Female life among the mormons

Front matter

1885, by Thos Hunter

Copyright,

“Ont 4

Chapter I. Introductory

Y 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 ‘ere living near Albany. For this purpose I left the house of A J. é 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 throug’ this vicinity, and after a few general remarks on the state of tha roads, weather, and kindred subjects, he inquired, with a piercing’ took, what I thought of the Mormons.

“T think it is all delusion,” I replied.

“ And why do you think so ?” he inquired.

““Many reasons conspire to strengthen this opinion,” ] auswered.

“ Please state them.”

“Tn the first place, then, I have seen this Joseph Smith, the author of the Mormon Bible, and I could discover nothing ia 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.”

“Tt is true,’ I answered, “that many people of my acquaintunce, in Scott and Spafford, have embraced Mormonism, 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 ?”

“There were 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 Fatszt Anenrt. il fits 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.

“‘T 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, but always observed the seventh day.”

“Well,” observed the gentleman, “the Mormons were not chargeable with the absurdities of their devotee.”

“Oh, no!’ I answered, “but they have enough of their own.”

“Were you ever acquainted with Elder Gould ?” he inquired.

“T 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.

“T 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 unac countable 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 papered 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,” Isaid. ‘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

Macenetic 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. ‘TI’ won’t be back neither fore day after next,’ he continued.

Mr. Ward was just behind me.

‘OTs 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 apart ment ?”

“ 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.

“Tt may, it must be something to you,” he answered; “TI desire you to go and see, and hear for yourself.”

“Go,” I answered, astonished at the audacity of the pro posal ; “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.”

“T am not afraid of strangers,” I began.

“Then what is there to hinder your going ?” he interrupted. “Tt will be much more interesting than staying in this stupid place.”

14 Lire avona tHE MorMoss.

* Very likely.”

“To be sure it will; yor can go with me.”

Here Mr. Ward left the room for a short time, and { 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.”

“T will go and inquire.”

“Tt is unnecessary, I will inquire for you.”

Before I could reply, he disappeared, but soon returned witb the disagreeable information that the rooms were already occu- -picd, 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 kiow, that I discovered the trunk containing your wardrobe standing in the hall, The rascally stage-driver must

Curtosiry AWAKENED. 1h have misunderstood your orders, and thought that you were at the end of your journey.”

“But the fare ?” I suggested.

“Tf he has gone off without his pay, it will injure no one but himself. He was half-drunk, I suppose.”

“fs there no other inn in the village ?” I inquired.

“None that I know of ; however, if you will go with me I / ean 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?