I have traveled far, I have traveled wide, From Atlantic's shore to Pacific's tide; Yet of all I have seen, I love Utah the best, And my Orderville home, far away in the west. I know that in Old England there are many lovely homes, Where wealth and pleasure linger, and sorrow seldom comes. I see within the shady grove, the ivy-covered walls, And graveled walks, all lined with flowers, that lead to painted halls. The ostrich and the pea fowl are seen upon the lawn, Displaying robes of beauty, as at Creation's dawn; But round the park and palace are wall, and gate, and bar, Cannon, and spear and halbert, accoutrements of war, And when the gate swings open, I see the glistening steel That speaks in tones of thunder, "Behold the power we wield!" I look across the gateway, and catch a gleam of smoke That rises from a thatched roof, beneath a tangled copse. No voice of pleasure soundeth there--no graveled walk is seen-- No peacock strutting on the lawn as proud as Egypt's queen! But there are rags, and naked feet, and cheeks all wan and pale! And hacking cough, and fretful voice of over-work and pain! O yes, it is a goodly thing to be a lordling born-- To have the serf, who tills the soil, bring in the wine and oil; But I would rather face the blast of Nebo's snow-capped dome, Than be a slave, and dwell within the proudest Briton's home! On November 17th, I wrote to my daughter Lydia: "I am glad that Brother A-- and H-- have gone back to Leeds. All who come to Orderville hankering for 'leeks and onions, and the flesh pots of Egypt' will assuredly be dissatisfied, and go away. It requires faith to enable a person to overcome selfishness; and all who gather there expecting to be made the lead horse in the team will be disappointed. And when the disappointment comes, it will cause them to feel that the water is not good, and they will sigh for the soft streams of Ramaliah, and prefer to labor in the brick kilns of Pharaoh on the shores of the Silver Reef. "There is one thing that I desire to see changed at Orderville: that is the school system. How long shall we be penny-wise, and pound-foolish? The best man, the wisest, the one who wields the most influence in the community, should be placed at the head of the school department. It wants a man of good government, a man filled with the Spirit of God. Then will our children advance in mental culture and spiritual development; keeping pace with the spiritual growth so nobly manifested at Orderville. "You are now fifteen years of age--in stature a woman. The mind ought to develop with the body. Cultivate a taste for good reading. Write as much as you can. Be sure never to walk out nights. Keep company with no man who presumes to take liberties with a lady. Guard your chastity and virtue as you would your life. Robbed of that, you are robbed indeed.