In the father's opinion there was no better land in Davis County, and he doubted whether there was any better in the world, than the Monroe Perkins farm, but it had been somewhat neglected, and showed the effects of it. It had this advantage also, which appealed to Father Parkin: It was patented land and if he secured it, he could get a warranty deed for it, while his son only held a quit claim deed from Reuben Perkins, the original locator to the ten acres he had, it having been discovered when the U. S. survey was made that it was a part of a school section, and full legal title thereto could not be obtained until the time arrived for the school lands to be sold, when the possessor of the land, as a squatter, would have the first right to purchase it. The interview ended with this fatherly advice: "Well, my son, if you can secure the Monroe Perkins corner on any reasonable terms, don't fail to do it; but don't involve yourself by paying too much to boot, for it may be difficult for you to secure money to pay off the loan after you have borrowed it." The following day Mr. Walker called again as usual for the decision, and was duly impressed by Brother Parkin with the clean and highly productive condition of his small homestead, and with the weedy and neglected condition of the opposite corner, all of which Mr. Walker admitted was correct. Then Brother Parkin said, all things considered, he was willing to make the exchange proposed if he could receive $500.00 to boot. It was apparent that Mr. Walker was tempted. After some banter, to secure more favorable terms, a compromise was effected by his paying $450.00 as boot between the two pieces of land. The land is still in Brother Parkin's possession. He feels that there was something providential about the way he acquired it, and that his wife, who has long since passed to her reward, was inspired of the Lord when she foresaw it as the future home of the family. Under the circumstances it is not strange that he should regard it as a sacred heritage, and refuse all offers that real estate agents make for its purchase. CHAPTER IV. AMBITIOUS TO WORK IN A COAL MINE--DAY SPENT IN MINE AS A SPECTATOR--FATAL ACCIDENT--HIS NARROW ESCAPE FROM BEING A VICTIM. Many things have occurred in Brother Parkin's life to indicate that there has been a special providence over him--that his life has been preserved almost miraculously--leaving the impression upon his mind that the Lord has a work for him yet to perform in mortality. A most striking instance of this kind occurred when he was a boy only eight years of age. He had a companion about his own age by the name of Walker, who was employed in a coal mine, driving a donkey which conveyed cars of coal from distant parts of the mine to the main shaft, where they were hoisted to the surface.