No great truth was ever born into the world, without the throes of
suffering of those who bore it.
Mrs. Emmit's invitations to four of the pioneers of Ephraim were gladly
accepted, and all expressed themselves as delighted to meet the Eastern
lady, who was going to make every careless "Latter-day Saint" reflect
on the "Word of Wisdom."
The large, homey sitting-room was bright with the rays of the setting
sun, sinking over the mountains in its golden glory, and casting its
stray beams in at the bay-window, with a cheeriness that made the
simple room look beautiful. It was eight o'clock.
One by one the guests arrived, each bringing a handful of roses.
"June roses! How perfectly exquisite!" exclaimed Mrs. Catt, graciously
accepting the flowers, while Betty ran for vases. Soon they were all
prettily arranged on the center table, filling the room with a rich
fragrance.
"Surely, life in Ephraim is worth while," declared Mrs. Catt, again
smiling on the happy, old faces surrounding her. "All flowers and
sunshine!"
When Betty had finished fixing the flowers, she sat on a cushion by her
wonderful guest and affectionately leaned her head on Mrs. Catt's knee.
Her little face was flushed with excitement, and her eyes looked larger
than ever.
"Ephraim's going ter show off now, and she's just the kind ter
'preciate!" she thought joyfully. How the child did love her own home
town!
"Yes, it's all roses and sunshine now ma'am, but times there was when
it wasn't jes' like this," remarked one old lady, shaking her head
thoughtfully.
"That's true, Sister Anne," spoke up old Brother Jacobson. "We've known
the time, when only thorns grew!"
"Now, that is just what I want you to tell me about. I'm just longing
to hear about those by-gone days--why you came here, and what you
found.--Do, someone, begin, please!" urged Mrs. Catt, sweetly.
One thin, erect, old lady, with a quick, bright eye, turned to Mrs.
Catt with a smile.
"Sister Anne and Brother Jacobson may have suffered from the thorns,
but I can't say that I did. What did I come for? For the faith, of
course, as we all did. I walked eight hundred miles, pushing a cart,
and I tell you, ma'am, every mile was too short for the faith! And
when I got here? Every burden was too light to bear for the sake of
the glorious truth, and the Lord has blessed me with children, and
grand-children, and health, but I'd been glad to go on suffering for
the glory of the gospel!"
There was a silence after this burst of enthusiasm, and Mrs. Catt eyed
the woman as if studying some strange species.
"And your faith carried you through everything, joyously?" she asked,
credulously.
"Yes, the Lord upheld me always."
"Did you bring up a large family?" asked the Easterner curiously.
"Yes, thirteen children. My husband has gone ahead of me awhile, but
I'm glad to stay as long as God wills. With such a big, happy family,
one couldn't be lonesome, you know."
"No, I suppose not," returned Mrs. Catt, sweetly. "You women have led
wonderful lives. Now, who's going to begin to tell me how they happened
to come to Zion?"
There was a pause, as one looked at the other, smiling.
"You don't mind talking about it, do you?" she asked pleasantly.
Mrs. Emmit answered for them.
"Gracious, no! They just love to talk about it to those who are really
interested in the gospel; don't you?"
All smiled assent.
"Suppose you begin, Brother Madson," suggested Mrs. Emmit.
"Very well," replied a stout, florid-faced, old gentleman, genially.
"It's rather a long story, but very interesting."
The elder people settled more comfortably in their seats, and the
children leaned forward eagerly.
"My mind wanders back to my happy boyhood days in Norway," he
began. "We lived out of town on a comfortable estate, as my father
was well-to-do, and we had everything we could desire. There were
four of us children,--three girls, and myself. My mother was a dear
tender-hearted woman, living solely for her husband and children, and
always shielding us from the sterner character of my father, who was a
strict Lutheran.
"When I became eighteen, much to my mother's distress, my father had me
sent to the town alone, to take the position of jailer in the county
prison,
"'It'll make a man of him--he's been cuddled too much--' he explained
to my mother. 'If he succeeds in doing his duty, I'll have him home in
a year or two and give him something worth while.'
"So off to town I went and became a jailer.
"After being there for a time, I had turned over to my care two
young men. They were thrown into prison and condemned to die. Their
appearance attracted me.
"'For what are they condemned?' I asked the warden.
"'They are "Mormons," answered the warden.
"'And what are "Mormons?" I asked.
"'Preachers of some newfangled religion from America, that doesn't take
here,' he explained.
"Preachers condemned to die! I thought this both strange and
interesting.
"So, from curiosity, I looked in upon the jailbirds, to see how they
were acting. There they were on their knees, praying hard, not for
deliverance, but that the Lord would forgive those who had condemned
them. On seeing me, they calmly arose from their knees and asked when
they were condemned to die.
"'Tomorrow,' I reluctantly replied.
"'Then we must lose no time in giving you our great message,' the elder
one said, his eyes shining with a great faith, 'You will listen?'
"'Yes,' I answered simply.
"Then these two young missionaries lay before me the restored Gospel as
I have never heard it preached since. Realizing they were near death,
their souls burned with the desire to save one more soul.
"It was wonderful! Their words thrilled my whole being, and their
truths appealed to me.--At once I was converted. I couldn't help
myself. God seemed very near in that prison cell, and I felt His Spirit
urging me to accept the Gospel.
"I told them this and we all knelt down and prayed.
"Then I left them and hurried to the warden.
"'What's the matter now?' he asked tersely.
"'Matter enough!' I returned earnestly, 'Do you know we have two of
God's own men condemned to die to morrow?'
"'Been talking to them, eh? They seemed a good sort to me.--But that's
none of _our_ business.'
"'Do you call yourself a Christian, Axel, and say that it's none of our
business whether or not these two good young men are murdered, under
our very eyes?'
"'What are you going to do about it? The priest's word is law here. And
how do you know anyway, that they're not a menace to the church? Mon,
you're too easily influenced.'
"'Come talk to them yourself. They're anxious to see you,' I returned.
"And so after some persuasion, I led the warden to the cell. We
approached cautiously and unobserved.
"They were both kneeling in silent prayer, their faces upturned with a
rapt expression of those oblivious to all earthly things and interests.
"The warden's expression, at first curious, turned to one of sympathy.
'Damn!' he muttered.
"The young men started, opened their eyes and on seeing us, arose from
their knees.
"'Sorry to disturb you gentlemen. I'm damn sorry for you for I see
you're the good sort. What made you such fools as to oppose the priest?
Law's tight here.'
"The young missionaries smiled calmly.
"'Do not pity us, friend; we are honored to die for Christ. I wish that
you could feel that.'
"For two hours the young preachers talked and the warden, at first
skeptical, finally grew more interested until what seemed a miracle
happened.
"This experienced man of the world, this crusty warden took both young
men by the hand and exclaimed, 'Boys, you've got the truth; I never
thought to find it on the earth, but it's here with you. I'll go to the
priest the first thing tonight and plead your case. Let's pray the Lord
to melt his heart and influence the authorities to free you.'
"And so we all knelt down within the death-cell and the younger
missionary prayed that they might escape death if it was the Lord's
will that they should save more souls.
"After we left the cell, I begged the warden to let me go to the priest.
"'Nonsense Mon, you couldn't do a thing with him. You'd blubber out
that you were converted and land in jail yourself. I'll handle him
better and scare him a bit as to consequences. The lads have some good
friends here.'
"And so the warden left and I went back to my charges.
"The anxiety of the next two hours, I shall never forget. The young
missionaries were calm and undisturbed, but while I listened to the
truths they were telling me, my heart was anxiously waiting the return
of the warden.
"At last he came.
"'Good news?' I cried anxiously.
"'Yes,' answered the warden, smiling on us all. 'I got him, but we'll
have to rid the country of you tomorrow--cross the border you must, or
surely die.'
"'Thank God!' I exclaimed. 'And we--we must be baptized before they go!'
"'You're running quick, Mon,' said the warden, 'What's the hurry?'
"'We might never have the chance again, as the missoinaries are
leaving. You will baptize me?' I asked them.
"'Yes, indeed,--We will do all we can for you before we leave,' they
answered happily.
"That evening we were baptized. I shall never forget the glorious moon
shining on the waters,--the clear frosty air that invigorated our
bodies, and yet did not chill.
"When we returned to the jail, we spent an hour in prayer and never did
I feel the Lord's Spirit, as I did within those prison walls that night.
"The next day before dawn, I took our prisoners out of town and saw
them safely across the border.
"'I wish that you could go back to America with us,' they said
anxiously.
"'Oh, don't worry about me,' I replied joyously, I'll have to keep the
faith a secret here, but I'm going home at Christmas-time, and when I
tell them all, they'll rejoice and accept the Gospel, too. Then, I will
not fear, for father's an influential man.'
"'God grant that it may be so,' returned the missionaries, 'and the
warden?'
"'He, too, has a large family to convert.'
"So we bade one another 'good-bye,' and I returned to the jail.
"It wanted only three months to Christmas, and the time passed quickly
and happily.
"When the holidays came, I bade good-bye to the warden.
"Axel, don't lose the faith, it'll be hard to stand alone.'
"'You're not coming back?' asked the warden in surprise.
"'I hardly expect to,' I replied. 'You know, Axel, father can afford
it, and I'm going to ask him to let me go to America, and when I've
learned more of the Gospel, I'll come back on a mission.'
"'Man proposes, and God disposes, Mon,' replied the warden sadly.
"'Ah! but you don't know how religious my father is!' I explained with
confidence.
"'And as narrow as the rest of them, no doubt,' returned the warden
shortly. 'Well, old boy,' he added, grasping my hand warmly, 'I wish
you luck and if prayers help, you can count on mine!'
"And so we parted.
"Christmas-time in Norway is a time of great feasting, hospitality, and
good-will toward all.
"How light was my heart as I entered the old home and received the warm
welcome of my parents and sisters!
"'We've certainly missed you, Mon,' they all agreed. 'But now we'll
have such a splendid Yule-tide to make up for it.'
"'Splendid Yule-tide,--yes!' I thought exultingly, 'They little know
what a wonderful gift I am bringing home to them all.'
"The first evening that we were gathered together, I told them of the
great change that had come into my life. I began the story at the
beginning, and soon got them interested. But when my father asked me,
'Were the missoinaries "Lutheran" and how did it happen that they were
arrested?' I answered, 'No, they were "Mormons" from America, preaching
the restored Gospel.
"Then the storm came. My poor father exclaimed horrified,
"'You don't mean that you saved two Mormons to do more of Satan's work?'
"'They do the Lord's work, father,' I returned quietly.
"'You have not listened to their wicked preaching, have you?' asked
my father angrily, rising from his chair, while my mother and sisters
looked on in dismay.
"'Yes, father, I have become a 'Mormon.' God knows, I am a better man.'
"At this he became enraged to madness. 'My son a "Mormon!" he exclaimed
fiercely. 'Never! I command you to drop this evil and come to your
senses. 'Mormons!' they are the scum of the earth, coming here to
contaminate decent people in this country.'
"For a moment there was silence and my mother came to me and put her
arms around my neck, beseechingly looking into my eyes with a mother's
fear.
"'O Mon,' she said trembling, 'obey your father, boy! give up these
evil companions, _do_, Mon!'
"'But, mother dear, if you would only let me explain I'll show you all
that they are not evil.'
"Angrily, my father separated us. 'Do you dare, Mon, to make your
father out a liar?'
"I stood stupefied, hardly knowing how to take his unlooked for passion.
"'No, father,' I at last ventured, 'but you don't understand.'
"'Then I'm a fool! to be taught by a fanatical youngster of eighteen!'
he returned hotly. 'Again, will you drop this thing, or not?'
"I felt a great strength surge up in me, and I stood erect.
"'Father, it grieves me to wound you, but Christ suffered, and if needs
be I must also. I have taken this step for life. I cannot retrace.'
"'Then leave this house; you're no son of mine!' came the words,
distinctly clear, as my father threw open the door wide, and pointed
the way out.
"The wind rushed in bringing the large hail-stones from the storm
without.
"'In the storm, father, this dark night?' I asked incredulously.
"'I've said it!' was his short answer.
"My mother made to intercede for me, but he pushed her back, and stood
between us.
"'Better no son at all, than one to disgrace us!' he declared, sternly.
I looked out into the blackness of night, then at the cheerful fire,
lighting up the room in genial comfort.
"Satan whispered, 'Don't be a fool. Your father's religion is good
enough for you. You're a stranger to the new religion. You'll do more
good and sacrifice less by staying with the old.'
"But the angel of the Lord led me out,--out into the darkness,
penniless, alone, with the cries of my mother ringing in my ears.
"A few steps and I turned. Surely I must kiss my good mother farewell.
The door was still open and my father was an angry sentinel watching my
going.
"'Well?' he asked, sternly.
"'May I bid farewell to my mother?'
"'No! your mother is too good for such as you. Begone!'
"And with the last harsh word, he lifted an axe from the wall and
hurled it after me.
"Then the door shut, and I found myself writhing with pain upon the wet
ground.
"The axe had penetrated into my leg. I tried, but could not remove the
cruel torment.
"I prayed hard and received strength to stand and then, soon, I was
able to drag myself the three weary miles to the prison.
"By this time, my high boot was filled with blood, and the warden
received me fainting in his arms.
"When I came to, the warden was binding up my wound, and cursing under
his breath.
"'Don't curse. Axel,' I said feebly.
"'That's not your sin. It's mine. How do you feel now?' he asked with
rough kindness.
"'Rather weak,' I replied.
"'Reckon so,' he said shortly. 'Had a row with your very religious
father?'
"'Yes,' I answered simply, ignoring his sarcasm.
"'I expected it,' he returned. 'Now you rest here 'till you're strong
and I'll see you across the border. It won't be long before everyone
knows that you are a 'Mormon.' News travels quickly and they'll hound
you as they did the others. I'll hide you here 'til you're stronger.'
"'And you?' I asked anxiously.
"'Will meet you in America, some day! Sleep now. The sooner you're out
of here, the better for you!'
"So in a few days I was across the border, with my purse filled by the
faithful warden.
"I will not relate to you my numerous experiences and difficulties on
my way to Utah. The good sister has just told you how eight hundred
miles seemed too short to walk for the faith, and I walked one thousand
miles and found them too short for the faith too.
"I arrived in Zion fatigued, but happy. There was work for me here and
oh! the glorious freedom of the Gospel and the love of the brethren!
"I soon took a wife,--a good sweet woman, who is waiting for me yonder.
Ten years of hard work and real happiness followed. Four children were
born to us and our home was one of the best in Utah.
"Then the Church called me on a mission to Norway.
"My heart beat fast at the very thought.
"To Norway! my old home!
"True! my folks had never answered my letters, but if I went there
personally, it would soften their hearts and surely the Lord would open
up the way for me to give them the Gospel!
"It was nearing Christmas. I would approach my old home at Yule-tide
again, in the time of homecoming and good cheer!
"Tenderly I bid my family good-bye, and with a thankful heart started
on my journey.
"On reaching Norway, I told the mission headquarters my story, and they
said that I might go to my home for Yule-tide.
"It was the day before Christmas when I reached the old prison, where I
asked for the Warden.
"'Oh, he's left the country--is in England, I believe. He joined those
dastard "Mormons" and kept it dark. But we found him out. However, he
escaped, and last I heard of him, he was in England, making the devil
of a time there, preaching his doctrines.'
"'So the prejudice is just the same,' I thought sadly, as I footed it
to my home.
"My heart grew heavy as I thought of the last time I had struggled
along that road in the dark stormy night; then I pushed the thought
from me and dwelt on the future. Now that I had returned, prosperous
and happy, I could persuade them.
"I was changed from youth to manhood,--they would see what the Gospel
had done for me.
"At last the home was reached. I entered the gate. As I walked through
the garden, which was lightly frosted with snow, I looked from right to
left, upon the unchanged scenes. Years seemed like days, and it seemed
as though I were a boy again, returning from school for the happy
Yule-tide greetings. My heart with a bound forgave the last ten years,
and I longed to grasp my father's hand and tell him so. And my dear
mother? She must be aged now, but still the same sweet, tender heart!
"With trembling hands I knocked on the door, that had been closed to
me, all these years.
"My eldest sister opened it. Two little girls clung to her skirts. She
looked many years older, and lines of care furrowed her face.
"She didn't know me.
"'Well, sir?' she asked quietly.
"'Is Mr. or Mrs. Madson at home?' I asked controlling myself with
effort.
"'Both dead, sir,' she answered shortly.
"'Dead!' I exclaimed aghast.
"'Yes, sir?' she answered sadly. 'The plague, two years ago, took my
father and my two sisters. Sad times here then.'
"'And the mother?' I asked trembling.
"'O, she, poor thing, died nine years ago. She doted on her only son,
who joined the wicked "Mormons," and it broke her heart. She just
wilted like a flower and died.'
"I grasped the railing of the porch for support.
"'You're pale, sir!' she exclaimed in sudden pity. 'Did you know them?
Who are you?'
"'Don't you know me?' I cried in agony of spirit. I'm your
brother--Mon!'
"For a moment she looked at me in dismayed astonishment, then her face
contracted in anger. She lifted her arm, and pointed to the gate.
"'How dare you enter here! You killed your mother, broke your father's
heart! Have you come back to torment me?'
"'I have come to help you,' I answered brokenly. 'To help all--but only
you are left. Oh, listen to what I have to tell you--in our mother's
name, listen!' I pleaded.
"'Never!' she answered hoarsely. 'I hate the very sight of you. Go, I
say, or I'll have you sent!'
"I turned and fairly staggered down the old familiar path to the gate.
"There I turned, but she stood angry and unrelenting.
"So this was my home-coming! I hardly know how I made my way back
to mission headquarters. When I reached there, for a time, I was
completely overcome by this heart-rending experience.
"But the prayers of the Saints, lifted me out of myself, and I
fulfilled my mission, with some happy results.
"When I reached home in Utah, I told my wife about my sad home in
Norway.
"'Mon,' she said with her eyes glowing with faith, 'We will pray every
night that the Lord will save your sister for the Gospel.'
"So every night at family prayers, my sister and her family were
remembered.
"Years passed. My eldest boy, Mon, was twenty years old. The Church
called him on a mission to Norway.
"'Father,' he said to me, earnestly, 'I'll pray God to let me bring
your sister back to America.'
"'May the Lord so will it!' I answered fervently, with a sudden longing
for my own kinsfolk.
"When my son arrived in Norway, he went immediately to the old home. It
was sold and my sister departed, none knew where.
"This news was a great disappointment, but my son wrote hopefully.
"'God can overcome anything, father. Have faith and pray. I'll find her
yet.'
"One month later came another letter from Norway.
"'Dear father:--I have found your sister,--in fact, I am now boarding
at her boarding-house. Her husband died, leaving her almost penniless,
after squandering away the estate.
"'She doesn't know that I am her nephew.
"'When she and two daughters--young ladies now--were in great trouble,
some "Mormons" crossed her path, and with the usual kindness, helped
her through sickness and trial. She is almost converted to the faith.
When she knew that I was a "Mormon," she rejoiced, and every chance we
have, we are together, talking of the Gospel. Surely God led me right
to her house, in answer to our prayers.
"'Last night she told me that she had a great weight on her heart--she
did not believe that she was worthy to be baptized.
"'I asked her to confide in me.
"'She then told me with tears in her eyes, how she had treated her
brother.
"'Will you write to your folks," she asked humbly, "and ask them to
try to find him? I must ask his forgiveness, before I think of being
baptized."
"'So dear father, write to her as soon as you can to console her broken
heart and give her hope.'
"I'll never forget that letter and the joy we all felt.
"I was blest with wealth and a happy home, and my good wife said: 'Mon,
your sister must come to Zion! She and her daughters shall be happy
near her brother.'
"So I wrote, and enclosed money for my sister and her children to come
to Zion.
"My son baptized them, and then they came to Zion. O, what a joyful
re-union was ours! My dear sister you all knew, humble and sweet to her
death. The two daughters have happy homes, not far from here, and are
bringing up their children in the faith! How great and good the Lord
is!"
As brother Madson stopped speaking, everyone sat thoughtfully silent.
"And the Warden?" asked Betty in subdued excitement.
"Is right here," said Brother Jacobson, smiling. "I'm the Warden, and
thank God for being able to spend my last days near the jailor!"
Mrs. Catt broke the silence.
"That story is certainly interesting enough to print," she said
pleasantly.
"Who next will give us pleasure?" she asked turning to Sister Anne.
"You?"
Sister Anne smilingly assented.
"I was only eight years old when I left England, but I shall never
forget it. My dear mother and father accepted the Gospel almost
directly that it was preached to them.
"This horrified and enraged my mother's parents, who believed that my
father was the one to blame and that he had unusual Satanic influence
over my mother. So they decided to kill him. In the dead of night they
came to our home and I was awakened by me shrieks of my mother, who was
trying with her delicate strength to hold the door from the invaders
without. With a crush, they broke in at the windows, but mother had
kept them out long enough for father to hide in one of the large copper
kettles. Enraged they looked for him in vain, leaving the house with
threatenings for the future.
"My parents realized that they must emigrate to Utah--there was no
peace at home. So with their five children, and I the eldest, they set
sail for America.
"We were many weeks on the water. When we reached the Mississippi,
mother was exhausted, for the food had been very bad and the trip
rough. As we neared St. Louis, cholera broke out on board our boat,
and mother immediately fell a victim. The quarantine officers ordered
us all on deck, and the word went around that cholera victims would be
taken off separately.
"I shall never forget my father's grief. Mother was almost gone, and to
be separated would be awful.
"With her usual grit, mother braced up, and with father's help,
managed to crawl to the deck. There she sat by father, and when the
quarantine officer came around she pretended to be eating her soup with
relish. This deceived him and he passed her by. The next day my mother
died, leaving five children, one a little baby. Never will I forget
our burying mother in St. Louis. Father was grief stricken, but his
wonderful faith held him up and he told me to be 'little mother.' We
purchased a wagon and team and started on our long journey across the
plains. After many days of hardships, we reached Utah, and there my
father worked long hard days and raised his little flock, with only me
to help him. So you see my parents sacrificed all for the faith, so is
it not natural I prize it above other things?"
"And the Indians, did they ever get the baby?" asked Betty excitedly.
"No, dear, but nearly, several times. It was their pet revenge to steal
babies, and we had to guard them closely."
Just then a knock at the door made them turn.
To Mrs. Emmit's cheery "come in," a woman of eighty entered.
"Why sister Heller, you're just in time for some ice-cream," said Mrs.
Emmit delightedly. "Mrs. Catt, I want to introduce to you another
member of our Ephraim family."
Mrs. Catt smiled at the dark, swarthy old woman who had entered. Surely
she was an Indian.
Sister Heller smiled in return, but her small sharp eyes seemed to
pierce the visitor with an unnecessary stare.
"We're very fond of her," spoke up Mrs. Emmit, "she was treated roughly
by her own people as they passed. She was so old that she couldn't keep
up with the tribe, so they didn't want her. We took her and she has
been one of us ever since."
The old Indian smilingly nodded and then uncovered a basket of
home-made cookies.
"I brought them over for your party," she said simply.
"And so the little party ate ice-cream and cake and chattered until
late.
Betty took the Indian woman aside before leaving.
"Isn't the 'New-Yorker' jest wonderful?" she asked delighted.
The old woman looked down at the child's eager face without a smile.
"Betty, I don't like her. Have a care. The Indian knows friend or foe."
Betty's face flushed with righteous indignation.
"For shame, you're not an Indian now--you're a Christian, but you don't
talk like one!"
She patted Betty's head lovingly. "You see, Dearie, you see!"