done. The two daughters
were counely and full OF life. About
10 O'Clock they bade me good night
and retired. a half an hour later /
was conducted to my room BY the
young man
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YVhv Harfffntv HnIounJ