Lydia Knight's History: The First Book of the Noble Women's LivesGates, Susa Young
History
Lydia Knight's History: The First Book of the Noble Women's Lives
Gates, Susa Young
Knight, Lydia Goldthwaite Bailey, 1812-1884; Latter Day Saint churches -- Biography; Latter Day Saints -- Biography
For six or eight months Lydia lived a pleasant life beneath this good
man's roof.
In the Fall of '35, the Prophet's brother Hyrum requested Lydia to come
to his home and assist his wife. He promised her she should receive
all the care and thought that could be given to her if she really were
at home. She complied with the request, and while living there became
acquainted with one of the brethren who boarded at the place while
working on the Kirtland Temple. His name was Newel Knight, although not
related in any way with the Knight family spoken of in the beginning
of this chapter. The young man was tall, had light brown, hair, a keen
blue eye and a very energetic and determined manner.
"Brother Knight is a widower," remarked Sister Smith one day when she
and Lydia were busily at work.
"Oh indeed," laconically replied the girl.
"Yes, poor fellow. He lost his wife last Fall. She was a delicate
woman, and the many trials and persecutions she suffered were too much
for her frail body, and she died when her baby was but two days old.
The little one lived but a few hours. Poor Brother Knight! His heart
was almost broken. He has a little boy three years old living with his
aunt, Newel's sister. Poor fellow, he is very lonely."
Lydia went on with her work making no reply, although her heart ached
with sympathy for the desolate young man; for was _she_ not well
acquainted with sorrow? did not she know the anguish of being alone?
But well she knew that friendly interest was all she could give to this
noble man who had so plainly shown his interest in her.
One day as they sat alone together in the family room. Newel said to
her kindly, very gently:
"My child, you seem very lonely as well as myself. Why can we not
comfort each other?"
"Sir," she replied indignantly, "I know my condition is lonely and not
a desirable one, but I do not wish you to insult me. I have not the
slightest knowledge where my husband is, or whether he is alive or
dead. But I do not wish to take any step to make my condition worse or
bring shame upon my family and deprive me of the salvation I am seeking
to obtain."
With these words she immediately left the room giving him no
opportunity to make a reply.
Several days passed without giving Newel the chance he wished for to
apologize and explain to the offended girl.
Meeting her at last he told her he was sorry to have incurred her
displeasure, and endeavored to show her that according to the law she
was a free woman, having been deserted for three years with nothing
provided for her support. But all that he said had no influence on
Lydia who replied calmly that she was of the same mind she had been a
week previous. But love is not killed so easily. Newel continued to
make every endeavor to persuade Lydia to relinquish her own feelings,
and accept the freedom that the law offered; but Lydia remained firm.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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