Graham guardian., 1903-10-30
His Seventeen Birthday.

Written for the occasion by s T.
Foley and read by Josephine ClUff
AT the celebration of the 10th an
niversary of the birth of Prest w.
D. Johnson, of Thatcher on Oct.
=, 903
The autumn aephyrs layed among the leaves
ofofty trees
And hi | aid dae zee red cool and resh famed
by the pleasant breeze;
The sheave' were garn"led in their hold, the
hay mow tOWe away,
Ger old onuecticut the suu cast forth drowsy
ray.
with Joy and mirth;
'notrer spirit from the skies had come to dwell
on earth;
The thought had not yet been conceived by
those who loved him then.
The rart that he would act iu life among his
fel owmen.
They watched the bud placed in their arms uu.
foldin ever, hour,
Yet knew they not the light within fed by the
spirits power,
Yet One above 10 ked down on him who knew
the worth innate
His noble soul portrayed alb we in that his first
estate.
re sto"d among the vslient ones who waited
for the hour
When God would send them to the tn to bring
forth might and power
His mortal II e began IN earth, when in its
infancy
The Church was struggling for more strength.
for brave ones ch as he.
In tend years he found the way; he knew the
SheparIl's voice:
To journey with the saint of ;od, to share their
fate. his choice.
When wint,r winds were cold and bleak and
skies were darkest grey,
He ossed the rivers and the ice that lay across
the way.
In boyhood years he donned the strength of
manho DIS river age:
In works oflove to help the pcor and weak he
Exultant JOY is parents felt to ee him bold
aud rong,
every wong,
Like Mormon brave, of Nephite fame he travel
led miles away
From native lands aud place Of birth where first
he aw the day.
Hi eyes surveyed the rugged aths that o'er
the mouutGi s lei
Or Stretchel across the desert wilds and endle s
plains ahead.
He sees where zion's pioneers have pa Sc the
red ma s home,
And le the cinder of their fires where herds of
bullalO roam,
Or the al,te'op IN wi d surprise have hunned
the flowing thrJdg
That rolled toward the setting sun, led by some
impu Sc strong.
He looks again; his ewes rehold the everlasting
hills
" here Zinn h4 home once more, his heart
with rapture fills.
His youthful soul then consecrates his life to
He h. lps To- lin her ensign up and frare her
puTest laws.
As the lofty mountains lowered high over hill
and vale aud glen,
So youthful !. hns5n grew chief among his
iellOwmen
Q schoo of art or college walls did with his
Twas natures charge to tutor him, her choicest
gifts lie found.
He helped the desert lands to tame and scatter
ed seeds that grew;
Bright treams Of v ter from the hills across
the plains he drew:
He's hell ed to strengthen zion's lands aud
stretched her curtains far
wRtchman OH her walls he's been In times Of
reaee and war
With an eagles eye he looked away to Arlzona's
Iard
And helpet to plat another stake where we,
his romra es stand
| He has tOile 10 make our feet secure where
peace and IL nty reign,
md saints are coming from AFR portion to
obtain.
lie sees the temples of our Co upon the pleas.
and hills
tnd knows the prophecies of Oh this wondrous
work tulhllS
! Now ay be live for many years til Zion is
CJmIl'ie
| Then through the oriesthoods power sri our
| saviour hrist, TO meet.
A d IL Ill then his voice resound wi h inspir l.
uons might,
, To cheer the aints to struggle on and lead Them
in the light.
The Autumn of his life is fair as bright octobe s
morni
hen golden leaves are falling round in the
| early dawning.
His year, have yielded fruits ofwer tn that now
1 Sulen or ripen,
i ey Iiea ell sunSh ne warmed and kept all
their beauti brighten.
! His Children rise and call him blessed they'll
bear his ram, sublime
/ Through all the genera iOnS until the end OF
tine
The saints crown of blessings place around
his silver hair
, 7 hat he Tor many sc RS to come the diadem may
wear,