Dear Ellen: Two Mormon Women and Their Letters

Dear Ellen, Page 041

The Letters living with Frances mid she in the upper country. You see when he came back from the Islands he was in debt for his passage both to and from there, and stopped up there where Frances lived to earn money Lo pay said debt; that is the secret ul his and \1 other's living seperate. 1 think sometimes Til never believe om//Amg I hear tbaL I do not know myself to be a fact. The reformation^ has not made any change here in regard to plurality of wives, neither do 1 think it will very soon, for those who have more than one are threatened pretty strongly by the opposcrs,^ so I think you will not have to write me any words of con sola Lion on that point while we stay here, at least. William thinks there will ncrcr be any cause for it but I have heard men talk just so, before today; but should there be, I suppose "grin and bear it" or in other words "suffer and be strong" would be all the consolation I should have reason to expect. William is very anxious to move up there but T cannot think of going till mv folks all go. father has an aversion to a cold climate, now he is getting in years,'" and has spent all his means for so many years, he dreads the thought of making another beginning in such a hard place; that is the most disagreement he and mother have: mother has never seemed to feel at home since she left the Valley, and she thinks she shall never be satisfied till she gets back. She tries every way to encourage father about going there. Says she will uphuld him to the last in any move he may see At to make; but he thinks he cannot go; he loves the Sea air, and wants to live where he can feel it; it makes him look so vigorous and youthful; he is scarcely like the same man. Mother has better courage to live in a hard place. She has had a deeper experience, and does not n^The Hefonnntion was urged upon the Snn Rt'martlino Saints in \ 1856. tVcafcm Sfanf/nrf/, rsovember 22 and December 1!1, 1S56. •^Non-Mormons, but faithful Mormons also opposed the "plurality .system," though sel<lom openly. Shortlv utter the 1S52 public announcement of Motmon polygamy, the California leui&iatiire enacted an antipolygamy la\v. Pratt was now in his fifty-sixth year. 41