A String of Pearls

Produced by the Mormon Texts Project (MormonTextsProject.org), with thanks to Max Cook, Intern, for proofreading.

A STRING OF PEARLS,

SECOND BOOK OF THE

FAITH-PROMOTING SERIES.

Designed for the Instruction and Encouragement of Young Latter-day Saints.

SECOND EDITION.

JUVENILE INSTRUCTOR OFFICE,

Salt Lake City,

1882.

PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION.

The first book of this, the "FAITH-PROMOTING SERIES"--_My First Mission_--which was published some months since, has been so well received by the public that we are encouraged to continue the publication of works of a similar character.

We herewith give "A STRING OF PEARLS" to our readers, feeling assured that they will find the contents of this little work of inestimable value.

Probably no people in the world possess so rich and varied an experience as do the Latter-day Saints, and especially the Elders who have labored in the ministry in various lands. Contributions from them, giving a relation of their personal experience, are most profitable to young people to peruse.

The present age is one of doubt and unbelief. Faith in God, in His willingness to hear and answer prayer, and in the gifts of the gospel, has almost vanished from the earth. As a people we have this to contend with. Our children, not having had experience themselves, have to be carefully watched, lest they, too, should partake of the leaven of unbelief. We feel that it is a duty that we owe to them to place within their reach the evidences that their fathers and their mothers have received of the existence of God, of His willingness to hear and answer prayer, and to bestow His gifts upon those who seek for them in the right way.

God has wrought as marvelously in behalf of the Latter-day Saints as He did in former days in behalf of His people.

We hope that this little volume will prove of great value to those who read it, by inspiring them with faith, and furnishing them a foundation upon which to build and obtain knowledge from the Lord.

We also indulge in the hope that its publication may stir up others--of whom there are so many hundreds, and perhaps thousands, in our Church who have had valuable experience--to take the time and trouble necessary to commit incidents of this character to paper, that they may not die with themselves, but that they may live to speak hope and consolation unto, and to inspire confidence in, those who shall come after them.

With an earnest hope, therefore, that the contents of this little volume may prove a help to those who may read it, by inspiring them with faith in the Almighty and His promises, we modestly publish it, and give it the expressive title which it bears. G. Q. C.

October, 1880.

PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION.

In publishing this, the second edition of the STRING OF PEARLS, it is only necessary to add that the first edition of 5,000 copies is exhausted, and we are induced by the continued demand for the book to re-issue it. It is very gratifying to notice the taste which has been developed during the past few years, among the youth of our community, for such reading matter as the FAITH-PROMOTING SERIES contains. We hope to see a continued growth in this direction, and that our brethren and sisters of experience will be prompted by it to write for publication such sketches from their lives as will point a moral and convey a lesson to the minds of future generations who may peruse the same.

We see no reason why the six volumes of the FAITH-PROMOTING SERIES already published, as well as those which may follow, should not be regarded in the future as standard works of the Church, and used for home reading or Sunday school class books when their authors and those of whose history they treat shall have passed to another sphere of action.

June, 1882. THE PUBLISHER.

CONTENTS.

AMONG THE PONCAS.

CHAPTER I.

Start for the Mountains--Experience as a Cobbler--Indian Mission Abandoned--Caching Property--Ponca Indians--A Prophecy and its Fulfillment.

CHAPTER II.

Going with the Poncas--Buffalo Meat--Camped for the Winter--Council with the Indians--A War Dance--Selected to go with the Poncas on a Winter's Hunt.

CHAPTER III.

Grand "Peace" Smoke--Table Etiquette--No Dish Washing--White Friends Discouraged.

CHAPTER IV.

Last two Brethren leave me--Home-sick--Tonsorial Experience--"Whadee-Shipper," a New Name for me--Kindness of the Indians.

CHAPTER V.

A Buffalo Hunt--A Thrilling Sight--Conversation with the Indians--Scurvy--Answer to Prayer.

CHAPTER VI.

Strength in Time of Need--Afflicted like Job, with Boils--Scraping with a Potsherd Pleasant--My Prayer Room--Dressing Buffalo Robes--Dining on Cottonwood Bark--Indian Self-Denial.

CHAPTER VII.

Police Regulations--A Moral People--Marriage Customs--Invitation to a Feast--Skunk Meat at Midnight--Indians Cheated by White Traders.

CHAPTER VIII.

Symptoms of Death--No Hopes of Living--Ponca Manner of Burying the Dead--Dread of Having my Body Mangled by the Wolves--Decide to Bargain with the Indians to Cut up my Body and Take it to my Friends--Happy Assurance that I should Live, etc.

CHAPTER IX.

Visit from the Brules--Feast on Dog Meat--Seat of Honor on the Pillow--Return Journey--Opening Caches--Shooting Fish--Curious Manner of Cooking Fish.

CHAPTER X.

Chosen to go as an Envoy to the Camp of the Saints--A Solitary Journey--Surrounded by Thousands of Wolves--Providential Deliverance--Happy Sight, a Yoke of Oxen--Tears of Joy--Meet two of my Friends--Safe Return to the Camp of the Saints.

ANECDOTES OF ELDER GRANT.

CHAPTER I.

Reputation as a Ready Speaker--Putting him to the Test--Sermon from a Blank Text--Enthusiasm at the Close of it--A Collection Proposed--The Minister Objects to Passing the Hat--They Compel him to--Handsome Collection--Discussion with a Great Baptist Preacher--Preacher Nonplussed by Elder Grant's Repartee.

CHAPTER II.

Curious Coincidence--Impression upon Miss Floyd--Her Acknowledgment--Challenged by Mr. Ruby--Meeting by Chance--Elder Grant's Estimate of Mr. Ruby--The Preacher Cowed.

WAR HILL.

Elder J. M. Grant Challenged to Debate--Boone's Hill Chosen as the Place--His Antagonist gets Six Ministers to Help him--Demoralized Ministers send for Another to Assist them--Inglorious Defeat of the Eight--One of them Absent-Minded--Change of Name to "War Hill."

SIGN-SEEKING.

Persecuting the Missionaries--A Discussion--Not Content with Bible Proof-;--A Sign Demanded--No Signs Promised the Unbelievers--Warned to Repent, or Endure the Curse of God--The Result.

MISSIONARY INCIDENTS.

CHAPTER I.

A Busy Mission--A Rich Harvest of Souls--Judgments upon our Opponents.

CHAPTER II.

Visit to a Baptist Meeting--Abuse of the Various Churches, Especially the "Mormons"--Boasted Bible-name and Religion--Return to the Text--"Hard-Shell" Wail--Reply to False Assertions--Their "Bible-name" Disproved--The True Scripture Name Pointed out.

CHAPTER III.

Ministers Appoint a Meeting to Expose "Mormonism"--We Appoint one for the Same Purpose, and the Same Day--Ministers Fail to Appear--Others Preach Instead--We Follow--A Baptist Attempts to Reply--His Contradictory Statement--Fellow-Preacher's Chagrin--The Preacher's Concession.

CHAPTER IV.

My First Sermon--Remarkable Instance of Help from the Almighty.

CHAPTER V.

My Second Sermon, which was not a Sermon--Confidence in Commencing--Subsequent Chagrin--The Lesson I Learned.

JOURNEY ACROSS THE PLAINS.

Surrounded by Indians--Prepare for an Attack--Sign of Peace--A Letter--Pipe of Peace--Three of us Accompany the Indians to their Camp--Chagrin at the Repulse--Road Swept Clear of Snow--Missouri River Frozen over--We Cross on the Ice, which Breaks as the Last Wagon Leaves it.

STORY OF A HAT.

Elder Phillips in Need of a Hat--Brother Hobbs told in a Dream to Provide one for him--His Trouble at not being able to do so--The Hat Provided in an Unexpected Manner.

A PROPHECY AND ITS FULFILLMENT.

Elder Taylor's labors in Liverpool--Visit to McGaffey's House--A Prophecy Concerning Mr. Tait--Visit to Ireland--McGaffey gets Drunk--The Prophecy Fulfilled.

GUIDED BY PROVIDENCE.

Elder Lisonbee's Mission--Urged by the Spirit to Travel on--Finds a Listener--Invited to Preach--A Protest against it--Success--His Great Work--His Death.

FULFILLMENT OF PROMISE.

The Lord's Promises Sure--An Elder in want of a Pair of Shoes--He Prays for them--The Prayer Answered--Case of Healing.

"YOU SHALL NOT BE CONFOUNDED."

Sent out to Preach when a Boy--First Experience in Preaching--Questioned by an Infidel--Answer given by the Lord.

AN EFFECTIVE PLEA.

Arrested on a Novel Charge--Elder Parrish's Defense--Elder Patten's Indignation--Consternation Produced by his Speech.

A LIFE SKETCH.

Lack of Education--Early Marriage--Resisting Temptation--Grain Increased by the Power of God--Answers to Prayer--Large Family--Result of Early Marriage.

CASES OF MIRACULOUS HEALING.

Great Assembly of Indians--Baptizing them--The Sick Instantly Healed--Curious Actions of Indians Affected with Evil Spirits--The Old Chief's Faith--Child Cured of Fever--The Dead Revived.

ANSWER TO PRAYER.

Early Experience in Calling upon the Lord--Prayers Answered--Faith Developed--A Pocket-Book Lost--Found in answer to Prayer.

JOSEPH SMITH'S FIRST PRAYER.

AMONG THE PONCAS.

By W. C. S.

CHAPTER I.

START FOR THE MOUNTAINS--EXPERIENCE AS A COBBLER--INDIAN MISSION ABANDONED--CACHING PROPERTY--PONCA INDIANS--A PROPHECY AND ITS FULFILLMENT.

A few days after the organization of the "Mormon" Battalion, and when it had left Council Bluffs for Fort Leavenworth, it was decided in the council of the authorities of the Church that Brother George Miller (Bishop) should raise a company and endeavor to cross the Rocky Mountains that fall.

At this time I was traveling and living with the family of Bishop Miller. I had been suffering with fever and ague for two months previous, but a few days before we arrived at Council Bluffs the fever left me, when my legs commenced to swell and finally broke out into sores, some of which were over an inch deep. I had five on my right and four on my left leg. These caused me much pain; but the Lord blessed me with His Spirit, and I did not feel in the least discouraged.

I had brought some shoemaker's tools along, so that I could mend my shoes when they needed it. I had them in use every time we stopped, mending shoes for the camp. I soon learned to be a pretty good cobbler, especially in patching up the sisters' shoes.

Some four of Bishop Miller's teamsters left to join the Battalion. Brother Henry G. Boyle was the one who drove the team I traveled in, but now I had to be teamster. We left with sufficient breadstuff to last a year, consisting of flour, corn meal, etc., but no meat, as we hoped to find plenty of game on our journey. In this we were disappointed, as we were without meat for several weeks, with the exception of fish when we could catch them.

When about twenty miles east of the Pawnee village and mission we met several white men, who had been in charge of the mission, under the superintendence of an Indian agent appointed by the government. These men had been employed at building houses, fencing in land, sowing grain, etc., and endeavoring to teach the Indians to do likewise; but the Indians for some cause had become exasperated and had killed two of the white men, one of whom was a blacksmith.

As soon as this party learned of our numbers and intentions they wished to return to the mission and cache some government property, such, as iron, steel, blacksmith tools, farming implements, etc., which they left in a hurry when fleeing from the Indians. On arriving at the mission and village, we found that all the Indians had left, fearing, I presume, that they would be punished if they were caught by the government troops.

The brethren helped these men to cache all the property, which they did by digging a large hole in the ground, in a dry place, putting the goods into it, covering them with the soil taken out of the hole, and building a large fire over the place, that the ashes might cover up all traces of the digging.

One of the men of this party joined the Church, and emigrated to the valley with us.

We found several fields of grain ready for harvesting, with potatoes, turnips and sweet corn, as well as a large quantity of wheat, barley and oats already threshed and housed. This was all handed over to our camp.

We remained here a couple of days, when we received a letter from President B. Young's camp, advising us to winter on Grand Island, which was well timbered, and where there was good feed also This island was a few miles west of us, on the Platte River.

The letter also stated that a company had left President Young's camp, who would winter with us and give us sufficient strength to guard against an attack from Indians.

The day following eight Ponca chiefs came to our camp, stating that they had come from their nation to make peace with the Pawnees, and appeared much disappointed when they learned they had left, in consequence of their trouble with the men who had charge of the mission.

These Ponca Indians who came to our camp were large, fine-looking men.

Bishop Miller asked them to stay with us a few days, which they did, and appeared much pleased. They soon learned where we expected to winter, and were very anxious to have us all go to their village and stay. They represented that they had a good country, well timbered, and plenty of good pasture and shelter for our cattle.

The next day the company sent to join us, consisting of thirty men with their families, arrived. As soon as they had rested, a meeting was called, to know what should be done--winter on Grand Island, without the consent of the Pawnee Indians, who owned the land and timber there, or go with the Ponca chiefs, where we would be welcomed by the whole nation.

The council decided to go with the Poncas, and the next day we fitted up our wagons for the journey.

The next thing was to load up with as much grain and potatoes as we could get into our wagons, for these were the first we had been able to obtain since leaving Nauvoo in the spring.

After we got every corner in our wagons filled with eatables we left a great many bushels of grain and vegetables upon the land to waste, literally fulfilling a prophecy uttered by Bishop Miller, a few days before we started. When speaking to the camp, he said he hoped all who were going in that company were "true Latter-day Saints, full of faith and good works," and added:

"All of you who have been with us have seen the power of God manifested in behalf of the traveling camps of Israel, in protecting our leaders from our enemies, and providing food for the Saints, who number thousands. Some may say, 'We were then traveling through a country where we found an occasional farm, from the owner of which we could purchase what we required; but to-day we have left all these, and have nothing but a wilderness before us, without farms, houses or grain.'

"Let me say, as I have before said, you shall be blessed in the future as you have been in the past.

"What, with food? Yes; I tell you yes! I promise you all, this day, in the name of the Lord, that you shall see the time while upon this journey, that you shall have more grain than you can load in your wagons, and leave many bushels behind you to waste upon the ground."

This, my readers, was fulfilling prophecy to the very letter. How often I have seen the sayings of our leaders fulfilled in like manner since I started upon this journey!

CHAPTER II.

GOING WITH THE PONCAS--BUFFALO MEAT--CAMPED FOR THE WINTER--COUNCIL WITH THE INDIANS--A WAR DANCE--SELECTED TO GO WITH THE PONCAS ON A WINTER'S HUNT.

Brother James Emmett, one of our party, understood a little of the Sioux language, and one of the Ponca chiefs could converse in this language. Brother Emmett was asked to find out how far the Poncas lived from the camp. The chief told him three sleeps, or, as he understood it, three days' travel for our cattle: but we afterwards learned that the chief meant three days' and nights' travel with horses (one hundred and fifty miles).

The country over which we traveled the first three days was very rough for our wagons.

The name of the chief of the Poncas was _Ta-nugar-number_, which means, two buffalo bulls. He was thus named because he once killed two bulls, while they were running through the village.

On the fourth day this chief came to us, saying he and the party had killed three buffaloes. Brother Miller ordered the camp to stop near a small stream close by, and send for the dead animals, that we might have buffalo meat for dinner. This was the first time we had had meat for ten weeks.

A team was sent, and the meat soon arrived, and was distributed through the camp.

It was a novel scene, I assure you, to see us each with a stick and a piece of meat stuck on the end of it, toasting, or broiling it, before the fire. This was the first buffalo meat we had ever eaten, and we all thought it the sweetest and best meat we ever tasted.

We remained here until two o'clock, p. m., the next day, when but little remained of the buffaloes, except the bones. Several more were killed before we reached the village. The meat of some was dried, but all the prime pieces were eaten.

On the eleventh day we camped within two miles of their village, and three miles from where we located for the winter. No sooner had we unyoked our cattle than we were visited by nearly all the nation, old and young. All wanted to see us. Many of them had never seen an ox before, and but few had seen many white men.

A council of the chiefs and braves, or warriors, was called, to meet with our brethren. The chief told his people that he had invited us to stay on their land during the winter. That we wanted timber for building houses and for fuel, and pasture for our cattle. He said they had plenty of both--more than they or we needed--and he wanted his braves to say that we could have it. In return, he told them we would build them houses, plow and plant some land for their squaws, and give them some flour. He then asked for an expression of their feelings.

Several of the old men spoke, and all said we were welcome to come and get what we wanted.

The Poncas numbered about two thousand souls.

After the meeting dismissed some thirty of the braves, or soldiers, favored us with a war dance.

The musical instrument used for this was used at all the dances I ever saw while with them. It was like a tambourine, and about the same size. This is beaten as you would beat a drum. The braves formed in a circle, and at every beat of the instrument (and there were perhaps seventy strokes to the minute) they would jump up, at the same time bending forward in a half-stooping position, and passing around as they jumped, yelling and hallooing in a most frightful manner.

All they lacked at this dance to make it a perfect war dance, were the scalps of some whom they had killed in battle.

This drumming, yelling and jumping continued for about fifteen minutes, when all the Indians left the camp for their own village.

We were about one mile from the Missouri River, and near the mouth of Swift or Running-Water River, and where the Indians raise a little corn.

The next day the whole village turned out to visit us. They wanted us to trade with them by giving them flour, sugar, coffee, etc., for moccasins, buckskins, etc. A great many exchanges were made, to the satisfaction of both parties. The Indians, however, had by far the best of the bargains, as we found out the next morning, for many of us were minus an ax, a kettle, pan, cup, knife or something that was used daily about our camp; and all these things we learned had been taken by our Indian visitors.