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Show CHAPTER XXII. THROUGH GREAT TRIBULATION. THE hot, dry summer of 1866 hastened on. The long trains of the newly converted were strung out from the Missouri to the Laramie, and the deputed Saints from Utah were on their way to meet them. The faint green of the bunch- grass had yielded to its summer brown, and the landscape of Cache Valley already showed that the Utah season was a fruitful one. The July Sabbath saw a gay and happy assemblage in Logan Ward ; the harvest had been plentiful, and Bishop Warren was alternately thundering against the ungodly, and ^. thanking the Mormon " Lord," in the ward assembly rooms. The mountain maidens smiled and nodded as they passed into the spacious building; the Mormon lads collected in the back seats, and the bishop changed his strain to a tirade on " the laziness of the young people of the present day." He told of digging ditches, building fences and making dobies, and assured them they must learn it in this world, or they would have a good deal more of it to do in the next. He then branched off to the necessity of improving their stock, paying their tithing, and keeping their covenants ; " and, above all," said he, " let no man sell his wheat till we get the word from Brother Brigham, for these Montana men must buy of us, brethren, this year they must do it, for the Missouri's too low for ' em to run up flour from the States that way. So hold on to your wheat till President Young gives the word." After giving notice where the best bull could be found,* and reading a list of estrays, the worthy bishop announced that certain parties " who had been for awhile out of the Church, would now be received back on profession of repentance, and baptized again," and concluded with : " God bless you all, is my prayer, for Jesus' sake. Amen." But who is this that comes to be rebaptized and taken back to the fold, " having apostatized from the Saints and been buffeted of Satan ?" It is none other than our once true hero, Thomas James! And he is happy as the day is long. The bright sunshine of the bright Utah * Fact! This was a frequent practice in Utah assemblies when the author first went to the Territory. ( 34S) |
