Saved by the Gulls: A True Story of Early Utah: A Poem

SAVED BY THE GULLS.

A TRUE STORY OF EARLY UTAH.

BY E. R. DAVIS, CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS.

In the valley of the salt sea Dwelt a little band of people Who had come the previous summer From their old homes to the eastward; Built their rude huts as protection From the cold and from the snowstorms. All the long and dreary winter, Famine lurked about their doorways; Fervently they prayed for summer With its warmth and with its gladness.

Winter, with its storms and terrors. Merged into the gentle springtime. From the valley and the meadow Fled the bison to the mountains, There to seek whate'er was left him Of his former summer pasture. Back again with spring's returning Came the birds of yestersummer: Here and there among the sagebrush Flew the grayish-coated sage birds; Sought their former homes in silence. Or built new ones for their nesting. Stillness brooded o'er the valley Silence of the untold ages

672 IMPROVEMENl ERA.

Broken only by the whisper Of the timid little gray-bird.

O'er the plains that lay to northward, O'er the wastes that stretched to southward, Far across the lake to westward, Nearer still, and to the eastward. Were the mountains, like the sage plains. Gray and disraa? in the distance. Rearing high their hoary summits. Shutting in the dreary valley. From the gorges in the mountains. Streams of sparkling water gurgled; Ran across the open country To the salt sea in the distance; Tried in vain its brine to sweeten. Far away to north and westward Was the sluggish, winding river Flowing on into the dead sea; Ever flowing, never ceasing. Lost for ever in the great lake, Lake that knows no flow or outlet.

From their huts at spring's returning Came the settlers of the valley; Hitched their horses, weak and starving, To the rude plows brought from old homes; Went upon the stubborn desert; Plowed until the sun was setting O'er the great lake to the westward. Then within the walled enclosure Came for rest, and with the morrow Went again upon the desert. Thus the fields were soon made ready, And the ground with wheat was planted. Quickly changed to green the brown earth Turned o'er by the settler's plowshare; Nourished by the streams of water Led from mountain creeks and brooklets.

Springtime merged into the summer, And the growing fields gave promise

—— —

SAVED BY THE GULLS. 673

Of a harvest, rich and welcome. Thankful hearts were in each dwelling. Though their present store was scanty, Gladly looked they to the future. Full of hope and full of sunshine. When the gates were closed at evening; When the work of day was done; Songs of praise and thanks resounded Praise to God, and thanks for blessings, Wafted o'er the dismal sage plains To the red man by his wigwam. Who with wondering look now listened To the sounds of distant music Heard, but knew not what its meaning. In his bed at night, the settler Dreamed his troubles all were over; Dreamed he heard no more the wailing Of his famine-stricken children: And the morning's sun soon shining O'er the hills upon the green fields, Seemed to make his dream prophetic.

Light and shadow, rain and sunshine, Follow one another ever. Day is followed by the darkness; Hope comes after deep despairing. So it happened that the settlers One day found some crickets feeding. Few in number yet voracious. On the ever growing grain crops; Took no notice, but the morrow Found them there in greater numbers; Ever coming, never ceasing, Rolled the black hosts from the hillsides; And their demon eyes seemed sparkling With the prospect now before them, As they fell upon the grain fields, Ate, but knew no satisfying.

From the village came the people Men and women, likewise children;

674 IMPROVEMENT ERA.

Some with brooms and brush fought fiercely To drive back the coming crickets; Some built fires with the sagebrush; Drove into the flames the black hordes. Others dug long water ditches; Drowned the insects in the water. But the crickets, never ceasing, Came in millions, fierce devourers; Came in ever greater numbers. Though all work seemed unavailing, Yet the people fought on fiercely, Goaded now by desperation; Knew that famine with its horrors Was the prospect of the future; Worked until the perspiration Ran in streams adown their faces; Fought until wild, fierce contortions Overspread the fighters' faces. Women, faint from their exertions, Fell upon the ground exhausted. Men, with anguish in their faces. Saw the future with its famine; Heard the wailing of their children; Cursed and fought the fierce devourers; Fought, although their hopes had vanished; Saw their ravaged fields half blighted; Saw the crickets coming ever.

Noon was past; the sun of springtime Sank adown the western heaven; Silence came upon the people. Silence of a great despairing. Nought was heard now save the chirping Of the crickets on the grain fields, Which uniting, formed a whisper, Dread and om'nous to the people.

Light and shadow, rain and sunshine, Follow one another ever. Dark is followed by the daylight, Hope comes after deep despairing.

SAVED BY THE GULLS. 675

Suddenly the settlers noticed Shadows flitting o'er the graia fields; Looked into the air above them; Saw there sea gulls in great numbers. Back and forth in winding circles Flew the birds, their ranks increasing As they came in untold thousands Prom the islands in the great lake; Joined the ever wid'ning circle, While their plaintive cries they uttered. When it seemed that they had mustered All their forces in the circle, Straight, with graceful sweep, they settled On the grain fields: and the people Thinking they came but to finish What was left of once rich grain crops, Turned with horror from the prospect. But their purpose soon apparent, For the gulls fell on the crickets; Ate until their crops seemed bursting; Then disgorging the dead insects. Ate again: and this repeated. Cleared the crickets from the grain fields. Then the gulls, their mission ended. Flew away toward the great lake. To the islands of the salt sea; Left behind a people grateful That there yet was hope of harvest From the now half ruined grain fields. And their gratefulness found utterance In a prayer of deep thanksgiving. Straightway then they hurried homeward. Back into the walled enclosure. Singing songs of praise to heaven.

—