Міжзірковий мандрівник

           ”

           Butwehadnotroubleatthesettlement.Beyondrefusingtosellusfood,theyleftustoourselves.Thewomenandchildrenstayedinthehouses,andthoughsomeofthemenappearedinsighttheydidnot,asonformeroccasions,enterourcampandtauntus.

           ItwasatCedarCitythattheWainwrightbabydied.IrememberMrs.WainwrightweepingandpleadingwithLabantotrytogetsomecow’smilk.

           “Itmaysavethebaby’slife,”shesaid.“Andthey’vegotcow’smilk.Isawfreshcowswithmyowneyes.Goon,please,Laban.Itwon’thurtyoutotry.Theycanonlyrefuse.Buttheywon’t.Tellthemit’sforababy,aweelittlebaby.Mormonwomenhavemother’shearts.Theycouldn’trefuseacupofmilkforaweelittlebaby.”

           AndLabantried.But,ashetoldfatherafterward,hedidnotgettoseeanyMormonwomen.HesawonlytheMormonmen,whoturnedhimaway.

           ThiswasthelastMormonoutpost.Beyondlaythevastdesert,with,ontheothersideofit,thedreamland,ay,themythland,ofCalifornia.AsourwagonsrolledoutoftheplaceintheearlymorningI,sittingbesidemyfatheronthedriver’sseat,sawLabangiveexpressiontohisfeelings.Wehadgoneperhapshalfamile,andweretoppingalowrisethatwouldsinkCedarCityfromview,whenLabanturnedhishorsearound,haltedit,andstoodupinthestirrups.