A Boy’s Faith

454 IMPROVEMENT ERA.

great force is putting the matter in rather mild terms. It was but a few steps to an electric light, at which place, of course, we would be out of danger. In reaching the light my companion was hit but once and I escaped untouched. It is plainly to be seen that the plot of the enemy was to prostrate us with the wire and then pounce upon us and satisfy their wicked desires. But the Lord knows all, and protects His servants, even as He protected us. Had we obeyed the first admonition, namely, to turn the corner and go north along the bank of the river, the design of our enemies would have been thwarted entirely.

A BOY'S FAITH.

BY W. W. CLUFF, PRESIDENT OF SUMMIT STAKE OF ZION.

My parents were living in Nauvoo, State of Illinois, when the incident I will here relate occurred. There were ten children in the family, only one being a girl. I was at the time ten years old. We were very poor, owning only one cow, on the milk of which we depended largely for food. In the spring of 1842 the cow strayed off. My father and three older brothers spent weeks during the summer in vain looking for her, and about concluded that she must be dead, and almost gave up in despair. I had repeatedly asked father to let me go and hunt for her, when he would reply, "What can you do when myself and the older boys have traveled the country over for miles around in a vain search?" But young as I was, ray faith was that I could find the lost cow. One evening in August father came home very weary and discouraged after traveling all day for her. I said, if you will let me take Charley" (an "Father, old horse), go and find the cow." "I will He said somewhat angrily, "Well, go my boy and learn that you are not so smart as you think yourself to be." Early next morning I started off, taking the La Harpe Road, which passed near the "Big Mound," three or four miles east of the city, and in a prairie country. Here I

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liad often herded cows with other boys from Nauvoo. Riding direct to the base of the big mound, I dismounted, and holding the horse by the bridle, knelt down and fervently prayed the Lord to direct me which way to go to find the cow. Then climbing up on the horse, I started due south; and notwithstanding there were numerous bunches of cattle in every direction, as far as the eye could reach, I did not turn to the right or to the left to examine any of them, although some were within a short distance of the direct course I seemed impelled to take. After traveling a number of miles in the open prairie, and passing hundreds of cattle, I came to a fence, the end of which I could not see either to the east or west, and how far it might be across the field, or what was on the other side, I did not know; but the Spirit which had thus far impelled me I could not resist, so I dismounted and let down the stake and rider or worm fence, led my horse in, put up the fence, mounted and rode three miles due south across the field. When I came to the fence on the south side I again dismounted and let the fence down as before. Leading the horse through and putting the fence up, I found myself again in the open prairie, with numerous bunches of stock in every direction. Mounting the horse, I continued on my due south course, paying no attention to the stock on either side of me. When I had gone about a quarter of a mile from where I passed out of the field, I rode right on to the cow> feeding alone some distance from any other animals. It was now

late in the afternoon, and I was in a strange part of the country; but feeling elated and full of joy and thankful to my Father in Heaven, that he had heard and answered my prayers, I started to drive the cow in the direction of the city. In about two or three miles travel I came to the farm of old man Lot, on the Carthage road just east of Nauvoo, where I had once been to a general muster of the Nauvoo Legion, and then knew I was on the right way home, where I arrived late in the evening. My parents had been worried very much about me, but seeing the long-lost cow and my safe return all anxiety and fear turned into thanksgiving, and we were a happy family.