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Show COME FROM 171 a poor woman by wild beasts. From sickness and fatigue-she was unable to keep up with the train, and was killed and devoured by wolves or other wild animals. Notwithstanding all their hardships and privations, mur muring is not heard because it is not allowed. If a saint is reported for that offence, at the next meeting he is surely reprimanded for the first offence, and if he persists more-severe punishment is inflicted. To counteract any tendency to complaint, and drive away the melancholy natural under such circumstances, frequent dances are indulged in, as well as other hilarity, to drown thought. Then in addition they are urged to a contented and hopeful state of mind, by fre quent allusions, at their religious services, to that beautiful land flowing with milk and honey, which they are going up. to possess. Great as are their hardships in crossing the plains at pres ent, a system was tried several years ago that deserves na milder designation than one of barbarous cruelty. I refer to the hand- cart trains. Hand- carts were substituted for wagons, and two individuals, usually a man and woman, drew each, and this cart contained all their worldly goods. If from fatigue or accident they abandoned it, they abandon ed every thing. A lady at Fort Bridger, who witnessed the passage of one of these trains through that post, informed me that it was one of the most sickening sights she ever be held. * Men and women had lashed themselves with cords, to their carts like beasts, and without shoes their mangled and bleeding feet trod the rough ground, as they toiled over it with their load. One of the men was wheeling his wife,, who had become exhausted from fatigue, in addition to his usual load. A friend who had opportunities of knowing whereof he wrote, thus refers to this hand- cart train : " He ( referring to an apostle returning from a mission) came across the plains in a carriage, with three wagons loaded, and in one of them a piano, besides every thing needed for his journey. He passed the hand- cart train, and those who had furnished him the money, while in England, to buy what he was taking |