Heber then applied to Robert T. Burton, and induced him to marry the girl. Burton is the Sheriff of Salt Lake County, and Collector of Internal Revenue for the United States Government! He is a fit instrument to carry out any scheme of the heads of the church, and required but little inducement to undertake this one. The poor girl was thus disposed of, by being sealed to Cushion for eternity, and to Burton, as his third wife, for time. She was taken home, and domiciled with the other two.
These worthy matrons were not pleased with the appearance of a new wife, and claiming their rights as the only real wives, who had been sealed to their husband both for time and eternity, resolved at once to make it exceedingly uncomfortable for the new-comer. This they did effectually, and Susan's life was a very unhappy one. But time passed on, and she became the mother of several children.
Susan was not allowed equal privileges with the other two. She had but one small room, in which she cooked, ate, slept, and spun, while the other two had splendid chambers and parlors,—for Burton is wealthy. When she complained to Burton, he said,—"Susan, you know I have only married you for time, and you must not expect the same privileges which I grant to my other wives, who are married for eternity, and who will exalt and glorify me in the celestial kingdom. You ought to be thankful for what you do receive, and not fret about my other wives."
The first wife takes control of Susan's children, in contradiction to the entire theory of this complex and unnatural relationship, and the mother is frequently obliged to see them severely punished, and suffer in silence. One day the first wife's boys and one of Susan's were in the barn, doing some mischief. The first wife went out and commanded the boys to come away. Her own boys ran past unharmed, but when Susan's boy, the youngest of the three, came out, she caught him, beat him, threw him on the ground, and kicked him.
This is but one of many instances, where women are living in this way, being married to one man for time, and sealed to another for eternity. This narrative was given me by one who had lived in the family for several months, and saw and heard what is herein stated.
A coarseness of feeling and sentiment, scarcely credible, is another result of this state of society. Kimball one day met a Mr. Taussig, a Prussian brother. "Brother Taussig," he said, "are you doing well?" "Yes, sir," was the reply. "Then you do well for the church too," said the Second President; "how many women have you?" "Two, sir." "That is not enough; you must take a couple more. I'll send them to you. Do you hear?" "Yes, sir." On the following evening, when the brother returned home, he found two women sitting there. His first wife said: "Brother Taussig," (all the women call their husbands "brother,") "these are the sisters Pratt." They were two widows of Parley P. Pratt.
One of the ladies, Sarah, then said: "Brother Taussig, Brother Kimball told us to call on you, and you know what for." "Yes, ladies," replied Brother Taussig, "but it is a very hard task for me to marry two." The other remarked, "Brother Kimball told us that you were doing a very good business, and could support more women." Sarah then took up the conversation: "Well, Brother Taussig, I want to get married, anyhow." The good brother replied, "Well, ladies, I will see what I can do, and let you know."
The next day, Brother Taussig visited the Bishop, and effected a compromise. By marrying Sarah he was released from the other. After he had lived awhile with the three wives, Sarah became dissatisfied, and applied to Brother Brigham for a divorce. Brother Taussig was summoned before the President, and made but feeble resistance to the application, admitting that he could not properly maintain more than two wives. The divorce was granted, and Brother Taussig was called upon by the clerk for $10. For not having the money, he received a cursing from the clerk, and Sarah was retained in the royal presence, with the assurance that it was "no divorce," until the money was brought in. Brother Taussig went on to the street, borrowed it, and brought it into the office,—and thus ended this disgusting serio-comic conjugal farce.[239:A]
Other incidents are more serious in their nature. One of them, which came to my knowledge, would be too horrible to relate, were not the facts well authenticated.
An old man, a brewer by occupation, married a young girl, as a second wife. The husband and the first wife abused her shamefully. Finally, after a long course of ill-treatment, the husband descended to the level of the brute. On one occasion, which was but a few days after her confinement,