JOSEPH SMITH, SENIOR, REMOVES TO NORWICH, THENCE TO PALMYRA--HIS DREAM
OF THE IMAGES--OF THE JUDGMENT.
When health returned to us, as one would naturally suppose, it found us
in quite low circumstances. We were compelled to strain every energy to
provide for our present necessities, instead of making arrangements for
the future, as we had previously contemplated.
Shortly after sickness left our family, we moved to Norwich, in the
state of Vermont. In this place we established ourselves on a farm
belonging to one Esquire Moredock. The first year our crops failed;
yet, by selling fruit which grew on the place, we succeeded in
obtaining bread for the family, and, by making considerable exertion,
we were enabled to sustain ourselves.
The crops the second year were as the year before--a perfect failure.
Mr. Smith now determined to plant once more, and if he should meet with
no better success than he had the two preceding years, he would then go
to the state of New York, where wheat was raised in abundance.
The next year an untimely frost destroyed the crops, and being the
third year in succession in which the crops had failed, it almost
caused a famine. This was enough; my husband was now altogether decided
upon going to New York. He came in, one day, in quite a thoughtful
mood, and sat down; after meditating some time, he observed that, could
he so arrange his affairs, he would be glad to start soon for New York
with a Mr. Howard, who was going to Palmyra. He further remarked, that
he could not leave consistently, as the situation of the family would
not admit of his absence; besides, he was owing some money that must
first be paid.
I told him it was my opinion he might get both his creditors and
debtors together, and arrange matters between them in such a way as to
give satisfaction to all parties concerned; and, in relation to the
family, I thought I could make every necessary preparation to follow as
soon as he would be ready for us. He accordingly called upon all with
whom he had any dealings, and settled up his accounts with them. There
were, however, some who, in the time of settlement, neglected to bring
forward their books, consequently they were not balanced, or there were
no entries made in them to show the settlement; but in cases of this
kind, he called witnesses, that there might be evidence of the fact.
Having thus arranged his business, Mr. Smith set out for Palmyra, in
company with Mr. Howard. After his departure, I and those of the family
who were of much size, toiled faithfully, until we considered ourselves
fully prepared to leave at a moment's warning. We shortly received a
communication from Mr. Smith, requesting us to make ourselves ready to
take up a journey for Palmyra. In a short time after this, a team came
for us. As we were about starting on this journey, several of those
gentlemen who had withheld their books, in the time of settlement, now
brought them forth, and claimed the accounts which had been settled,
and which they had, in the presence of witnesses, agreed to erase.
We were all ready for the journey, and the teams were waiting on
expense. Under these circumstances, I concluded it would be more to
our advantage to pay their unjust claims than to hazard a lawsuit.
Therefore, by making considerable exertion, I raised the required sum,
which was one hundred and fifty dollars, and liquidated the demand.
A gentleman by the name of Flagg, a wealthy settler, living in the
town of Hanover, also a Mr. Howard, who resided in Norwich, were both
acquainted with the circumstance mentioned above. They were very
indignant at it, and requested me to give them a sufficient time to get
the witnesses together, and they would endeavor to recover that which
had been taken from me by fraud. I told them I could not do so, for my
husband had sent teams for me, which were on expense; moreover, there
was an uncertainty in getting the money back again, and in case of
failure, I should not be able to raise the means necessary to take the
family where we contemplated moving.
They then proposed raising some money by subscription, saying, "We
know the people feel as we do concerning this matter, and if you
will receive it, we will make you a handsome present." This I utterly
refused. The idea of receiving assistance in such a way as this was
indeed very repulsive to my feelings, and I rejected their offer.
My aged mother, who had lived with us some time, assisted in preparing
for the journey. She came with us to Royalton, where she resided until
she died, which was two years afterwards, in consequence of an injury
which she received by getting upset in a wagon while traveling with us.
On arriving at Royalton, I had a scene to pass through, and it was
truly a severe one--one to which I shall ever look back with peculiar
feelings. Here I was to take leave of my affectionate mother. The
parting hour came; my mother wept over me, long and bitterly. She told
me that it was not probable she should ever behold my face again;
"But, my dear child," said she, "I have lived long--my days are nearly
numbered--I must soon exchange the things of this world for those
which pertain to another state of existence, where I hope to enjoy the
society of the blessed; and now as my last admonition, I beseech you to
continue faithful in the service of God to the end of your days, that
I may have the pleasure of embracing you in another and fairer world
above."
This parting scene was at one Willard Pierce's, a tavern keeper. From
his house my mother went to Daniel Mack's, with whom she afterwards
lived until her decease.
Having traveled a short distance, I discovered that Mr. Howard, our
teamster, was an unprincipled and unfeeling wretch, by the way in which
he handled both our goods and money, as well as by his treatment of my
children, especially Joseph. He would compel him to travel miles at
a time on foot, notwithstanding he was still lame. We bore patiently
with his abuse, until we got about twenty miles west of Utica, when one
morning, as we were getting ready to continue our journey, my oldest
son came to me and said, "Mother, Mr. Howard has thrown the goods out
of the wagon, and is about starting off with the team." Upon hearing
this, I told him to call the man in. I met him in the bar-room, in the
presence of a large company of travelers, both male and female, and
I demanded his reason for the course which he was taking. He told me
the money which I had given him was all expended, and he could go no
further.
I then turned to those present and said, "Gentlemen and ladies, please
give your attention for a moment. Now, as sure as there is a God in
heaven, that team, as well as the goods, belong to my husband, and this
man intends to take them from me, or at least the team, leaving me
with eight children, without the means of proceeding on my journey."
Then turning to Mr. Howard, I said, "Sir, I now forbid you touching
the team, or driving it one step further. You can go about your own
business; I have no use for you. I shall take charge of the team
myself, and hereafter attend to my own affairs." I accordingly did so,
and proceeding on our journey, we in a short time arrived at Palmyra,
with a small portion of our effects, and barely two cents in cash.
When I again met my husband at Palmyra, we were much reduced--not from
indolence, but on account of many reverses of fortune, with which
our lives had been rather singularly marked. Notwithstanding our
misfortunes, and the embarrassments with which we were surrounded, I
was quite happy in once more having the society of my husband, and in
throwing myself and children upon the care and affection of a tender
companion and father.
We all now sat down, and counselled together relative to the course
which was best for us to adopt in our destitute circumstances, and we
came to the conclusion to unite our energies in endeavoring to obtain a
piece of land. Having done considerable at painting oil-cloth coverings
for tables, stands, etc., I set up the business, and did extremely
well. I furnished all the provisions for the family, and, besides this,
began to replenish our household furniture, in a very short time, by my
own exertions.
My husband and his sons, Alvin and Hyrum, set themselves to work to pay
for one hundred acres of land for which Mr. Smith contracted with a
land agent. In a year, we made nearly all of the first payment, erected
a log house, and commenced clearing. I believe something like thirty
acres of land were made ready for cultivation the first year.
I shall now deviate a little from my subject, in order to relate
another very singular dream which my husband had about this time, which
is as follows:--
"I dreamed," said he, "that I was traveling on foot, and I was very
sick, and so lame I could hardly walk. My guide, as usual, attended
me. Traveling some time together, I became so lame that I thought
I could go no further. I informed my guide of this, and asked him
what I should do. He told me to travel on till I came to a certain
garden. So I arose and started for this garden. While on my way
thither, I asked my guide how I should know the place. He said,
'Proceed until you come to a very large gate; open this, and you
will see a garden, blooming with the most beautiful flowers that
your eyes ever beheld, and there you shall be healed.' By limping
along with great difficulty, I finally reached the gate; and, on
entering it, I saw the before-mentioned garden, which was beautiful
beyond description, being filled with the most delicate flowers of
every kind and color. In the garden were walks about three and a
half feet wide, which were set on both sides with marble stones.
One of the walks ran from the gate through the centre of the
garden; and on each side of this was a very richly carved seat, and
on each seat were placed six wooden images, each of which was the
size of a very large man. When I came to the first image on the
right side, it arose and bowed to me with much deference. I then
turned to the one which sat opposite me, on the left side, and it
arose and bowed to me in the same manner as the first. I continued
turning, first to the right and then to the left, until the whole
twelve had made their obeisance, after which I was entirely healed.
I then asked my guide the meaning of all this, but I awoke before I
received an answer."
I will now return to the subject of the farm. When the time for making
the second payment drew nigh, Alvin went from home to get work, in
order to raise the money, and after much hardship and fatigue, returned
with the required amount. This payment being made, we felt relieved, as
this was the only thing that troubled us; for we had a snug log-house,
neatly furnished, and the means of living comfortably. It was now
only two years since we entered Palmyra, almost destitute of money,
property, or acquaintance. The hand of friendship was extended on every
side, and we blessed God, with our whole heart, for his "mercy, which
endureth for ever." And not only temporal blessings were bestowed upon
us, but also spiritual were administered. The Scripture, which saith,
"Your old men shall dream dreams," was fulfilled in the case of my
husband, for, about this time, he had another vision, which I shall
here relate; this, with one more, is all of his that I shall obtrude
upon the attention of my readers. He received two more visions, which
would probably be somewhat interesting, but I cannot remember them
distinctly enough to rehearse them in full. The following, which was
the sixth, ran thus:--
"I thought I was walking alone; I was much fatigued, nevertheless I
continued traveling. It seemed to me that I was going to meeting,
that it was the day of judgment, and that I was going to be judged.
"When I came in sight of the meeting-house, I saw multitudes of
people coming from every direction, and pressing with great anxiety
towards the door of this great building; but I thought I should
get there in time, hence there was no need of being in a hurry.
But, on arriving at the door, I found it shut; I knocked for
admission, and was informed by the porter that I had come too late.
I felt exceedingly troubled, and prayed earnestly for admittance.
Presently I found that my flesh was perishing. I continued to pray,
still my flesh withered upon my bones. I was in a state of almost
total despair, when the porter asked me if I had done all that was
necessary in order to receive admission. I replied, that I had
done all that was in my power to do. 'Then,' observed the porter,
'justice must be satisfied; after this, mercy hath her claims.'
"It then occurred to me to call upon God, in the name of his Son
Jesus; and I cried out, in the agony of my soul, 'Oh, Lord God, I
beseech thee, in the name of Jesus Christ, to forgive my sins.'
After which I felt considerably strengthened, and I began to amend.
The porter or angel then remarked, that it was necessary to plead
the merits of Jesus, for he was the advocate with the Father, and a
Mediator between God and man.
"I was now made quite whole, and the door was opened, but, on
entering, I awoke."
The following spring, we commenced making preparations for building
another house, one that would be more comfortable for persons in
advanced life.