Front matter
CORNELL
UNIVERSITY
LIBRARY
Contents
CHAPTEE I.
INTRODUCTORY.
Happy Childhood. The whispers of slander. Flight any where, any where, but home ! Alone on a wide sea. " We met by chance the usual way.'' The voice of the charmer. Mormonism and its interpreter. A basilisk's eye. Ward's little game. The woman who hesitates is lost. I go, but where ? 9
CHAPTER II. The Mormon Meeting
A Mormon in disguise. Signs and pass- words. An old house and a midnight conclave. Waiting for the High Priest. Advent of Joe Smith. An imposing Impostor. Beauty in its shroud. Is it sleep or death ? The Hallilujah Chant and the raising of the dead. Miracles in the 19th century. Assault of the mob. "Disperse for your lives." A woman's heroism. A bloody tragedy, ., 15
CHAPTER III. Mormon Vexations
My new acquaintance, Mrs. B — . Story of the modem Martyrs. A ferocious rabble and its sports. Brother Bradley on a rail. Mormon baiting. A portly elder under hue and cry. Looking westward for refuge. Ellen, the resuscitated, and her betrothed. Sad infatuation. New marriage code. The Tempters at work. A startling proposition. "'T is the first step that costs." I yield to temptation, 30
CHAPTER IV. Sundry Mormon Matters
The priests and the priestess. Joe Smith again. Mr. Ward's offering. " Here 's my heart and here 's my hand." My confes-
CONTESTS.
VU sion and compact. " You are now sealed for heaven." Spiritual wives. A warning from a heathen sister. Mysterious hints. — A deserted husband and an erring wife. Conflict between false religion and sacred duty. Agony of separation-. The Bible distorted, 38
CHAPTER V. mormon Removals.
Westward Ho ! A secret movement. Danger-signals. A -wily artifice. The midnight parley in the forest. Joe Smith in the role of grandfather. A wolf in sheep's clothing. Abduction of Hannah. The pursuit. The seducer and the seduced. A sanctimonious scoundrel. Guilt, shame, and infanticide. Bounding Bet and the Amazonian horsewoman. Riding double. A fierce rencontre. A friendly hint and what came of it, 50
CHAPTER VI. The Recapture
The attack. Death of Bounding Bet. A Mormon sister seals her faith in blood. Hannah snatched out of the tiger's jaws. Joe Smith and his personal appearance. The pet of the petticoats. A prophet masquerading. New trials for Ellen. A repulsive suitor. " One more unfortunate weary of breath." The beautiful suicide. Cursing the dead. A stern rebuke. The mask torn off, 71
CHAPTER VII. The Mormon Settlement
The promised land. Roughing it in Illinois. The Church keeping store. A big swindle. The veil lifted by a Mormon wife. Alatming disclosures. Dead men tell no tales. Disappearance of young Harrison. Found dead. Why ? He threatened exposure. Fanaticism and murder. Death penalty of desertion, .... 81
CHAPTER VIII. Mormon Faith and Worship
The new dispensation and its creed. The Mormon Millenium
Vlll CONTENTS.
and Heaven. Eeligion run mad. Polygamy and spiritual wives. Witchcraft, trances, and dreams. Joe Smith makes a revelation. The angel in the woods. Mormon Bible. Sensuality of the system the source of its strength, 91
CHAPTEE IX.
Mormon Prophets and Elders.
Quaint portraits of Mormon elders. The High Priest in his pulpit. Brother Flitter murdering English. A ridiculous preacher. Mrs. Bradish interrupts the meeting. Hauling the elders over the coals. Brother Pratt and the missionaries hold forth. Visions of the modern prophets. The beast with divers heads and horns. The devil sitting on a stump, smoking, 95
CHAPTEE X.
Mormon Church Government.
Pope Smith the First. New converts. A recruit from Camp-meeting and a Hardshell. The New Gospel. A paradise for fools, swindlers, and cut-throats. A wild scheme. Female serfs. A hen-pecked prophet and a fiend wife. Woman's wrongs and man's injustice. Repentance too late, 99
CHAPTEE XL Mormon Outrages.
The fortified camp of the Holy. The saints shall inherit the earth, and we are the saints. Organized Banditti. Robbers in the field and on the highway. Caught in the act but not convicted. The "Regulators7' moving. Another .seduction. The mobbing of Clayton. An outraged wife, 108
CHAPTEE XII.
Regulators.
Cornelia in the wolf's den. Statagems to rescue her. Violence the last resort. The Regulators invade a Mormon household. Flight of Ward. Capture of Joe Smith and Elder Hyde. Prophets changed into ostriches — a tar-bucket and pillow-case
CONTENTS. IX
of feathers. A female fanatic on the rampage. Bloody denouement, 114
CHAPTER XIII.
The Forest.
My husband's return. His thrilling narrative. Hiding in the woods. Caught, beaten, hunted, and stabbed. A death grapple. Fresh stratagems. Fighting fire with fire. A stampede. Mrs. Bradish on horseback in male attire. Her capture and imprisonment, 120
CHAPTER XIV.
Eeturn of the Messenger.
The priestess in a felon's cell. The mob muttering revenge at the gates, " Where are the Regulators ?" Plotting a rescue. Putting Indians on the war-path. A secret session of the saints. Letter from Mrs. Bradish in prison. A warning too late. The departure of the leaders, 130
CHAPTER XV.
The Liberation and something else.
Waiting in suspense. Mr. Ward's return. Astounding news. A night expedition. Setting fire to the village and storming the -jail. The prophet and Mrs. Bradish emerge from the smoke. Death of Joe Smith, and escape of Mrs. Bradish. The Mormons taken prisoners. Lynch Law. The alternative. Exile or the Halter, 135
CHAPTER XVI.
The New Leader.
A death-wail in the church, Contest for the leadership. Claims of Brigham Young. His personal appearance. Talents and antecedents of the man. A peddler turned prirst. Licentiousness under the garb of religion. A confiding maid, a perjured lover, and a heart-broken mother. A pious fraud. The sacred loons 140
X CONTENTS.
CHAPTEE XVII.
Going Off.
Brigham Young and the Holy Cavalcade. The apostolic kiss. Reappearance of Mrs. Bradish with new converts. Her escape from the heathens. A place of refuge. The confiding household. Winning proselytes. A tempting bait. Spreading the delusion, 144
CHAPTER XVIII.
Emily's Narrative.
A charming girl. Brigham Young casting sheeps' eyes. Emily's childhood. Life among the paupers. A budding beauty. Mysterious parentage. The fair one with the golden locks. An envious female barber. A kind protector, 157
CHAPTER XIX.
Sundry Matters.
A Platonic love and an unblushing polygamist. Utah' in the enchanted distance. The caravan crossing the plains. A runaway. Hardships. "Pestilence that walketh in darkness." Death-bed scenes. The graves on the prairie. The last sleep of the mother and her children, 165
CHAPTER XX.
Fording a River and its Consequences.
A swollen torrent and a crazy raft. Emily and her lover in one saddle. Brigham Young and his rival. A perilous crossing. A woman overboard! Rescue of Mrs. Bradish. Breaking up of the raft. Mrs. Beardsley and her knitting work submerged. Safe ovor at last. A war-whoop 1*74
CHAPTER XXI.
Women Lost or Captured.
*S Indian deviltries. Mrs. Bradish and Emily take a solitary ride. Its sequel. The tracks on the prairie and the bloody knife. Mourning for the lost. The Cheyenne scouts. The captive women in
CONTENTS. XI
the encampment of the Sioux. The sleeping savages tomahawked. Running the gauntlet, 182
CHAPTER XXII.
Emily's Narrative Continued.
Life with Mrs. Birney. An envious woman. A cruel taunt. Who were her parents ! The mystery unravelling. Story of Emily's mother. A dreadful suspicion. Death of Mrs. Birney. The stolen will. Alone in the world, 191
CHAPTER .XXIII.
Further Developments.
• A female's defense of polygamy. A woman's reasons. Fanny Simpkins sets her cap for Stillman. Fresh proof of man's frailty. The Indians once more. A false alarm and a friendly rencontre. Hunting buffalo. A tete-a-tete interrupted. A shameless woman and a true wife. Last appeal of Louisa Stillman to her erring husband. Grief, remorse, and reconciliation, 198
CHAPTER XXIV.
Love in the Wilderness.
Flirtation and match-making on the prairies; Emily and her wooer. The coy beauty. An impassionate suitor. Blissful visions. Cupid in a hunter's lodge. " Two souls with but a single thought, two hearts that beat as one." The elixir of love, . 216
CHAPTER XXY.
A Wife's Troubles.
Toiling and moiling. Beating back disease. A malicious coquette and her wiles. An Indian war party. The rose of the wilderness. Ethleen the Arapahoe maiden. A beautiful victim bound for the sacrifice.' Pleading for the captive. The rejected ransom, 223
CHAPTER XXVI.
An unexpected Encounter.
A love letter and what came of it. A driveling dotard. "Hell
Xll CONTENTS.
has no fury like a woman scorned." Fanny SimpMns under the lash. Her disguised castigator. A jealous virago gets a wetting. Ducking of Mrs. Stillman. Extricated from an unpleasant position. The three mysterious horsemen, 230
CHAPTER XXVII.
A Hew Character.
Charley Moore the pride of the Rangers. A western knight errant in costume. A soul of honor in a heart of courtesy. A dying girl and her loving nurse. A daring enterprise. A woman and two men against a hundred savages. The Santa Fe caravan. Brigham Young making proselytes. Glowing picture of the Promised Land. One of Eve's family, 235
CHAPTER XXVIII.
The Fugitives.
More about Mrs. Bradish's enterprise. Modern Amazons. Language of flowers. The tale of the scout. An Indian Pow-wow. Ethleen at the stake. The veteran spy in the wigwam. Flight of Ethleen. The big Pines and the lost trail. Saved as by fire, . . ". 243
CHAPTER XXIX.
Water! Water!! Water!!!
Crossing the great desert. Looking into the gaunt face of starvation. The realms of Desolation. The skeleton tableau. Tortures of the thirst-fiend. Millions of money for a goblet of water. Indians watching for scalps. The lizard eaters of the plains. Brigham Young among the red men. A Revelation, .... 252
CHAPTER XXX.
Other Difficulties.
The wall of the mountains and the pillars of salt. Toiling up the peaks. A rampart of granite and a circle of fire. Threading the great South Pass. A Hymn of praise on the summit. Magnificent landscape. The panorama of the continent in the sun-
CONTENTS. xiii
rise. A watery barrier. Retracing our steps. The Blackfeet glide 261
CHAPTER XXXI.
Bear River Valley.
Irene, the widow of Joe Smith. The relics of the prophet. A new aspirant to the Mormon Mitre. A cunning plot. Lawrence's death-swoon. Brigham Young purloins the sacred garments. The plotter's game blocked. Mrs. Bradish has a matrimonial offer from the head of the church. A rejected suitor. Up Salt River and beside Salt Lake, 270
CHAPTER XXXII.
Other Emigrants.
An unexpected reinforcement. Another sermon upon Polygamy. Extending the institution. Consternation of the married women. Resting in the beautiful valley. A fork-breakfast. The snake in the grass. Brigham sends for Emily. A heart on fire. Dark threats. The amorous Patriarch foiled, 281
CHAPTER XXXIII.
A Home in the Desert.
The island-valley in a sea of mountains. ^'Mormon isolation and influence. A powerful state growing up in the wilderness. Laying out the city. Spoiling the Egyptians. The worm at the core. Curse of Polygamy. Jealousies and heart burnings. Enslavement of woman, 294
CHAPTER XXXIY.
Emily's Narrative Continued.
"She looks like Brigham Young." A startling suspicion, see Chap. XVI. Bearding the Mormon lion in his den. The escape from the open window. The division and allotment of one heart.- Female dissensions. Their legal punishment. yWomen under the lash. More Plots, 308
XLV CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XXXY.
Church and State.
The ruling principle of Mormonism. Brigham Young the Pope and King. Property vested in the church. Peripatetic Parsons. Harems for the wealthy. Scieutific breeding. Trading in wives. A slave-mart for beauty. A hoary saint buying a youthful spouse, 315
CHAPTER XXXYI.
The Self-accuser and the Dying Hushand.
Marriage of Charley Moore and Ethleen. All alone in the dark. The forsaken wife and why she was forsaken. j/Sad retrospect of married life. A mournful message. The fatal lunch. Mrs. Stillman by her husband's death-bed. " The worm that dieth not." Forgiveness in the last embrace, 328
CHAPTER XXXYII.
A Scene.
A bundle of female nerves. Mrs. Dallas on the anxious seat. The shadow *in the household. Dissolved in tears. Woman weapons. Sympathizing Sisters. The poison of asps. Polly High the detested rival. Loved by the men hated by the women. Mr. Dallas'es, No. 2 339
CHAPTER XXXYIII.
Emily Again.
Her disappearance. A dark surmise. Calling upon the Prophet for information. Cool as a cucumber. Soothing suggestions. " Botanizing in the Eocky Mountains." Agony of Harmer. Searching for the lost. An Indian trail. Nocturnal wanderings, 350
CHAPTER XXXIX.
Marriages.
A widow's weeds. Eeligion from the devil. An aged satyr.
* CONTENTS. XY
June roses for December loots. Adorned for the sacrifice. A
struggling victim. A private wedding. A vile bargain sealed.
v Purchased brides, ; 356
CHAPTER XL.
A Consultation.
No tidings of Emily. A new expedition organized. Brigham Young forbids it to depart. Rebellion against the mandate. A band of female rangers. Suspicious conduct of the Prophet. Proposal to search his house for the lost maiden. A raving maniac. Irene in a strait-jacket, 3t>7
CHAPTER XLI.
Differences.
Continual absence of Harmer. Indifference of the Prophet. A bloody conspiracy! Mormon theocracy. A kingdom within a republic. Manufacturing fire-arms. Secret war upon the heathen. Religious desperadoes disguised as Indians. Waylaying emigrants. Ambush and murder, 376
CHAPTER XLII.
The New Wife.
Bedlam in a Mormon household. An obstreperous beehive, and a swarm of children. Story of Mr. and Mrs. Slocum. Rival wives. Hell in the nursery. A step-mother's cruelty. Bruised, battered, burned ! Child-murder. The dying boy. A murderess goes free, 384
CHAPTER XLIII.
Ethleen's Adventure.
She disappears and whither? Return of Harmer. A thrilling tale. Death of Moore and Buckley. Disguised assassins. A commission from the head of the church for secret murder. The plot unraveled. Days of captivity. Escape of Ethleen and Harmer from the destroyer's toils, 399
XVI CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XLIV.
y The Gold Fever and its Effects.
The stampede for Eldorado. The tyrant bride. A motley Seraglio and its empress. The vindictive squaw. Horrible plot. The poisoned banquet. A Lunatic household. Frightful scenes. The avenger on the track. A short shrift and a long halter, 407
CHAPTER XLV.
Revelations.
An awakening. Mrs. Bradish comes to grief and opens her mouth. Secret of Joe Smith's power. Strange disclosure. Emily's return. The dove in a nest of unclean birds. Brigham Young her father. Hair-breadth escape from something horrible. Repulsive scenes in the pontiffs Harem. Harmer and Emily re-united, 416
CHAPTER XLVI.
Mysteries.
Wheels within wheels. The secret tribunal. Sudden takingsoff. Judicial assassinations and bloody reckonings. A tigress in a woman's form. Torture-prisons for tattling wives. The inquisition revived. Red hot bridles for unruly tongues. I speak out and receive a warning. A paradise for spies, 424
CHAPTER XLYII.
Light.
The unseen listener and what she heard. Lieutenant Gunison makes a reconnoissance into the heart of Mormondom. An abduction. The meditated revenge. The blow falls. Waylaying and killing of Gunison and his party. Faithless women treated a la Turque. Bloodhounds on the trail. The treacherous guides. Emigrants supping on honors. The fastnesses of the mountains. The cannibal feast, 435
CONTENTS. XVli
CHAPTEE XLVIII.
Uncertainty.
My arraignment before the secret tribunal. Waiting for sentence. i-Tlie caravan to California. Doomed. Sad fate of Mrs. Bradish. Harmer and Emily. Agonizing suspense. My disguise and escape. The saddled steed and the friendly Indian. Welcomed by Ethleen. Back under the flag. Conclusion, . 445
THE MORMON WIFE.
Chapter I. Introductory
MY early life was passed in that beautiful and picturesque region, which borders the Skaneateles Lake, in the State of New York. The season of my childhood passed in comparative peace and happiness, but circumstances, over which I had no control, brought me into contact with enemies, who sought, by the most malicious and slanderous reports, to injure my reputation— in which they succeeded ; and smarting under the neglect of former friends, I determined to abandon my home, and privately visit some relatives of my mother, who vere living near
Albany. For this purpose I left the house of A J ,
in Spafford, Onondaga County, New York, and took the stage for Utica in the same State. I had not previously apprised my friends of this intended visit, because I feared that my enemies might thus be informed of my destination, and I could not feel safe from their malice, however great the distance, if they knew where I was.
The only passenger in the stage except myself, was a gentle* man, apparently middle-aged, of rather handsome features an; prepossessing appearance. The Mormon Bible and opinions wei e at that time the general topic of discussion, in all society througi this vicinity, and after a few general remarks on the state of tin roads, weather, and kindred subjects, he inquired with a piercinj' Look, what I thought of the Mormons.
" I think it is all delusion," I replied.
" And why do you think so V he inquired.
" Many reasons conspire to strengthen this opinion," ] answered.
" Please state them."
" In the first place, then, I have seen this Joseph Smith, the author of the Mormon Bible, and I could discover nothing in his appearance at all corresponding with a divine character."
" Yet, if I have been rightly informed, many persons in your, part of the country think otherwise."
" It is true," I answered, " that many people of my acquaintance, in Scott and Spafford, have embraced Mormouism, but every delusion, however absurd, will have its believers."
" There was a family in Coldbrook by the name of Cheeny, I think,'-" suggested the man.
" Yes," I answered, " Mr. Cheeny's family were considered very fine people, were members of the Free-will Baptist Church, and the Pulsifers too; Pulsifer, the Swamp Angel," and I burst into a laugh.
" The Swamp Angel ?" said my fellow traveller, inquiringly, " who was that V
"There wore two families by the name of Pulsifer, both believers in Mormon," I answered. " A child died in one of these families, and the Mormons gave out that, on a certain night, an angel would come and carry the body to heaven. The time appointed arrived, the relatives of the dead were assembled, when a figure in white, and with small bells attached to
A False Angel. 11
Its garments, appeared. A party of the unbelievers, lying in ambush, immediately gave chase. The figure ran for a neigh boring swamp, but was pursued, taken, stripped of its angel robes, and proved to be Pulsifer, the uncle of the deceased."
" False," said my companion.
" I assure you it was the truth," I continued ; " and poor old Mr. Humphrey was deceived by them, too. The old man was determined to be right, if possible. He was first a member of the Free-will Baptists ; thon he joined the Seventh-day Baptists — left them, and was baptized to the faith and order of Mormon ; subsequently deserted the Mormons, and united with the Baptists again, and then finally returned to the Mormons, by whom he was dipped seven times in succession, on account of his apostasy. He remained faithful to them after that, hjit always observed the seventh day.''
" Well," observed the gentleman, " the Mormons were not chargeable with the absurdities of their devotee."
" Oh, no 1" I answered, " but they have enough of their own."
" Were you ever acquainted with Elder Gould ?" he inquired.
" I have seen him ; he used to preach in Spafford."
" He did, and with great acceptability, yet he joined the Mormons "
" And poor Mrs. Maxson was induced to leave her husband and children and go with them ; and Maria Ripley, a young woman, left her aged and infirm parent, and went off, too."
"For which they were wholly justifiable," said the man. " For he that loveth father, or mother, or husband, or wife, more than me, is not worthy of me."
" Are you then a believer in Mormon ?" I inquired.
" I am, or I am not," he answered.
" Hardly a fair way of answering a question," I said ; and the conversation came to a pause.
At this time I was wholly unacquainted with the doctrine of magnetic influence ; but I soon became aware of some unaccountable power exercised over me by my fellow traveller. His presence seemed an irresistible fascination. His glittering eyes were fixed on mine ; his breath fanned my cheek; I felt bewildered and intoxicated, and partially at least lost the sense of consciousness, and the power of motion.
The stage stopped to change horses. The weather was excessively cold, and my companion proposed that we should go into the inn to warm. I made no objection ; indeed, I felt incapable of resistance to his wishes. "We were ushered into a warm and comfortable parlor, the floor of which was covered by a cheap carpet, yet looking very neat and tidy ; and the p'apered walls, hung with several pictures, in oaken frames. My companion requested me to be seated, and called for refreshments. I obeyed mechanically, and when the wine and cakes were furnished partook sparingly. My companion became communicative ; informed me that his name was Ward, that he was a man of property, and a widower, with two children, that he was well acquainted with many people in Scott, my native place, and had frequently heard the name of my father mentioned as a citizen of exalted reputation.
Here I made some allusion to the length of time which the stage seemed stopping. He said it was nothing unusual in cold weather, and that, for his own part, he would prefer not to go farther that day. " I suppose, that you can stay if you wish " I said. " Not without you," he answered, and again fixing on my face one cf his piercing looks. I became immediately sensible of some unaccountable influence drawing my sympathies towards him. In vain I struggled to break the spell. I was like a fluttering bird before the gaze of the serpent-charmer.
At length, by a powerful effort of will, I succeeded in releasing myself from the captivation, and, rising, went towards
Magnetic Influence. 13
the door, to ascertain when the stage would be ready. There I met a boy, and inquired of him :
" Laws, ma'am, the stage has been gone this hour," he said, wonderingly. " 'T won't be back neither 'fore day after next,' he continued.
Mr. Ward was just behind mo.
" 'Tis strange," he said. " I wonder what the rascal of a driver was thinking of to leave us in this manner." I recollect at the moment that a faint perception that Ward was at the bottom of the matter, crossed my mind. I turned to accuse him of it, but the landlady just then came into the room, to inquire of what I stood in need.
" The stage has left us," said Ward, " but I consider it fortunate rather than otherwise. The weather is too cold to travel."
" The weather is certainly cold," said the landlady, " and we shall be happy to entertain you both till the stage comes round again. Shall I have a fire made for Madam in a separate apartment ?"
" Certainly," I said, and the landlady departed.
" On more accounts than one," resumed Ward, " I regard this circumstance as fortunate. The Mormuns_are to have a great meeting here this very evening."
" And what is that to me ?" I said, interrupting him.
" It may, it must be something to you," he answered ; " I desire you to go and see, and hear for yourself."
" Go," I answered, astonished at the audacity of the proposal ; " go into such a company of entire strangers ?"
" And what if they be strangers ; you have seen too much of the world, I imagine, to be afraid of strangers."
" I am not afraid of strangers," I began.
"Then what is there to hinder your going?" he interrupted, " It will be much more interesting than staying in this stupid place."
" Very likely."
" To be sure it will ; yot can go with me."
Here Mr. Ward left the room for a short time, and I began to examine the books which lay on the table. The first one I took up was the Book of Mormon, and during my examination of it Mr. Ward returned. He commended my employment, and said that my room would soon be ready, which was a great mistake, as I heard no further mention of it. I have since had reason to believe that he countermanded my orders, through fear of losing his influence over me. Be that as it may, the hours passed on, and the night came, while I yet remained the occupant of the parlor. Mr. Ward, in the meantime, had spared no pains to win my confidence, and ingratiate himself in my esteem. He bore letters of recommendation and introduction to some of the first men in the country. These, I have since learned, were forgeries from beginning to end, being a species of Mormon imposture.
"The landlady seems very dilatory in getting your room ready," he said, at length. " She certainly cannot expect that you are going to stay all night in the parlor."
" I will go and inquire."
" It is unnecessary, I will inquire for you."
Before I could reply, he disappeared, but soon returned with the disagreeable information that the rooms were already occupied, and that it would be impossible for them to entertain me. This was in direct contradiction to what I had previously heard and my astonishment was depicted on my countenance when Mr. Ward, to reconcile the discrepancy, told me that a large wedding party, relatives of the landlord, had just arrived,, and that the apartment designed for me, had been appropriated to the bride. " But," he continued, " it will be some consolation for you to know, that I discovered the trunk containing your wardrobe standing in the hall. The rascally stage-driver must
Curiosity Awakened. 1 5
have misunderstood your orders, and thought that yon were at the eDd of your journey."
" But the fare V I suggested.
" If he has gone off without his pay, it will injure no one but himself. He was half-drunk, I suppose.'7
" Is there no other inn in the village ?" I inquired.
" None that I know of ; however, if you will go with me I can introduce you to a worthy lady of my acquaintance, who will be happy to receive you."
And I went with him ; what else could I "do?
Chapter II. The Mormon Heeting
ii rpiHE lady to whom I am about to introduce you," said JL Mr. Ward, as we walked, in the pale, misty moonlighti along the slippery streets, " is a Mormon ; and the meeting to-night is to be held at her house.''
" Why did you not tell me of this before ?" I inquired.
"What difference would that have made?" he answered you are constrained to depart from the inn ; you have no acquaintance here ; I could not introduce you to a more hospitable person ; and you must excuse me, but I considered it a fine opportunity to make you acquainted with some of our leading tenets."
That word "our!" he was, then, a Mormon, and 1 was morally in the power of that fanatical sect. Yet it was too late to retreat : my sympathies were with Mr. Ward ; and then a strange and unaccountable feeling of curiosity took possessiou 2 of my mind. I had heard much said about Mormon Meetings— the miracles and supernatural appearances said to attend thera — and no* was to have the chance of judging for myself. I felt half-pleased wilh the idea, but hesitated about telling my companion so. As we passed along, two or three persons came np to Mr. Ward, at different times, and exchanged with him rapid signs, and some inarticulate words, of which I could only distinguisn •■ ready," on one side, and " soon " on the other.
The house of Mrs. Bradish stood at some distance from the main road, in the "midst of a large yard that was bounded on the north by a deep, dense wood. The building itself was a very large antique structure, built long before the Revolution, and serving, under the seigniorial tenures then in vogue, as the mansion-house of the hereditary lords of the soil. Some parts of it had fallen into decay, but enough remained in a good state of preservation to furnish a very handsome residence to a wealthy family.
Mrs. Bradish received us with a stately and dignified hospitality, yet with such a conciliating manner as made me feel myself welcome, although she did not say so. She was a finelooking woman, with a head and face decidedly intellectual. She conducted me to an elegant, yet old-fashioned, apartment iD the eastern wing of the building, where a substantial suppei was spread by one of the domestics ; her family having already partook of the evening meal. She sat, however, and served at the table. Iler conversation was deeply interesting, and contained a long and full description of Mormon tenets.
" And you will meet with us to-night, Miss B , will you
not ?" she said, in conclusion.
" I hardly know, Mrs. Bradish," I answered ; " something tells me that I had better not."
"It is the evil spirit, my child," she answered, fervently: " depend upon it, the tempter seeks your destruction."
The Midnight Meet.ng. 17
I could scarcely forbear a smile.
" Do not smile," she said, solemnly ; " do not tamper with your eternal interests. And then we are to have a miraclo to-night."
" A ihiraele V
" Yes : the dead restored to life."
" Impossible ! Mrs. Bradish, you jest."
" I do not," she answered, solemnly. " "Was not Lazarus raised from the dead, and the sou of the widow of Nain. Do you think that the arm of the Lord is shortened, that he cannot save, or that the miracles which attended his first revelation would be withheld from the second ? We are in expectation of even greater things tha,n' these."
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