JOSEPH SMITH, SEN., LOSES HIS FARM--JOSEPH, JUN., IS MARRIED--HAS
ANOTHER INTERVIEW WITH THE ANGEL, BY WHOM HE IS CHASTISED--RECEIVES
FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS.
A few days subsequent to my husband's departure, I set myself to work
to put my house in order for the reception of my son's bride; and I
felt all that pride and ambition in doing so, that is common to mothers
upon such occasions.
My oldest son had, previous to this, formed a matrimonial relation
with one of the most excellent of women, with whom I had seen
much enjoyment, and I hoped for as much happiness with my second
daughter-in-law, as I had received from the society of the first, and
there was no reason why I should expect anything to the contrary.
One afternoon, after having completed my arrangements, I fell into a
very agreeable train of reflections. The day was exceedingly fine, and
of itself calculated to produce fine feelings; besides this, every
other circumstance seemed to be in unison, and to contribute to raise
in the heart those soothing and grateful emotions which we all have
seasons of enjoying when the mind is at rest. Thus, as I stood musing,
among other things, upon the prospect of a quiet and comfortable old
age, my attention was suddenly arrested by a trio of strangers who were
just entering. Upon their near approach I found one of these gentlemen
to be Mr. Stoddard, the principal carpenter in building the house in
which we then lived.
When they entered the house, I seated them, and commenced common-place
conversation. But shortly one of them began to ask questions which I
considered rather impertinent--questions concerning our making the
last payment on the place; and if we did not wish to sell the house;
furthermore, where Mr. Smith and my son had gone, etc., etc.
"Sell the house!" I replied, "No, sir, we have no occasion for that, we
have made every necessary arrangement to get the deed, and also have an
understanding with the agent. So you see we are quite secure, in regard
to this matter."
To this they made no answer, but went out to meet Hyrum, who was
approaching the house. They asked him the same questions, and he
answered them the same as I had done. When they had experimented in
this way, to their satisfaction, they proceeded to inform my son, that
he need put himself to no further trouble with regard to the farm;
"for," said they, "we have bought the place, and paid for it, and we
now forbid your touching anything on the farm; and we also warn you to
leave forthwith, and give possession to the lawful owners."
This conversation passed within my hearing. When they reentered the
house, I said, "Hyrum, is it a reality? or only a sham to startle
us?" But one collected look at the men convinced me of their fiendish
determination--I was overcome, and fell back into my chair almost
deprived of sensibility.
When I recovered, we (Hyrum and myself) talked to them some time,
endeavoring to persuade them to change their wicked course; but the
only answer we could get from them was, "Well, we've got the place, and
d--n you, help yourselves if you can."
Hyrum, in a short time, went to an old friend, Dr. Robinson, and
related to him the grievous story. Whereupon, the old gentleman sat
down, and wrote at some considerable length the character of the
family--our industry, and faithful exertions to secure a home, with
many commendations calculated to beget confidence in us with respect to
business transactions. And, keeping this writing in his own hands, he
went through the village, and in an hour procured sixty subscribers. He
then sent the same, by the hand of Hyrum, to the land agent, who lived
in Canandaigua.
On receiving this, the agent was highly enraged. He said the men had
told him that Mr. Smith and his son Joseph had run away, and that Hyrum
was cutting down the sugar orchard, hauling off the rails, burning
them, and doing all manner of mischief to the farm. That, believing
this statement, he was induced to sell the place, for which he had
given a deed, and received the money.
Hyrum told him the circumstances under which his father and brother had
left home; also the probability of their being detained on the road, to
attend to some business. Upon this, the agent directed him to address
a number of letters to my husband, and have them sent and deposited
in public-houses on the road which he traveled, that, perchance
some of them might meet his eye, and thus cause him to return more
speedily than he would otherwise. He then despatched a messenger to
those individuals to whom he had given a deed of the farm in question,
with the view of making a compromise with them; but they refused to
do anything respecting the matter. The agent sent a message to them,
stating that if they did not make their appearance forthwith, he would
fetch them with a warrant. To this they gave heed, and they came
without delay.
The agent strove to convince them of the disgraceful and impolitic
course which they were pursuing, and endeavored to persuade them to
retract, and let the land go back into Mr. Smith's hands again.
For some time they said but little, except in a sneering and taunting
way, about as follows:--"We've got the land, sir, and we've got the
deed, so just let Smith help himself. Oh, no matter about Smith, he
has gold plates, gold Bibles, he is rich--he don't want anything." But
finally, they agreed, if Hyrum could raise them one thousand dollars,
by Saturday at ten o'clock in the evening, they would give up the deed.
It was now Thursday about noon, and Hyrum was at Canandaigua, which
was nine miles distant from home, and hither he must ride before he
could make the first move towards raising the required amount. He
came home with a heavy heart. When he arrived, he found his father,
who had returned a short time before him. His father had fortunately
found, within fifty miles of home, one of those letters which Hyrum had
written.
The following day, by the request of my husband, I went to see an old
Quaker, a gentleman with whom we had been quite intimate since our
commencement on the farm, and who had always seemed to admire the
neat arrangement of the same. We hoped that he would be both able and
willing to purchase the place, that we might at least have the benefit
of the crops that were upon the ground, as he was a friend and would be
disposed to show us favor. But we were disappointed, not in his will or
disposition, but in his ability. He had just paid out to the land agent
all the money he could spare, to redeem a piece of land belonging to
a friend in his immediate neighborhood. If I had arrived at his house
thirty minutes sooner, I would have found him with fifteen hundred
dollars in his pocket.
When I rehearsed to him what had taken place, he was much distressed
for us, and very much regretted his inability to relieve our necessity.
He said, however, "If I have no money, I will try to do something for
you, and you may say to your husband, that I will see him as soon as I
can, and let him know what the prospect is."
It was nearly night--the country was new, and my road lay through a
dense forest. The distance that I had to travel was ten miles, and that
alone, yet I hastened to inform my husband of the disappointment that I
had met with.
The old gentleman, as soon as I left, started in search of some one
that could afford us assistance, and hearing of a Mr. Durfee, who lived
four miles distant, he came the same night, and directed us to go and
see what he could devise for our benefit.
Accordingly, my husband started without delay for Mr. Durfee's, and
arrived at his house before daylight in the morning. He sent my
husband three miles further, to one of his sons, who was high sheriff,
instructing him to say to the young man that his father wished to see
him as soon as possible. Mr. Durfee, the younger, was obedient to the
call. Immediately after he arrived at his father's, the three proceeded
together to see the farm, and arrived about ten o'clock a. m. They
tarried a short time, then rode on to see the agent and those villains
who held the deed of our place.
The anxiety of mind that I suffered that day can more easily be
imagined than described. I now looked upon the proceeds of our
industry, which smiled around us on every hand, with a kind of yearning
attachment that I never before had experienced; and our early losses I
did not feel so keenly, for I then realized that we were young, and by
making some exertions we might improve our circumstances; besides, I
had not felt the inconveniences of poverty as I had since.
My husband, and the Messrs. Durfee, arrived in Canandaigua at half
past nine o'clock in the evening. The agent sent immediately for Mr.
Stoddard and his friends, and they came without delay; but in order to
make difficulty, they contended that it was after ten o'clock; however,
not being able to sustain themselves upon this ground, they handed over
the deed to Mr. Durfee, the high sheriff, who now became the possessor
of the farm.
I stated before, that at the time Mr. Smith started to see Knight and
Stoal, Joseph accompanied him. When he returned, Joseph also returned
with him, and remained with us, until the difficulty about the farm
came to an issue; he then took leave for Pennsylvania, on the same
business as before mentioned, and the next January returned with his
wife, in good health and fine spirits.
Not long subsequent to his return, my husband had occasion to send him
to Manchester, on business. As he set off early in the day, we expected
him home at most by six o'clock in the evening, but when six o'clock
came, he did not arrive. We always had a peculiar anxiety about him
whenever he was absent, for it seemed as though something was always
taking place to jeopardize his life. But to return. He did not get
home till the night was far spent. On coming in, he threw himself
into a chair, apparently much exhausted. My husband did not observe
his appearance, and immediately exclaimed, "Joseph, why are you so
late? has anything happened to you? we have been much distressed about
you these three hours." As Joseph made no answer, he continued his
interrogations, until, finally, I said, "Now, father, let him rest a
moment--don't trouble him now--you see he is home safe, and he is very
tired, so pray wait a little."
The fact was, I had learned to be a little cautious about matters with
regard to Joseph, for I was accustomed to see him look as he did on
that occasion, and I could not easily mistake the cause thereof.
Presently he smiled, and said in a calm tone, "I have taken the
severest chastisement that I have ever had in my life."
My husband, supposing that it was from some of the neighbors, was quite
angry, and observed, "I would like to know what business anybody has to
find fault with you!"
"Stop, father, stop," said Joseph, "it was the angel of the Lord: as I
passed by the hill of Cumorah, where the plates are, the angel met me,
and said that I had not been engaged enough in the work of the Lord;
that the time had come for the record to be brought forth; and that I
must be up and doing, and set myself about the things which God had
commanded me to do. But, father, give yourself no uneasiness concerning
the reprimand which I have received, for I now know the course that I
am to pursue, so all will be well."
It was also made known to him, at this interview, that he should make
another effort to obtain the plates, on the twenty-second of the
following September, but this he did not mention to us at that time.