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Show 1836- 1837] Flagg's Far West 335 as one- horse wagons will convey them!'°° Large quantities of arms and ammunition have, moreover, been [ 85] forwarded, so that the item of " the sword being beaten into a ploughshare, and spear into pruning- hook," seems not of probable fulfilment according to these worthies. The truth of the case is, they anticipated a brush with the long- haired " pukes" 101 before securing a " demise, release, and for ever quitclaim91 to Zion Hill, said pukes having already at sundry times manifested a refractory spirit, and, from the following anecdote of my good man of the hut, in " rather a ridic'lous manner. 9' I Am no voucher for the story: I give it as related; " and, 99 as Ben Jonson says, " what he has possessed me withal, I'll discharge it amply. 99 " One Sabbath evening, when the services of the congregation of the Mormonites were over, the Rev. Joe Smith, priest and prophet, announced to his expectant tribe that, on the succeeding Sabbath, the baptismal sacrament would take place, when an angel would appear on the opposite bank of the stream. Next Sabbath came, and ' great was the company of the people9 to witness the miraculous visitation. The baptism commenced, and was now well-nigh concluded: ' Do our eyes deceive us! can such things be\ The prophecy! the angel 1' were exclamations which ran through the multitude, as a fair form, veiled in a loose white garment, with flowing locks and long bright pinions, stood suddenly before the assembled multitude upon the opposite shore, and then disappeared! All was amazement, consternation, awe! But where is Joe Smith? In a few "* For a later description of the Mormon settlement in Missouri, and an account of their stay at Nauvoo, Illinois, see Gregg's Commerce of the Prairies, in our volume xx » pp. 04- 90 and accompanying notes. For a psychological treatment of Joseph Smith and bibliography of Mormonism, see Isaac W. Riley, Founder of Mormonism ( New York, xooa).- ED. • • Missourians.- FLAGG. |