The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1906-11-29

became known as the "rerormaJlon.
The conditions had been ripe for it.
and in that very moment a fever of
repentance spread through the 1000
people who had covered under his
words. Alike with the people below,
the leaders about him had been fired
with his spirit, and when he sat down
each OF them o in turn and
echoed his words, denouncing the peo-
pie for their sins and exhortlng them
to repentance.
After another hour of this excite
ment, priests and people became alike
demoralized, and the meeting broke
up in a confusion of terror.
AS the doors Of the tabernacle flew
open, and the Saints pushed out OF
that sitting atmosphere of denuncia-
ton, a cry came to the lips Of the
dozen that first escaped:
ITO the river-the waters of bap.
tism!"
The words were being taken up by
others until the cry had run back
through the crowd to the leaders, still
talking in excited groups about the
pulpit. These comprehended when
they heard it, and straightway a line
OF conscience-stricken Saints was
headed toward the river:
There in the icy Jordan, on that
chill December afternoon, when the
10Y lay thick or the ground, the
leaders stood and buried the sinful
ones anew in the cleansing waters.
From the sinners themselves came
cries of self-accusation; from the
crowd on the banks came the strains
of hymns to fortify them for the icy
ordeal and the public confession.
There in the freezing current stood
Joel Rae until long after the Deem
Der sun had gone below the Oquirrh
hills, performing his Office of baptism,
and reviving hope in those his words
had smitten with fear.
His strength already depleted by
the long march with the hand-cart
party and by the exhausting strain
of the day, he was early chilled by
the water into which he plunged the
%repentant sinners. For the last hour
that he stood in the stream, his whole
body was numb; he had ceased to
feel life in his feet, and his arms
worked with a mechanical stiffness
like the arms of some automaton over
which his mind had control.
Not until night fell did the hymns
cease and the crowd dwindle away.
The air grew colder, and he began to
feel pain again, the water cutting
against his legs like a blade. Little
groups were now hurrying off in the
darkness, and the last Saint he had
baptized was standing for the mo-
ment, chill and dripping, on the bank.
Seeing there was no one else to
come, he staggered out of the stream
where he had stood for three hours,
finding his feet c%uriously clumsy and
uncomfortable. Below him in the
stream another Elder still waited to
baptize a man and woman; but those
who had been above him in the river
were gone, and his W work was
done.
He had been hearing footsteps be-
+No AAAA SASonIAS ldp1uly OH0I LllS
packed snow-path. He might have to
ask for help to reach his home. Even
as the steps came close, he felt him
self sway1ng. He leaned over on the
fence, but to his amazement that
swayed, too, and threw him back.
Then he felt himself falling toward
the street, but-the creaking steps
ceased, now by his side, and he felt
under him something soft but firm
something that did not sway as the
fence had unaccountably done. With
his balance thus regained, he discov-
cred the thing that held him to be a
Woman's arm. A woman's face looked
close into his, and then she spoke.
you are so cold. 1 knew you
would be. And / waited-I wanted to
do for you-let mel"
At one there came back to him
the vision Of a white-faced woman in
the crowd along the river bank, star
Ing at him out of deep, gray eyes IN
der heavy, black brows.
"Mara-Mara!"
Yes, yes-you are so cold!"
But you must not stand so close
see,.I am wet-you will be chilled"
But you are already chilled; your
clothes are freezing on you; and you
were falling just now. Can you
walk?"
"Yes-yes-my house is yonder."
II know; It's far; it's beyond the
square. You must come with me-"
But your house is still %farther!!"
She had started him now, with a
firm grasp of his arm; walking be-
side him in the deep snow, and try.
ing to keep him In the narrow path.
Mo- am staying here with H1l.
bert Plimon's two babies, while the
mother has gone to Provo where HUI.
bert lies sick. See-the light there.
Come with me-here's the gate-you
shall be warmed"
Slowly and with many stumblings,
leaning upon her strong arm, he made