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Show 306 FORTY YEARS AMONG THE INDIANS. sincere, and he would speak to Brother Brigham on the subject. On visiting Brother Young, he said he wanted me to go ahead ; that an angel could not please everybody. And added: " You know how to travel, how to take care of teams. You are better acquainted with the roads, the country, the natives and their language, and are bet-ter prepared to take charge of a company than any one I know of. Go ahead and do the best you can. When you get things started we can send some ' good' man to take your place, and you can go on and open up more new country. This is your mission." With this understanding I went to work with a will to get ready for the trip. I still felt quite sore about the stories circulated, for they were not just. But one thing I had to acknowledge that made me a little careful what I said to Brother Brigham. He had warned me against one of the company who had volunteered to go. He advised me not to take him, saying that he would try to take the mission away from me and would make me trouble. This I should have listened to ; but the man seemed so earnest and desirous to go that I pled for him, and Brother Young finally consented. I was served just right. Brother Brigham spoke truly. Anyone doubting it can investigate for themselves ; I have said all I wish to about the matter. Brother Brigham said he wanted volunteers ; that no one would be called unless he was perfectly will-ing, otherwise rather desired them not to go. The following names, with their families, were soon enrolled for the mission : P. C. Merrills, Dudley J. Mer-rills, Thos. Merrills, Adelbert Merrills, Henry C. Rogers, George Steel, Thomas Biggs, Ross R. Rogers, Joseph McRae and Isaac Turley. Notice was given that we |