The Lehi banner. [volume] (Lehi, Utah) 1891-1917, 1897-07-06
A Mormon Boy IN Moaridom


slippery clay have now taken the place
OF the dus. Of the summer roads. and
sunshine has turned to incessant rain
wind and frost. Still nature IN clothed
W it'll her mantle OF green. small grain
is sprouting up and the few fruit trees
that have shed their leaves are unnoticed
among the forests Of evergrceps.
Our ride is long one today and flly
two hours before daylight We have par
taken of our breakfast Of potatoes and
onions and are off on our trip. Scenery
once SO new and enchanting to the eve
has now grown old, and hills once 80
tedious to climb are passed unnoticed
But here are the beauties OF nature
The tropical trees are seemingly matted
together with the proslytic growth OF
ferns. moss and plants, and again, hill
once covered with these piimeval forests
are now turned into pleasant fields and
farm yards. AT noon, we rest our horses
and calling at farm house we are
invited to dinner The young lady, as
she scrubs the board floor, apologizingly
says, 1--WE have been to Auckland 10
sisters wedding, and these boys are SO
SO dirty " Then the mother just from
the wash tub tells us, people here help
la loo Ill
we've got" The wholesome meal lied
to a New Zealander) Of pork and
vegetables was thoroughly appreciated
and relished 10y the travellers. We find
many fospitable Europeans here, but
seldom visit among them.
Night shades have now come, the
pleasant fields are changed to a waste
OF stunted growth OF the tree tea, (the
New Zealand sage brush.) We see the
smoke curling up from an enclosure or
wind-break of tree tea. 1t is the Mao
gum camp. Cookie a nd muscle shelis,
cooking pots, etc. are lying scattered
around the tent doors; within are the
kind hearts that welcome us to the best
they have. The largest camp however
is about mile away and We trace our
way over the little. trail leading to it.
fearing lest we fall into the hole from
which the gum has been taken The
clouds come closer and heavier, the
tightening shows us our way, and soon q
tropical storm OF rain is pouring
down. Afterwards the moon shines
forth in her majestic beauty from the
still angry clouds, and the two
F'Mormon" boys are singing and preach
ing to the Moarias who listen iron.
their tent doors. We 9Sll them o.
their ioreiatEcfs. once nightly nation
blessed and favored OF God. Through
unblief and disobedience they had fallen
but now God had remem bered the seed
of Joseph and through obedience they
would become the Israel Of long ago.
The Chief OF the camp thanked us and
said, Come again that we may hear
more OF your wonderful story" They
had thought that we were one OF the
many religions OF the white man, who
they say have deceived and robbed them
'oi their lands. Supper was prepared
for us and around the pleasant camp
fire we simplifed the gospel truths to
our eager listeners. Then we told them
of their brethren on the American
continent and the wonderful promises
God has made 10 them. OF our singing
they were especially delighted. The
hour was late when the two native
boys led us back to the camp where we
left our blankets, The storm now re-
turns. The wind and rain beat down
upon our fraii shelter. Our oil coats
alone keep the rain of our blankets.
Perhaps in the hours OF sleep We re-
turn TO our mountain home and are
mingling once again with the association
Of youth. Perchance we are telling Il
younger brother OF the joy that comes
in guiding the souls OF luen back into
the nresenre of their God aud urging