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robbing of her blankets。' And with that； not heeding his
appeals； my father turned his back upon the egoist。
The girl still lay reclined against the rock； she lay too far
sunk in the first stage of death to have observed the bustle
round her couch； but when my father had raised her head； put
the flask to her lips； and forced or aided her to swallow
some drops of the restorative； she opened her languid eyes
and smiled upon him faintly。 Never was there a smile of a
more touching sweetness； never were eyes more deeply violet；
more honestly eloquent of the soul！ I speak with knowledge；
for these were the same eyes that smiled upon me in the
cradle。 From her who was to be his wife； my father； still
jealously watched and followed by the man with the grey
beard； carried his attentions to all the women of the party；
and gave the last drainings of his flask to those among the
men who seemed in the most need。
'Is there none left？ not a drop for me？' said the man with
the beard。
'Not one drop；' replied my father； 'and if you find yourself
in want； let me counsel you to put your hand into the pocket
of your coat。'
'Ah！' cried the other； 'you misjudge me。 You think me one
who clings to life for selfish and commonplace
considerations。 But let me tell you； that were all this
caravan to perish； the world would but be lightened of a
weight。 These are but human insects； pullulating； thick as
May…flies； in the slums of European cities； whom I myself
have plucked from degradation and misery； from the dung…heap
and gin…palace door。 And you compare their lives with mine！'
'You are then a Mormon missionary？' asked my father。
'Oh！' cried the man； with a strange smile； 'a Mormon
missionary if you will！ I value not the title。 Were I no
more than that； I could have died without a murmur。 But with
my life as a physician is bound up the knowledge of great
secrets and the future of man。 This it was； when we missed
the caravan； tried for a short cut and wandered to this
desolate ravine； that ate into my soul； and； in five days；
has changed my beard from ebony to silver。'
'And you are a physician；' mused my father； looking on his
face； 'bound by oath to succour man in his distresses。'
'Sir；' returned the Mormon； 'my name is Grierson： you will
hear that name again； and you will then understand that my
duty was not to this caravan of paupers； but to mankind at
large。'
My father turned to the remainder of the party； who were now
sufficiently revived to hear； told them that he would set off
at once to bring help from his own party； 'and；' he added；
'if you be again reduced to such extremities； look round you；
and you will see the earth strewn with assistance。 Here； for
instance； growing on the under side of fissures in this
cliff； you will perceive a yellow moss。 Trust me； it is both
edible and excellent。'
'Ha！' said Doctor Grierson； 'you know botany！'
'Not I alone；' returned my father； lowering his voice； 'for
see where these have been scraped away。 Am I right？ Was
that your secret store？'
My father's comrades； he found； when he returned to the
signal…fire； had made a good day's hunting。 They were thus
the more easily persuaded to extend assistance to the Mormon
caravan； and the next day beheld both parties on the march
for the frontiers of Utah。 The distance to be traversed was
not great； but the nature of the country； and the difficulty
of procuring food； extended the time to nearly three weeks；
and my father had thus ample leisure to know and appreciate
the girl whom he had succoured。 I will call my mother Lucy。
Her family name I am not at liberty to mention； it is one you
would know well。 By what series of undeserved calamities
this innocent flower of maidenhood； lovely； refined by
education； ennobled by the finest taste； was thus cast among
the horrors of a Mormon caravan； I must not stay to tell you。
Let it suffice； that even in these untoward circumstances；
she found a heart worthy of her own。 The ardour of
attachment which united my father and mother was perhaps
partly due to the strange manner of their meeting； it knew；
at least； no bounds either divine or human； my father； for
her sake； determined to renounce his ambitions and abjure his
faith； and a week had not yet passed upon the march before he
had resigned from his party； accepted the Mormon doctrine；
and received the promise of my mother's hand on the arrival
of the party at Salt Lake。
The marriage took place； and I was its only offspring。 My
father prospered exceedingly in his affairs； remained
faithful to my mother； and though you may wonder to hear it；
I believe there were few happier homes in any country than
that in which I saw the light and grew to girlhood。 We were；
indeed； and in spite of all our wealth； avoided as heretics
and half…believers by the more precise and pious of the
faithful： Young himself； that formidable tyrant； was known
to look askance upon my father's riches； but of this I had no
guess。 I dwelt； indeed； under the Mormon system； with
perfect innocence and faith。 Some of our friends had many
wives； but such was the custom； and why should it surprise me
more than marriage itself？ From time to time one of our rich
acquaintances would disappear； his family be broken up； his
wives and houses shared among the elders of the Church； and
his memory only recalled with bated breath and dreadful
headshakings。 When I had been very still； and my presence
perhaps was forgotten； some such topic would arise among my
elders by the evening fire； I would see them draw the closer
together and look behind them with scared eyes； and I might
gather from their whisperings how some one； rich； honoured；
healthy； and in the prime of his days； some one； perhaps； who
had taken me on his knees a week before； had in one hour been
spirited from home and family； and vanished like an image
from a mirror； leaving not a print behind。 It was terrible；
indeed； but so was death； the universal law。 And even if the
talk should wax still bolder； full of ominous silences and
nods； and I should hear named in a whisper the Destroying
Angels； how was a child to understand these mysteries？ I
heard of a Destroying Angel as some more happy child might
hear in England of a bishop or a rural dean； with vague
respect and without the wish for further information。 Life
anywhere； in society as in nature； rests upon dread
foundations； I beheld safe roads； a garden blooming in the
desert； pious people crowding to worship； I was aware of my
parents' tenderness and all the harmless luxuries of my
existence； and why should I pry beneath this honest seeming
surface for the mysteries on which it stood？
We dwelt originally in the city； but at an early date we
moved to a beautiful house in a green dingle； musical with
splashing water； and surrounded on almost every side by
twenty miles of poisonous and rocky desert。 The city was
thirty miles away； there was but one road； which went no
further than my father's door； the rest were bridle…tracks
imp