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THE RED STONE FOUNTAIN Louise B. Johansen Mt. Pleasant, Utah Honorable Mention Essay A favorite meeting place for friends and relatives from far and near, especially on Memorial day, was the red stone fountain in the center of Mt. Pleasant cemetary. Surrounding this artistic fountain were shade trees and benches making the cold, crystal clear water even more inviting and desirable. The fountain was a work of art sculptured by loving hands out of civic pride. This pride was acquired by the sacrifices, courage and faith of the Merz brothers who had immigrated to this country from Switzerland with a widowed mother because she believed the beautiful story of the gospel of Jesus Christ as told to her by Mormon missionaries. The red stone fountain was loved and cherished for many years as was shown by the frequent visits of families who came to this hallowed spot to honor loved ones. Some of the eldery folks would come early on Memorial day and spend the entire time spinning tales of the good old days in their native country. Stories of the sacrifices and courage it took to leave loved ones, perhaps forever, to come to the land of Zion strengthened each others testimony. Young mothers with large families found real enjoyment and relief as they drank the good clear water carried to the fountain from a spring in the southeast corner of the cemetary. Especially did they enjoy the compartment for washing hands and faces of the little ones who had been playing in the dirt while their mothers had been hoeing weeds to make places for fresh or paper flowers. Without the love, faith and sacrifice of Susannah, mother of the Merz boys, this fountain would never have materialized. Susannah Merz was given the money to come here by an elderly lady who had saved her life's earning to come to Zion and then decided she was too old. It was only enough to bring herself 47 |
