MARTIN HARRIS IS PERMITTED TO TAKE THE MANUSCRIPT HOME WITH HIM--HE
LOSES IT--THE SEASON OF MOURNING WHICH ENSUED.
Martin Harris, having written some one hundred and sixteen pages for
Joseph, asked permission of my son to carry the manuscript home with
him, in order to let his wife read it, as he hoped it might have a
salutary effect upon her feelings.
Joseph was willing to gratify his friend as far as he could
consistently, and he inquired of the Lord to know if he might do as
Martin Harris had requested, but was refused. With this, Mr. Harris was
not altogether satisfied, and, at his urgent request, Joseph inquired
again, but received a second refusal. Still, Martin Harris persisted
as before, and Joseph applied again, but the last answer was not like
the two former ones. In this, the Lord permitted Martin Harris to take
the manuscript home with him, on condition that he would exhibit it to
none, save five individuals whom he had mentioned, and who belonged to
his own family.
Mr. Harris was delighted with this, and bound himself in a written
covenant of the most solemn nature, that he would strictly comply with
the injunctions which he had received. Which being done, he took the
manuscript and went home.
Joseph did not suspect but that his friend would keep his faith,
consequently, he gave himself no uneasiness with regard to the matter.
Shortly after Mr. Harris left, Joseph's wife became the mother of a
son, which, however, remained with her but a short time before it was
snatched from her arms by the hand of death. And the mother seemed, for
some time, more like sinking with her infant into the mansion of the
dead, than remaining with her husband among the living. Her situation
was such for two weeks, that Joseph slept not an hour in undisturbed
quiet. At the expiration of this time she began to recover, but as
Joseph's anxiety about her began to subside, another cause of trouble
forced itself upon his mind. Mr. Harris had been absent nearly three
weeks, and Joseph had received no intelligence whatever from him, which
was altogether aside of the arrangement when they separated. But Joseph
kept his feelings from his wife, fearing that if she became acquainted
with them it might agitate her too much.
In a few days, however, she mentioned the subject herself, and desired
her husband to go and get her mother to stay with her, while he
should repair to Palmyra, for the purpose of learning the cause of
Mr. Harris's absence as well as silence. At first Joseph objected,
but seeing her so cheerful, and so willing to have him leave home, he
finally consented.
He set out in the first stage that passed for Palmyra, and, when he
was left to himself, he began to contemplate the course which Martin
had taken, and the risk which he (Joseph) had run in letting the
manuscript go out of his own hands--for it could not be obtained again,
in case Martin had lost it through transgression, except by the power
of God, which was something Joseph could hardly hope for--and that, by
persisting in his entreaties to the Lord, he had perhaps fallen into
transgression, and thereby lost the manuscript. When, I say, he began
to contemplate these things, they troubled his spirit, and his soul was
moved with fearful apprehensions. And, although he was now nearly worn
out, sleep fled from his eyes, neither had he any desire for food, for
he felt that he had done wrong, and how great his condemnation was he
did not know.
Only one passenger was in the stage besides himself: this man observing
Joseph's gloomy appearance, inquired the cause of his affliction, and
offered to assist him if his services would be acceptable. Joseph
thanked him for his kindness, and mentioned that he had been watching
some time with a sick wife and child, that the child had died, and that
his wife was still very low; but refrained from giving any further
explanation. Nothing more passed between them upon this subject, until
Joseph was about leaving the stage; at which time he remarked, that
he still had twenty miles further to travel on foot that night, it
being then about ten o'clock. To this the stranger objected, saying,
"I have watched you since you first entered the stage, and I know that
you have neither slept nor eaten since that time, and you shall not go
on foot twenty miles alone this night; for, if you must go, I will be
your company. Now tell me what can be the trouble that makes you thus
dispirited?"
Joseph replied, about as before--that he had left his wife in so low a
state of health, that he feared he should not find her alive when he
returned; besides, he had buried his first and only child but a few
days previous. This was true, though there was another trouble lying at
his heart, which he dared not to mention.
The stranger then observed, "I feel to sympathize with you, and I
fear that your constitution, which is evidently not strong, will be
inadequate to support you. You will be in danger of falling asleep in
the forest, and of meeting with some awful disaster."
Joseph again thanked the gentleman for his kindness, and, leaving
the stage, they proceeded together. When they reached our house it
was nearly daylight. The stranger said he was under the necessity of
leading Joseph the last four miles by the arm; for nature was too much
exhausted to support him any longer, and he would fall asleep as he was
walking along, every few minutes, towards the last of this distance.
On entering our house, the stranger remarked that he had brought our
son through the forest, because he had insisted on coming, that he
was sick, and needed rest, as well as refreshment, and that he ought
to have some pepper tea to warm his stomach. After thus directing us,
relative to our son, he said, that when we had attended to Joseph he
would thank us for a little breakfast for himself, as he was in haste
to be on his journey again.
When Joseph had taken a little nourishment, according to the directions
of the stranger, he requested us to send immediately for Mr. Harris.
This we did without delay. And when we had given the stranger his
breakfast, we commenced preparing breakfast for the family; and we
supposed that Mr. Harris would be there, as soon as it was ready, to
eat with us, for he generally came in such haste when he was sent for.
At eight o'clock we set the victuals on the table, as we were expecting
him every moment. We waited till nine, and he came not--till ten, and
he was not there--till eleven, still he did not make his appearance.
But at half past twelve we saw him walking with a slow and measured
tread towards the house, his eyes fixed thoughtfully upon the ground.
On coming to the gate, he stopped, instead of passing through, and got
upon the fence, and sat there some time with his hat drawn over his
eyes. At length he entered the house. Soon after which we sat down to
the table, Mr. Harris with the rest. He took up his knife and fork as
if he were going to use them, but immediately dropped them. Hyrum,
observing this, said "Martin, why do you not eat; are you sick?" Upon
which, Mr. Harris pressed his hands upon his temples, and cried out in
a tone of deep anguish, "Oh, I have lost my soul! I have lost my soul!"
Joseph who had not expressed his fears till now, sprang from the table,
exclaiming, "Martin, have you lost that manuscript? have you broken
your oath, and brought down condemnation upon my head as well as your
own?"
"Yes; it is gone," replied Martin, "and I know not where."
"Oh, my God!" said Joseph, clinching his hands. "All is lost! all is
lost! What shall I do? I have sinned--it is I who tempted the wrath
of God. I should have been satisfied with the first answer which I
received from the Lord; for he told me that it was not safe to let the
writing go out of my possession." He wept and groaned, and walked the
floor continually.
At length he told Martin to go back and search again.
"No;" said Martin, "it is all in vain; for I have ripped open beds and
pillows; and I know it is not there."
"Then must I," said Joseph, "return with such a tale as this? I dare
not do it. And how shall I appear before the Lord? Of what rebuke am I
not worthy from the angel of the Most High?"
I besought him not to mourn so, for perhaps the Lord would forgive him,
after a short season of humiliation and repentance. But what could I
do to comfort him, when he saw all the family in the same situation of
mind as himself; for sobs and groans, and the most bitter lamentations
filled the house. However, Joseph was more distressed than the rest, as
he better understood the consequences of disobedience. And he continued
pacing back and forth, meantime weeping and grieving, until about
sunset, when, by persuasion, he took a little nourishment.
The next morning, he set out for home. We parted with heavy hearts, for
it now appeared that all which we had so fondly anticipated, and which
had been the source of so much secret gratification, had in a moment
fled, and fled forever.