Twelve Mormon Homes : Twelve Mormon homes visited in succession on a journey through Utah to Arizona.

Twelve Mormon Homes, page 011

and sewing, while their father read aloud; and my own tears came as I thought how solitary her life must be when each day's work was done; how much more solitary it would be when the evening of her life closed in. No "John Anderson" to be her fireside companion, none of the comfort that even a lonely widow finds in the remembrance of former joys and sorrows shared with one to whom she has been best and nearest. This woman would have only her model house, so clean and so white, so blank and vacant-even of memories! However, my pity seemed for the present uncalled for. My hostess was soon jesting with her guests. I must admit that she appeared to be a happy and contented woman. Our evening passed very quietly. President Young was suf- fering from a severe cold attended with fever, and the household retired early. While we were sitting in the long parlor he fell asleep before the fire, and the traveling party broke up into groups who chatted in low tones with the visitors who came in. When I went up-stairs after tea to put my boys safely to bed in their unfamiliar quarters, I had to draw down the window- blind to shut out the dazzling moonlight which kept them awake. The town seemed asleep, except in the direction of the red-lit windows of a great meeting-house whither the elders of our company had repaired, and whence I could hear distant singing. The mountains which shelter the town were distinctly visible: their snowy tops like fixed white clouds; the hill-terrace at their foot, called Provo Bench, lying black in their shadow above the town. When I went down-stairs to take my leave for the night, I II