Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1897-06-08

GONE TO NY ARMS, MY owNp'
safety, his heart was strangely sad on
this particular morning and filled with
gloomy forebodings.
The time for his departure had arriv-
ed. The high spirited mules were at the
door. impatiently champing their bits.
The Mormon stood sadly among his
weeping wives.
Dearest ones, he said, II am sin.
gularly sad at heart this morning, but
do not let this depress you. The journey
Is perilous one. But, pshaw! have
always come back safely heretofore. and
why should | fear? Besides, ! know that
every night rs lay down on the broad
starlit prairie your bright faces will
come to me in my dreams and make my
slumbers sweet and gentle. You, Emf
ly. with your mild blue eyes, and you,
Henrietta, with your splendid black
hair, and you, Nelly, with your hair so
brightly. beautifully golden, and you.
Molly, with your cheeks so downy, and
you, Betsy, with your wine red lips
far moro delicious, though. than any
wine ever tasted-and you, Maria,
with your winsome voice, and you,
Susan, with your-with youy-that Is
TO say, Susan, with your-and the other
- Of you, each so good and beautiful,
will come 10 me in sweet dreams, will
you not, dearestists?"
"Our own" they lovingly chimed,
"we willw
"And so farewellr' cried Reginald.
"Come TO my arms, my own" he said
that is, as many Of you rs can do 1t
conveniently at once, for must away. I"
He folded several Of them to his
throbbing breast and drove sadly away.
But he had not gone fur when the
trace Of the of hind mule became un-
hitched Disinounting. he essayed to
adjust the trace, but ere he had fairly
commenced the task the mule, singu-
larly refractory animal, snorted wildly
and kicked Reginald frightfully in the
stomach He arose with difficulty and
tottered feebly toward his mothers )
house, which was near by, falling dead
in her yard with the remark, Dear
mother, I've come home to die!"
$50 see" she said. Where's the
mules?"
Alas, Reginald Gloverson could give
no answer. In vain the heart stricken
mother threw herself upon his inani-
mate form, crying, "Oh, my son, my
son, only tell me where the mules are,
and then you may die if you want to-"
In vain, in vain! Reginald had pass
cd ON.
The mules were never found.
Reginald's hear,broken mother took
the body home tn her unfortunate sons
widows. But before her arrival she in
discrectly sent boy to burst the news
gently to the afflicted wives, which he
did by informing them in hoarse
whisper that their ''old man had gone
in"
The wives felt very bad indeed.
"He was devoted to me, "sobbed En-
lily.
"And to me-" said Maria.
Eyes" said Emily, "he thought
considerably of you. but not SO much as
he did Of me.
II say he did,"
"And say he didn't"
"He did!'
"He didn'tv'
Don't look at me with your squint
eyesp
Don't shake your red head at me"
Sisters. said the black haired Hen.
rietta, cease this unseemly wrangling.
!, as his first wife shall strew flowers
OH his grave. "'
"No, you won't" said Susan. II as
his last wife shall strew flowers ON his
grave. It's my business to strew."
"You shan't, SO there!" said Hen
rietta.
"You bet l willr' said Susan, with o
tear suffused cheek.
well. as for me-" said the practical
Betsy, ~ amt ON the strew much, but
I shall ride ut the head Of the funeral
processionr"
"Not if I've been introduced to my
self, you won'tl' said the golden haired
Nelly. "That's my position. You bet
your bonnet strings it is!''
Children" said Reginald's mother,
you must do some crying, you know,
on the day Of the funeral, and how many
pocket handkerchers will it take to 60
round? Betsy, you and Nelly ought to
make one do between you.
"I'll tear her eyes out il she perpetu-
ates sob on my handkercherP
"Dear daughters in law" said Reai-
maids mother, NOW unseemiy Is this
anger! Mules is $500 span, and every
identical mule my poor boy had has
been gobbled up by the red man. l knew
when my Reginald staggered into the
dooryard that he was on the die, but
II I'd only thunk to ask him about them
mules ere his gentle spirit took fight
It would have been 81, 900 in our pock-
cts, and no mistakel Excuse these real
tears, but you've never felt parents
feelin's."
Its an oversight, sobbed Maria
"Don't blame usl'
The funeral passed Of in very pleas
ant manner, nothing occurring to mar
the harmony Of the occasion. By hap
py thought Of Reginald's mother the
wives walked to the grave 20 abreast,
which rendered that part Of the cere-
mony thoroughly impartial.
That night the 20 wives, with heavy
hearts. sought their 20 respective
couches But no Reginald occupied
those 20 respective couches-Reginald
would never more linger al night In
blissful repose In those 90 respective
cuchss--Reginald's head would never