Dear Ellen: Two Mormon Women and Their Letters

Dear Ellen, Page 076

Dear Ellen . . . Bishop Clawson will have more sympathy than any polyga-mist who has ever gone to the penitentiary or any who ever may go in the future. His home ties are closer than those of most polvgamists; liis various families, so far as the outside world knows, are happier than those of other polygamists; he has done the best he could by his many children. lie is so involved with the Mormon Church that it would have been harder for him to extricate himself than for almost any other man .... From prison, October 10, Iliram wrote Ellen of his circumstances and of his sympathy with her in her responsibilities. Dear Ellen ... I know it is hard [for you] to have the care of the family but still it is not altogether new to you for when you was only fourteen you had the sole charge and care of five little children some of them almost babies. Well the Lord blest you with wisdom far above your years and you brought your little brothers and sisters across the Plains in safety - and your reward is in their love and confidence. Well yon arc for the time being in a very similar circumstances and I have no doubt the Lord will bless you and the way will open so that whatever you need, will be supplied. One form of "visiting" was for visitors, by permission, to go onto the walk atop the prison walls and look into the prison yard, where the visitor might see the prisoners. On October 31 Hiram wrote: Dear Ellen I have not heard or had a letter from you for some time. I saw you on the wall the other day and was glad to see that you and the children are well. I hope you are getting along all right. On March 2, 1886, Bradley records "At home. Weather quite cold. Father was released from the Pen today. Nearly all of his children that were here at home went out to bring him home." From 1885 to 1896 Hiram was awav from home nearly as much as ever, though during these years he was on diplomatic missions for the church, engaged in extensive negotiations with political leaders in the Western States and in 76