Imatges de pàgina
PDF
EPUB

:

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][graphic][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

white girl born in Utah. My father was born at Pennsylvania, but came to Utah when a very small boy. At the age of twenty-four he married my mother who was only fifteen. They have had fourteen children of which I am the eldest.

ance that ours would be a lasting, tried and true friendship. This has been the case, and the years that we have spent together socially have served to strengthen and secure the affection we each formed for the other.

While on my visit aforementioned I became acquainted with the brother of Sister Minnie-Ephraim Jensen, who was about to go on a mission to the North-Western States. We corresponded regularly while he was upon his mission. He returned home in

My early childhood and until I was sixteen was nearly all spent in school. Though my assistance in the household work, and in the care of my younger brothers and sisters would have given rest to my mother, she scarcely ever kept me from school, but nobly sacri- ❘ October, 1883, and on the 1st day of

ficed herself that I and the other children might get the benefits of an education. Oh, how little do we appreciate our dear mothers, and how little we realize the sacrifices they have made for us until we become mothers ourselves!

May, 1884, we were married in the endowment house by President Wells. Since my marriage my home has been in Brigham. I have had four children, three sons and a daughter.

September 10th, 1884, I was chosen as one of Sister Minnie J. Snow's counselors. I found great satisfaction and joy in my labors among the different associations; and my companionship with the Stake Board has been one of unity and love. Although my

I loved school and made such progress that at the age of sixteen I was able to take a school in the country, where I taught for one year. The next two years of my life were spent alternately in teaching and attending | home duties and the care of my little

school at Ogden. By this time cir cumstances were favorable for my attending the university at Salt Lake City. Accordingly in August, 1883, I enrolled as a Normal among the students of that institution. I attend

ed for three months, but owing to my health becoming greatly impaired, I was obliged to return home. After a rest of a month or six weeks I began teaching at the Central School at Ogden and continued to teach until the 28th of March, 1884.

children would have completely taken my time, I contrived by the help of my heavenly Father to take an active part in my labors among the associations, especially so in our officer's meetings. I believe that by taking this course my home duties have been made less monotonous, and I have had more wisdom in the performance of them.

I wish I could impress upon all the young ladies of Zion the importance of becoming members of the Mutual Improvement Association. I know from experience that we are better prepared for the duties of life-of wifehood and motherhood-when we take active parts in these associations. Nor can we afford to stay away from

Two years prior to this while on a visit to one of my friends at Brigham City, I met and became acquainted | with Sister Minnie J. Snow. A mutual friendship sprang up, and when I ❘ returned home it was with the assur. them just because we are married and

have small children to care for. Then is the time that we most need the instructions that we get there. Indeed, I think there is no time in life that we can afford to do without them, for

From childhood to girlhood-
Maid, mother and wife,
All need so much wisdom
To guide them through life.

MRS. H. C. JENSEN.

The following loving tributes were sent by Sister M. J. Snow, and we append them to Sister Jensen's brief sketch. [ED.]

TESTIMONIALS.

Having been requested to write something about my friend Hattie, all I might say could be summed up in these words: She is as good as gold. To know her is to love her.

tual. She has a faculty for winning and retaining friends.

I have never heard her speak disparagingly of any one. Her reverence for sacred things is great, and I have reason to believe that when trials come she will be found true to her religion.

If I should write a long letter I could say nothing but good things about her, and therefore to multiply words would be useless. Yours truly,

ELLIE MADSON.

During my brief acquaintance with Sister Hattie Jensen I have discovered in her very many excellent qualities.

She is intellectual, artistic and spiri- | the cause of truth.

LITERARY DEPARTMENT.

"BLESSED THE CORPSE THAT THE RAIN FALLS ON."

(As a token of love for President Daniel H.

Wells.)

L. L. DALTON.

OH, come to the window and look at the snow,

So thickly and silently fluttering down;
In holy, deep silence it nestles so low,

And robes in white fleeces the streets of the town.

Our eyes can scarce penetrate into the vail;
A silvery dimness encloses us 'round;
The opposite houses, like ghosts faint and pale,
Seem softly afloat there above the white ground.

This gloom is not sadness, but mystery dim, And full of the tenderest, holiest thoughts, Of beauty and sweetness, all leading to Him

Her disposition is lovable and cheerful; her countenance, which is a true index to her generous heart, ever wears an irresistible smile which never fails to make friends. I have also found her to be an earnest laborer in RAY EVANS.

Whose hand all this marvelous loveliness wrought.

It seems that the spirit of grace is abroad,
Pervading the earth and the sweet, willing air,
Persuading humanity lean toward God,
And feel all His dear loving-kindness and care.

It falls like a benison on the new mound
But yesterday heaped o'er the last, silent bed
Of a good man and brother who ever was found
Wherever his duty and diligence led.

It seems to caress him and claim him a part
Of nature's own circle, beloved and blest;
To lay him in love on her motherly heart
And watch in deep tenderness over his rest.

Yes, "Blessed the dead that the snow falls on!"
If blessings had bulk, e'en as crystals of snow,
The many deep-breathed ones softly dropped

down

On that grave a mountain had builded, I know.

[ocr errors]

Oh, thus sleep the good, sweetly cradled in
love,

Enfolded in gratitude, blessings and joy,
Sufficient to bear them to mansions above,
And crown them with glory and gladness on
high.

LIGHTS AND SHADES.

(CONTINUED FROM PAGE 362.)

JACOB'S first thought was for Will's
mother.

J

"Poor sister Ellen," he said to Gwyn. "If Will should die now, when she has sent him here to get well, she would hardly know how to bear it."

"Do you think his case is really very serious?" asked Gwyn. "If you do," she continued, "you should send for his mother at once."

Kindly and lovingly Jacob wrote to his sister that evening, describing as nearly as possible the malady with which her son was attacked; could not determine whether it would develop into scarlet or mountain fever, but he was already in a dangerous condition; was being "nursed with all tenderness," and all that could be done for his comfort should be.

Very early next morning Bishop Smith was called up to go and assist in administering to Will Hillon, who, it was said by the messenger, was in a dying condition.

When the Bishop returned home he
was somewhat surprised to find his
daughter Marian already dressed and
awaiting his appearance in his office.

She was his eldest living child, a
bright, intelligent girl of nineteen,
discreet and thoughtful far beyond her
years, a great favorite with her father,
and, in fact, with all the family.

"How is Will now, father?" she

asked with deep concern as soon as the Bishop had entered and closed the door.

"Very low indeed," answered the Bishop; "unless there should be a miraculous change in his favor he cannot last more than an hour or two, at the most."

"Do not let him die, father; he must not die!" said Marian, with white, resolute face that almost fright. ened her father.

Taking her tenderly in his arms he said, "Is it so, my daughter? I have not known of Will's essaying to win my Marian's heart; has she allowed it to go to him unsought?"

A deep, bright flush overspread the girl's face, contrasting strangely with its recent pallor, as she answered, "At first when Will came here from the south, nearly two months since, at all the parties and candy pullings, and even once or twice at the close of evening meeting, he paid me marked attentions. Perhaps I took too much notice of it; but in truth I did not think much about it, after all, until I saw him being drawn into ruinous meshes which were carelessly, cruelly, though I believe unintentionally, set for him. Then my heart would go out to him in strange, ceaseless sympathy, which made me feel that I must keep praying for him constantly or he would be lost. It was pity first, prayerful pity; then it grew to be an intense interest. The more I prayed for him the more fervent became my interest in him, until now I don't know what it is, father; it may be love!"

Bishop Smith lifted his daughter's face from his shoulder, and kissing her fondly said, "My noble daughter is Will Hillon has shown himself capable worthy of more manly wooing than

of offering since he came to F. You must not give your love away too cheaply, Marian. Perhaps, after all, it is only sympathy and prayerful interest that you feel for him. Do not be too ready to fancy yourself in love with a dying man, or a living one that has no more discretion than to kiss other men's wives promiscuously; and no more regard for his own future welfare than to cast aside the golden opportunity of honorably wooing and winning one of the best of God's daughters to be his own wife for the mere myth of flirting with and fawning over a pretty but vain and silly married woman."

"You are too harsh in your judgment of Will's character and actions, father," said Marian. "Remember he lived here when a boy, and many of those who are now married women were gay, careless girls when he left for the south, and they kissed and hugged him at parting as they would have done a brother. Now when he returns, after (many years of absence, if he does not realize the changes which have taken place, and meeting his old friends, who were merry, laughing belles when he left, but are now married women, if he offers to kiss them they should remember their duties as wives and remind him that they have husbands."

Marian spoke with animation, and her father listened and watched her admiringly. And when she paused he said,

"I do not wish to judge Will harshly, neither would I have you excuse him too generally, as women almost universally are inclined to do. They blame each other in all such cases and defend the men, who are really the workers of mischief. Some of the

women in the place may have been to blame for allowing Will to kiss them as freely as he has done; but certainly he has made himself too familiar with Edward Grange's wife, according to reliable accounts."

"I do not think it was he who commenced the familiarity even there," said Marian. "Edward and Chloe have both acted exceedingly foolish in the matter. I have prayed earnestly for them all, that they might see their folly and be saved; but oh! I did not want Will to be taken away by death for the sake of being saved." "He might better die as innocent as, perhaps, he now is, than to live and commit a great sin," the Bishop remarked.

"Yes, I know that is true," assented his daughter, but he might better live and overcome and do a good work in the kingdom of God. You do not know him as well as I do, father; I have had several lengthy conversations with him and have discovered in him a true manliness which but few of our young men can equal. He is really good and gifted; he has a fine appreciation of womankind in general, and to his mother and sisters he is most devotedly attached. No man could pay a higher tribute of praise and gratitude to his mother than I heard Will make one evening, and it was in the face of several of our rude, rough boys, too, who were casting insinuating slurs upon our sex."

Marian had struck the right chord now; she often did before closing an argumentative conversation with her father.

Bishop Smith had early mourned the loss of a most excellent mother; and much like William Cowper, the English poet, his sensitiveness in regard to

« AnteriorContinua »