Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1894-05-17

voices.
sLeave your horses below and we
will wait you here, the elder answered.
In q moment the young fellows had
~dismounted, fastened their horses, and
were ascending the precipitous slope
which led up to the object which had
excited their curiosity. They advanced
rapidly and noiselessly, with the con-
fdence and dexterity Of practised
scouts. The watchers from the plain
below could see them hit from rock to
rock until their figures stood out
against the skyline. The young man
who had first given the alarm was lead
ing them. Suddenly his followers saw
him throw up his hands, as though
overcome with establishment, and on
| joining him they were affected in the
same way by the sight which met their
eyes.
On the little plateau which crowned
the barren hill there stood a single
giant bowlder, and against this bovlder
there lay a tall man, long-bearded and
Manufactured, but of an excessive thin
ness. His placid face and regular
breathing showed that he was fast
asleep. Beside him lay a little child,
with her round white arms encircling
his brown, sinewy neck, and her
golden-haired head resting upon the
breast of his velveteen tunic. Her rosy
lips were parted, showing the regular
line of snow-white teeth within, and a
playful smile played over her infantile
features. Her plump little white
legs, terminating in white socks, and
neat shoes with shining buckles,
offered a strange contrast to the long,
shriveled members of her companion.
On the ledge of rock above this strange
couple there stood three solemn buzz
yards, who, at the sight of the new
corners, uttered raucous screams of dis
appointment and tapped sullenly
way.
The cries of the foul birds awoke the
two sleepers, who stared about them in
bewi1derment. The man staggered to
his feet and looked down upon the
plain which had been SO desolate when
sleep had overtaken him, and which
vas now traversed by this enormous
body of men and of beasts. His face
assumed an expression of incredu1ity
as he gazed, and he passed his bony
hand over his eyes. 'This is what they
call delirium, l guess he muttered.
The child stood beside him, holding on
to the skirt of his coat, and said moth
ing, but looked all round her with the
wondering. questioning gaze of child
hood.
The rescuing party were speedily
able to convince the two castaways
that their appearance was no delusion.
One of them seized the little girl and
hoisted her upon his shoulder, while
two others supported her gaunt com
panion and assisted him toward the
wagons.
my name is John Ferrier," the wan
derer exclaimed; me and the little IN
are all that's left O twenty-one people.
The rest is all dead O thirst and hun
ger away down in the SOUTH"
els she your child?" asked some
one.
81 guess she is now" the other cried,
defantly; ''she's mine cause | saved
her. No one will take her away from
me. She's Lucy Terrier from this day
on. Who are you, though?" he con.
tinued, CHANGING with curiosity at his
stalvart, sunburned r~escuers. There
seems to be a powerful lot of ye."
Nigh upon ten thousand said one
of the young men. 1--WE are the per-
secuted children of God-the chosen OF
the angel Merona."
II never heard tell on him." said the
waaderer. :He appears to nave chosen
a fair crowd Of ye."
D not jest at that which is sacred"
said the other, sternly. I've are Of
those who believe in those sacred writ
ings, drawn in Egyptian letters on
plates of beaten gold, which were
handed unto the holy Joseph Smith at
Palmyra. We have come from Nau-
voc in the state of Illinois, where we
had founded our temple. We have
rOrno 70 coaly q rafTJro from tho violent
man and from the goddess, even though
i 1t be the heart of the desert"
The name Of Nauvoo-evidently re-
|, called recollections to John Terrier.
81 see," he said; you are h Nor
mons"
!, 1--WE are the Mormons," answered his
companions with one voice.
And where are you going?"
; 1--WE do not know. The hand of
God is leading us under the person of
our prophet. You must come before
him. He shall say what is to be done
with you"
They had reached the base of the
hill by this time, and were surrounded
by crowds of the pilgrims-pale-faced,
! m~eek-looking women, strong, laughing
children, and anxious, earnest-eyed
- AoA - SaS 49,
ishment and of commiseration which
arose from them when they perceived
the youth of one of the strangers and
the restitution of the other. Their
escort did not halt, however, but
. pushed IN, followed by a great crowd
of Mormons, until they cache a wag-
. on which was conspicuous for its great
: size, n for the gaudiness and smart
ness of its appearance. Six horses were
!, yoked to it, whereas the others were
, furnished with two, or, at most, four
!. apiece. Beside the driver there sat a
man who could not have been more
than thirty years of age, but whose
massive head and re~solute expression
marked him as a leader. He was lead
= ing a brown-backed volume, but as the
crowd approached he laid it aside and
listened attentively to In account Oh
the episode. Then he turned to the
: two castaways. +
= eff we take you with us" he said, in
solemn words, sit can only be as be
: levers in our own creed. We shall
have no wolves in our fold. Better fa1
; &aEzzZEI2 !, :kIlp