“Over two years,” she replied, “and it seems almost twenty—time has passed so slowly. I left father and mother, sisters and brother, for the Gospel’s sake, and I do not regret it, because it is right; but it was a very great sacrifice to make. Yet I believe that God blesses us for the sacrifices we make, and I shall get my reward.”
“You have it already,” I said, “in that pretty child on your knee; and your husband, I hope, is a good man and kind to you.”
“Yes,” she answered, “my child is a very great source of happiness to me, and I love my husband very much, but—” (hesitatingly) “are you in Polygamy?”
“No, not yet; but I do not know how soon my husband may take it into his head to get another wife.”
“Are you first wife?” she asked.
“Yes,” I replied, “and I suppose you are also?”
“No, I am third wife,” she said, “I wish I were first wife.”
“But why,” I suggested, “do you wish that? If Polygamy is the true order of marriage, I do not see that it makes much difference whether one is the first or the twentieth wife?”
“Oh dear, yes,” she replied, “it does make a great deal of difference; for the first wife will be queen over all the others, and reign with her husband. If I had known that before I was married, I should have made my husband promise to place me first. Men can do that if they like.”