Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1895-06-11
CHAPTER III.

This Is not the place TO commemorate
tho trials and privations endured by the
| immigrant MOrmons before they came
TO their final haven. From the shores OF
the Mississippi TO the western slopes OF
| the Rocky mountains they had strug-
gled on with constancy almost unpar-
alleled in history. The savage man and
the savage beast, hunger, thirst, fatigue
and disease, every impediment which
nature could place in the way, had all
been overcome with Anglo-Saxon tenaci.
ty. Yet the long journey and the accu.
INFLATED terrors had shaken the hearts
Of tho stoutest among them. There was
not one who did not sink upon his knees
in heartfelt prayer when they saw the
broad valley of Utah bathed III the sun
light beneath them and learned from
| the lips Of their leader that this was the
promised land, and that these virgin
acres were to DO theirs forevermore.
Young speedily proved himself to be
a skillful administrator as well As res
olute chief Maps were drawn and
charts prepared in which the future city
was sketcnod out All around farms
were apportioned and allotted in pro-
portion e. the standing Of each individ-
ual. The tradesman was put TO his trade
and the artisan to his calling. In the
town streets and squares sprang mp as II
by magic. In the country there were
draining and hedging, planting and
clearing, until the next summer saw
tho whole country golden with the
wheat crop. Everything prospered IN
the strange settlement Above all, the
great temple which they had erected III
the center Of the city grew ever taller
and larger. From tho first blush of
dawn until the closing Of the twilight
the clatter Of the hammer and the rasp
of the saw were never absent from the
monument which the immigrants erect
ed to Him who had led them safe through
many dangers.
The two castaways, John Ferrier and
the little girl who had shared his for
tunes and had been adopted rs his daugh-
tor, accompanied the Mormons to the
end of their great pilgrimage. Little
Lucy Ferrier was borne along pleasantly
enough in Elder Stangerson' wagon,
retreat which she shared with the Nor
mons three wives and with his son, n
headstrong, forward boy Of ~. Having
rallied, with the elasticity of childhood,
from the shock caused by her mothers
death, she soon became a pet with the
women and reconciled herself to this
new life in her moving canvas covered
home In the meantime, Ferrier having
recovered from his privations, distin-
guished himself as useful guide and
an indefatigable hunter. So rapidly did
he gain the esteem Of his new compan.
ions that when they reached the end OF
their wanderings it was unanimously
agreed that he should be provided with
as large and as fertile tract OF land as
any of the settlers, with the exception
Of Young himself and Of Stangerson,
Kimball, Johnston and Drebber, who
were the four principal elders.
On the farm thus acquired John Fer
rier built himself substantial loghouse,
which received so many additions in
succeeding years that it grew into
rooiny villa. He was man Of prac-
tical turn Of mind, keen in his dealings.
skillful with his hands. His iron con.
stitution enabled him to work morning
and evening at improving and tilling
his lands. Hence it came about that his
farm and all that belonged to him pros
pered exceedingly. In three years he
was better off than his neighbors, in six
he was well to do, in nine he was rich,
and in twelve there were not half dozen
men in the whole Of Salt Lake City
who could compare with him. From the
great inland sea to the distant Wahsatch
mountains there was no name better
known than that Of John Ferrier.
There was one way, and only one, in
which he offended the susceptibilities of
his CO o-religionists. No argument or per-
suasion could ever induce him to set up
female establishment after the manner OF
his companions He never gave reasons
for this persistent refusal, but contented
himself by resolutely and infexibly ad-
herring to his determination. There were
some who accused him Of lukewarmness
in his adopted religion and others who
put 1t down to greed Of wealth and re-
luctance to incur expense. Others, again,
spoke of some early love affair and OF
o fair haired girl who had pined away
ON the shores Of the Atlantic. Whatever
the reason, Ferrier remained strictly Gel
ibate. In every other respect he con-
formed to the religion Of the young set
tlement and gained the name OF being
an orthodox and straight walking man.
Lucy Ferrier grew up within the log
house and assisted her adopted father in
all his undertakings. The keen air OF
the mountains and the balsamic odor of
the pine trees took the place Of nurse and
mother to the young girl. As year sue
ceeded to year she grew taller and
stronger, her cheek more ruddy and her
step more elastic. Many wsyfarer upon
the highroad which ran by Ferrier's
farm felt long forgotten thoughts revive
in his mind as he watched her 1.-the,
girlish figure tripping through the
whsatAelds o. met her mounted upou