History of the Prophet Joseph, by His MotherSmith, Lucy
History
History of the Prophet Joseph, by His Mother
Smith, Lucy
Smith, Joseph, Jr., 1805-1844
The first day we arrived at a place called Tinney's Grove, where we
lodged, over night, in an old log house, which was very uncomfortable.
Half of the succeeding day I traveled on foot. That night we stayed at
the house of one Mr. Thomas, who was then a member of the Church. On
the third day, in the afternoon, it began to rain. At night we stopped
at a house, and asked permission to stay till morning. The man to whom
we applied showed us a miserable out-house, which was filthy enough
to sicken the stomach, and told us, if we would clean this place, and
haul our own wood and water, we might lodge there. To this we agreed,
and, with much trouble, we succeeded in making a place for our beds.
For the use of this loathsome hovel, he charged us seventy-five cents.
We traveled all the next day in a pouring rain. We asked for shelter
at many places, but were refused. At last we came to a place, quite
like the one where we spent the previous night. Here we spent the night
without fire. On the fifth day, just before arriving at Palmyra, in
Missouri, Don Carlos called to Mr. Smith, and said, "Father, this
exposure is too bad, and I will not bear it any longer; the first place
that I come to that looks comfortable, I shall drive up and go into the
house, and do you follow me."
We soon came to a farm house, surrounded with every appearance of
plenty. The house was but a short distance from the road, having
in front of it a large gate. Through this Don Carlos drove without
hesitating to ask the privilege, and, after assisting us through, he
started to the house, and, meeting the landlord, he said, "I do not
know but that I am trespassing, but I have with me an aged father, who
is sick, besides my mother, and a number of women, with small children.
We have traveled two days and a half in this rain, and if we are
compelled to go much further, we shall all of us die. If you will allow
us to stay with you over night, we will pay you almost any price for
our accommodation."
"Why, what do you mean, sir!" said the gentleman, "Do you not consider
us human beings? Do you think that we would turn anything that is flesh
and blood from our door, in such a time as this! Drive up to the house
and help your wife and children out; I'll attend to your father and
mother and the rest of them." The landlord then assisted Mr. Smith and
myself into the room in which his lady was sitting, but as she was
rather ill, and he feared that the dampness of our clothing would cause
her to take cold, he ordered a black servant to make a fire for her in
another room. He then assisted each of our family into the house, and
hung up our cloaks and shawls to dry.
At this house we had everything which could conduce to comfort. The
gentleman, who was Esquire Mann, brought us milk for our children,
hauled us water to wash with, and furnished us good beds to sleep in.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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