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Show 19 the timidity a person naturally feels in the presence of one who is so much her superior in wisdom and goodness. As we whirled through the mazy dance I felt that all eyes were upon us for it was not customary for the President to pay so much attention to persons outside of the family, although he was kind and cordial to all. In my prayers that night I thanked my Heavenly Father for his great goodness, that I had been the object and interest of so good and great a man. Next day at the close of the meeting my father and myself were talking with "Little Susan" while the crowd was dispersing. The President was on the stand talking with someone. He left them in a few moments and came and spoke to us. I introduced him to my father. He expressed surprise at seeing so young looking a man. He said he would sooner have thought him my brother. He then said he heard I was going to the city. I told him I was not and he said he would like to have me go with him. I replied that I was going to school and that I didn't like to leave very well, for I almost trembled at the idea of going to the President's especially as Zebulon Jacobs lived there, and my heart revolted at the thought of his thinking I desired to push myself in his notice. But he said, "If you will go with me you shall go to school and be as one of my own children." I said I would do as my father said. I asked him what he thought of it and he told me to do just as I pleased. I studied a moment. I feared he would think I did not appreciate his kindness if I refused, so I told him I would go. One of his carriages was standing near and he told the driver to take me home and return in half an hour.'O The return to Salt Lake City took a circuitous route, with stops in towns and settlements where meetings were held. Ellis, during one of these stops, was given the opportunity to return home and pick up anything she might have forgotten. She did go back, and this afforded her father a chance to give her "many a kindly word of advice." As we were driving along, somewhere between Manti and Moroni, I noticed the President to be in a deep study. Suddenly he turned to his wife, who was sitting beside him, and said, "What girl was it Zeb was engaged to down south here somewhere?" The question was accompanied by a searching look at me. I don't think I ever tried harder to |