West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1897-09-30
NlgS. BROWNS HUSBAND.

stranger in the town, and when he
Was called upon TO visit and console
Mrs. Brown, who had iuss lost her
htsGand, he went around to Den-
con Wilt, so that he could post him
self about the situation.
IL understand you to say" said
Mr.. Mills, "thnt Mrs. Brown has
been married three timcs-or was
it four?
Il say, replied the Deacon,
"that she was Mr.. Browns third
wife while he was her fifth hus.
band. But she was the fourth wife
Of her second husband, and the
second wife Of her first, so that
she-"let me see," said the par
son. "the second wife of the first,
and the-well, then, three and five
arc eight, and four are twelve, and
two are fourteenth | get the hang
of the thing, Mrs. Brown has been
married fourteen times, and MIR.
Brown was her.
"No you do not understand,
Brown was only her fifth husband. "
ooh her fifth. But you said she
was the fourth wife of her second
husband, and she had three more,
SO that-four and three are seven
she must have had seven husbands,
and where are the other two ?''
"Why, don't you see? Her see
ond husband was married three
times before he met her. But she
had been married once
''How could she be married only
once when nc was her second hus-
band ?"
"Only once before she met him,
and when she married him she was
his fourth wife, so that he had had
four wives, and she had only
as this Brown you are speak ing
Of"
ono, no; Brown was her fifth.
lie bad been married twice before.
"Her second husband had ?"
81 mean Brown, OF course. Let
me explain. Mrs. Brown, cay,
married John. Thomas, Jacob,
William and Henry. And Thorn
as married Lulu, Mary aud LIAM
nah"
Before he married Mrs. Brown
or after ?''
"Beforc. Well then. Brown
married Emma and Matilda, and
John married Agnes. Agnes died
and John married Mrs. Brown.
Then John died and Lulu, Mary
and Hannah died, aud then Thorn
AS married Mrs. Brown. Then
Thomas died, Jacobs wife died,
and Jacob married Mrs. Brown.
Then Jacob died and Williams
wife died, and William annexed
Mrs. Brown. When William died,
Emma and Matilda died, and then
Brown married Mrs. Brown. Every
body came to Mrs. Browns, you
see."
81 see," said Mr. Mills. al
think grasp the facts. I'll 90
right around and see her."
Mrs. Brown was at home. And
after abiding to the weather and
one or two other topics, Mr.. Mills
said:
81 am deeply grioved, Mrs.
Brown, to hear of your bereave.
ment. 1t must be very, very ter
rible, even for person who is SO
Used 10 it."
$50 used to it; what do you
mean, sir ?"
"Why 1 merely meant to suggest
that experience cannot reconcile us
to those Affections. But there Is
consolation dear madam, time dulls
the edge Of our bitterest grief
Hou wept for John as though YOU
could not be comforted; but you
see
John; do not understand YOU.
sir"
you wept for John, but Thorn
rs came. When Thomas was taken
you thought Yourself utterly incon
soIable; but there was Jacob-he
brought new joy. When Jacob
was waited 10 a better land your
heart WAS nearly broken, bat vii.
liam bealed the wounds; and when
William drfted of into the an.
known, Henry assusgod your grief.
Perhaps there are other Ienrys.
" ilflafug aud I'bou,Ye,4 80 ..t