Этюд в багровых тонах
The Flower of Utah.
Fromthefirstblushofdawnuntiltheclosingofthetwilight,theclatterofthehammerandtheraspofthesawwasneverabsentfromthemonumentwhichtheimmigrantserectedtoHimwhohadledthemsafethroughmanydangers.
Thetwocastaways,JohnFerrierandthelittlegirlwhohadsharedhisfortunesandhadbeenadoptedashisdaughter,accompaniedtheMormonstotheendoftheirgreatpilgrimage. LittleLucyFerrierwasbornealongpleasantlyenoughinElderStangerson’swaggon,aretreatwhichshesharedwiththeMormon’sthreewivesandwithhisson,aheadstrongforwardboyoftwelve. Havingrallied,withtheelasticityofchildhood,fromtheshockcausedbyhermother’sdeath,shesoonbecameapetwiththewomen,andreconciledherselftothisnewlifeinhermovingcanvas-coveredhome. InthemeantimeFerrierhavingrecoveredfromhisprivations,distinguishedhimselfasausefulguideandanindefatigablehunter. Sorapidlydidhegaintheesteemofhisnewcompanions,thatwhentheyreachedtheendoftheirwanderings,itwasunanimouslyagreedthatheshouldbeprovidedwithaslargeandasfertileatractoflandasanyofthesettlers,withtheexceptionofYounghimself,andofStangerson,Kemball,Johnston,andDrebber,whowerethefourprincipalElders.
OnthefarmthusacquiredJohnFerrierbuilthimselfasubstantiallog-house,whichreceivedsomanyadditionsinsucceedingyearsthatitgrewintoaroomyvilla.
