John Stevens' Courtship: A Story of the Echo Canyon WarGates, Susa Young
General
John Stevens' Courtship: A Story of the Echo Canyon War
Gates, Susa Young
Latter Day Saints -- Fiction; Utah Expedition (1857-1858) -- Fiction
Scattered here and there were massive swings for the youth, while the
little ones were well provided with low swings and wide seats.
Major Robert T. Burton, of the Nauvoo and Utah Militia, with a
detachment of life-guards, had charge of the swings and the rafts on
the lakes, to guard against accidents. John Stevens was detailed to his
own full share of this guard duty, and was therefore soon absent from
the merry party he had brought so carefully to the camp.
The labor of setting up tents and arranging camp filled the remaining
afternoon hours, and Dian was glad when her brother said, "You can go
now, my girl; Rachel and I will finish; take this feather bed over to
Aunt Clara's tent, for Rachel wants her to be comfortable."
"What a kind thought, Appleton; Aunt Clara does so much sick nursing
that she needs to have a good bed. Tell Rachel I think she is pretty
good to give up her own bed."
"That's all right. Rachel and I are young, and can sleep on the ground,
when we need to. She says Aunt Clara was so anxious to make you young
people happy that she gave up all the room she could for your spring
seats and yourselves."
"Aunt Clara is good to us, and Rachel is good to her. Pretty good
religion that, brother, eh? Rachel is very thoughtful, Appleton."
"Yes, she is the best woman on earth, Dolly. I appreciate her, if I am
cross at times. Hark! That's the bugle call for prayers. Run along with
your bed, Dian."
"Allow me to assist in this operation," and merry Charlie Rose appeared
just in time to carry the bulky bed into Aunt Clara's tent.
The camp gathered in the central bowery, at the cool sunset hour, and
the choir sang "Come, Come Ye Saints."
Come, come, ye Saints, no toil nor labor fear,
But with joy wend your way;
Though hard to you this journey may appear,
Grace shall be as your day.
'Tis better far for us to strive,
Our useless cares from us to drive.
Do this, and joy your hearts will swell--
All is well! all is well!
Why should we mourn, or think our lot is hard?
'Tis not so; all is right!
Why should we think to earn a great reward,
If we now shun the fight?
Gird up your loins, fresh courage take,
Our God will never us forsake;
And soon we'll have this tale to tell--
All is well! all is well!
We'll find the place which God for us prepared,
Far away in the West;
Where none shall come to hurt or make afraid;
There the Saints will be blessed.
We'll make the air with music ring,
Shout praises to our God and King;
Above the rest these words we'll tell--
All is well! all is well!
And should we die before our journey's through,
Happy day! all is well!
We then are free from toil and sorrow too;
With the just we shall dwell.
But if our lives are spared again
To see the Saints, their rest obtain,
O, how we'll make this chorus swell--
All is well! all is well!
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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