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Show 200 THE MORMON LION you. We've now got double cause to return thanksgiving. Rejoice and make merry. God would if He was here, instead of me, His mouthpiece. Go and eat, and then cut loose for a day of fun." He gave his hand to Chilcott and lowered his portly hgure from the platform amidst a wild clamour of hosannahs. I came to myself, and found Lucy clinging to me, white-faced and faint. But Cora was screaming hosannahs as frantically as Helga and Amanda. She was too full of the " spirit " to notice when I slipped away with Lucy and the Senbys. Obedient to the directions of the Prophet, others were turning about to hurry to their camp fires. Soon the great crowd had broken up and dissolved into excited scurrying groups. " Rejoice ! " Mr. Sen by echoed the ProJ?het, his red face shining with gladness. " Rejoice ye righteous! "- his voice sank to a whisper-" for the daY, of your deliverance is nigh at hand! " 'They shall melt away as snow in the July sun I " I 9uoted, gazing up at the white peaks above us. ' But- when ? " murmured Mrs. Senby to her husband. "When they come to melt," he answered. "Rejoice now and make glad! " "Just the same," remarked Ann Jane, "I can't help feelm' sort of sorry for the Gentile girls in the day of wrath." Lucy drew me down to whisper in my ear : " I cannot believe it! God cannot be so merciless I " . "Nor do we believe it! "I whispered back. "That IS what your uncle means. The troops will deliver us and--" " Oh! But when? How long? " " Two or even three months, it may be. Such movements are always slow in starting. Yet when they do come, darling!-- Until then we must be more careful than ever. Right now we must seem to THE MORMON LION 201 rejoice with these poor misguided fanatics. To look sad is dangerous. Trust to our judgment, dear~st, and rejoice with us in the hope of our commg deliverance." At once she responded, becoming so radiant with quiet joyousness that the people around soon ceased to eye us askance. Mrs. Sen by had been no less qUick to comply with the promptings of her husband. After breakfast our party joined sociably in the various games, danced m the bowenes, fished In the lake and sauntered through the forest of giant cott~nwoods around its shores. Lucy explained to me the game of cricket pia yed on a stretch of level turf by her countrymen. Th~ Germ":ns led in the gymnastics. Musicians entertamed their fnends with gay melodies or accompanied singers,-of whom Cora was by no means the least admired. The anniversary closed with prayers and blessings and hymns of praise, and all retired for the mght satisfied that the angels were watchmg over Israd. In the morning the camp broke up, and the Samts journeyed back to Zion or their. several Stakes, exalted with faith and prepared to gird up theu !oms for the coming struggle. Among the first, Brigham rode away down the canyon with the bnm of h1s b1g fawn-coloured hat pulled far down over his crafty eyes. I had no doubt that he was already schemmg to make good his prophecies. |