Graham guardian., 1908-08-07
AN ODE TO PIONEER DAY
BY EVA MoNrIERrH GoURLEY.

BY EVA MoNTIERTH GoURLEY.
Each July brings to us two days
Remembered by all
With pride, thanksgiving aud praise,
First, the day Of our Liberty's birth,
The Glorious Fourth.
The pride OF Nation unequaiied on ear'n'
This other day, when first little band
OF foot-so 70 pilgrims
Reached their goal, that promised lanu,
And began anew ON golden pages
Those records OF worth,
Their gifts of glory to remotest ages
Far down the mystic river of the mind,
Still in fancy bright
A fleet of recollections slowly wind,
And today we ask you to backward look
View the glorious pages
OF this most wonderful book.
Read from the cold and cruel past,
Thru years Of hardship.
Where the pioneers lot was cast.
How nobiy, cheerfully, they did the parts
Our Father assigned:
Unshrinkipg with never falling hearts
Planting for us to reap In the present
BY their arduous labors,
Fruits 40 grand and so pleasant
Note % this scene from fancy's garden brought
And now these views historic
on memory's canvas wrought
First, = forest there. do you SEQ
OF Heaven: suppliant on bended kneei
A picture to fill the soul with Joy,
See that mothers pride,
That young and fair-haired boy
@au, band up.lifted. beseechins his God
10 knew the better way,
See, knseliag on that virgin sod,
Wishing to be led by that mighty hand
Out of the mnrky darkness,
That then o'spresd the land
A.. ne prayed the light Of God spread DER him
And raising his ewes.
He saw two heavenly visions befo'e Rina,
God, the Father, pointing 10 the son,
said, Joseph, hear him,
This is mine own begotten One"
Soon one spot In that forest marked the birth
S,f Christs own church on earth.
F,om those six souls the truth has spread
witS fBs s p5re bread Of life are fed.
fssw the early ssiBts must have reioiced'
T To iihss listen to-. to the great Prophe,'s voice;
70 Joseph Smith, that fayofed ors,
Taught Nv Petes. James and john,
Zen by God, the Fsthsr. and the Sop
by Moroni aud Elijah, wba yoader to hi
fold,
His words forever
More UveClOuS are IMAM EThlus VI kolut
Whst Wonder that he, the greatest Of ail seers
Grew in knowledge.
And I'm wisdom far beyond his years.
Behold. the fruit of his gospel teaching;
Grew apace with his sublime preaching.
And still the work rolled brsvely on,
Joy and prosperity
Seemed just at Its glorious dawn
tho eacn stss Of truth had been bitterly op'
sy the hosts of Satan.
AT last great numbers Of bitteres, foes,
Mobbed and drove with wrath's rigid reign,
Saints from the land
Sires had given their life's blood to gain.
But hark! What means that bitter wall
That thrill of anguish pain!
Turn thou. quick, to Carthage Jail,
Behold our Patriarch and Prohpet slain,
Did the gte4t work stops
When they ip their graves were lain?
No, For with Joseph's mantle Ger him hung,
The Saints then were led
BY this grand man, Briahara Young.
Then Nauvoo. proud Queen Of the-west.
seemed the one place
here more key. asd rsSYsrs were given,
Joy aud Iose smiled down nom heaven.
Vet again there comes the baffiei foeman's
cry:
ou must deny your TOD,
Or go into the wilderness and die
Fen then they did not fslter, for this they
1T, yoIr tents. oh, Israel!
And 10 the wsst," was Brigham's word
Well seek that home tho people derjd us.
Mid rocky wilds and savage tribes,
That here In free America Is denied us"
swiftly rush they from their homes
And scarce were out of sight,
when see. there burst from the Temples
domes,
Ascending to Heaven. feFco fire and smoke,
NY this one fendish ACT
The enemy Is dealing his master-stroke.
Stricken the outcasts now turn aud gaze
on this, another sacrifice;
Witnessed by that vindictive blaze.
No need for me, at this time to tell.
OF the hardships. deaths, sorrows,
Attending that march. no doubt you know
we'll.
Five hundred Of them. - 'aNT
To settle claims with Mexico.
~ hst those pioneers beheld the sight,
6fthst fair cline, that land of promise bright,
And gazed with wonder on the sterile scene
Yfssre YfsSevs6Ss sOwssrinf peaks tnq pltins did in,
there m the valley Of the Great salt Lake,
THOSE brave, noble hearts,
Rtgen st once new home TO make.
BECAUSE Of their lgbofs and cum ana showefs
The desert soon changed W.
f1 falds of grain, and fruits and aoweIs.
From there the little stone has rolled,
Until thousand upon thousands,
Have been added 70 the fold.
Thus the van of the nations western sweep.
Remember the few,
Who sowed what millions yet shall reap.
The little seed that in the forest found birth.
With glory will spread,
Till its brightness shall cover the earth.