--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Edwin F. Parry collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 6 number: 12 published: 1903-10 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Edwin F. Parry, "The “Divinity That Shapes Our Ends”", *Improvement Era* 6, no. 12 (October 1903): 901–909.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera0612unse transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers. identifier: improvementera0612unse start_page: 901 end_page: 909 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1903-10) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera0612unse publication_year: 1903 note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1903, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # The “Divinity That Shapes Our Ends” — —— — — THE MENAGE OF THE TOWER. 895 presentation of one of the great social problems of our day, and finds sympathy in the hearts of the race because of its telling treatment of life's inequalities. But the "Menace of the Tower," which the Era herewith reprints from The Independent, New York, by special permission of Mr. Markham, contains also a thought worthy of the great author, and of our most serious consideration. Editors.] In storied Venice, down whose rippling streets The stars go hurrying, and the white moon beats, Stood the great Bell Tower, fronting seas and skies Fronting the ages, drawing all men's eyes; Rooted like Teneriffe, aloft and proud, Taunting the lightning, tearing the flying cloud. It marked the hours for Venice: all men said Time cannot reach to bow that lofty head: Time, that shall touch all else with ruin, must Forbear to make this shaft confess its dust; Yet all the while,' in secret, without sound, The fat worms gnawed the timbers underground. The twisting worm, whose epoch is an hour, Caverned its way into the mighty tower; And suddenly it shook, it swayed, it broke, And fell in darkening thunder at one stroke. The strong shaft, with an ang«l on the crown, Fell ruining; a thousand years went down! And so I fear, my country, not the hand That shall hurl night and whirlwind on the land: I fear not Titan traitors who shall rise To stride like Brocken shadows on our skies Not giants who shall come to overthrow And send on Earth an Iliad of wo. I fear the vermin that shall undermine Senate and citadel and school and shrine The Worm of Greed, the fatted Worm of Ease, And all the crawling progeny of these The vermin that shall honeycomb the towers And walls of state in unsuspecting hours. Westerleigh, Staten Island, July 4, 1903. A WOMAN'S STORY. BY GEORGE E. BLAIR, AUTHOR OF "TALES OF THE BUCKSKIN CLUB," ETC. "A story, my children? well listen; 'Roll on silver moon, guide the traveler on his way,' sang a deep baritone voice, rolling out the words, the hills echoing and re-echoing them down the canyon. "Ah, my children, it was many years ago, long before the iron horse panted and puffed his way across the plains, over the trail the sturdy pioneers made. Ah, yes, little ones, we had merry times in the old days. We loved and were loved, and the good God gave us strength to do many things that now seem hard in- deed. Ah, but I remember how his voice thrilled me, that moon- light evening among the hills, rolling out so musically the words of the old song, which we had sung so often crossing the plains. Ah, my children, I can hear it yet. As he came nearer the camp, he changed the tune: " 'Take off your coats boys, roll up your sleeves, For Jordan is a hard road to travel, I believe.' "And then came the song that always made Marie tremble, for Marie was French, a convert of my father's when in Canada. Oh, how I feared Marie. Little and dark, with piercing black eyes and a sharp little nose, which went poking into every one's business, and thin lips that could scold in half French and half English, oh so dreadfully. She never liked me, nor I her. She feared no one except father. When he turned his piercing, clear blue eyes upon her, she seemed to shrink into a little, shriveled witch, who could say nothing, only tremble and murmur. But I was telling you about the song. It was the Marseilles hymn. I have never for- " " A WOMAN'S STORY. 897 gotten it. It is the stirring battle hymn of the French Repub- licans: "Allons enfants de la patrie, Le jour de gloire est arrive, Contre nous de la tyrannie L'etandard sanglant est leve." "For Starr Morley— "Why, grandma — "Hush, my child. For Starr, while an American lad, had lived, when a boy, close to the Canadian border, and been much with the French, learned their language and many of their songs. And Marie, oh, how she loved to hear him sing the Marseilles. And she loved Starr, although she was much older than he, for he was a handsome boy. Strong and straight, with hair that curled over his forehead, and eyes that were merry and full of fun all the long day. "We were camping in the canyon; father and all the family, and our family was large, you know, together with some neigh- bors and friends, having a holiday for a week. How glorious was the moon that night ! And in those days, my children, the moon looked ever so much bigger and brighter, and had more fascina- tion than it now has for an old woman who has outlived her use- fulness." "Why, grandma !" "Hush, my little Louise, I must tell the story. Lake Mary looked so beautiful in the moonlight that I had longed to walk by itsmystic shore with some one I had begun to love very dearly. But Natalie was there, or Natty, as we called her, and she was Marie's favorite. 'Ah, Natalie, she is grande,' Marie would say. 'One grand, beautiful figure. And you — oh, you are only pretty and petite.' So Marie used all her cunning in keeping Natty and Starr together. I saw her whisper to Natty, and she went out to meet Starr; soon I heard his merry laugh, as she spoke to him, and then they went off down to the lake, and I, oh, my children, I fear I hated Marie. 1 saw her teeth gleam, and her little, dark eyes shine. The moon grew pale and the night lost its beauty for me. I fear my pillow had tears on it that night. 893 IMPROVEMENT ERA. "Well, it was that way during our whole stay, and I had only a chance for a word or two with Starr. If Marie saw him and me talking, she would pop in and separate us by some means or other. Well, my children, the outing did me no good. Father, my dear, good father, who loved me best of all his flock, saw that I was worried. He patted me on the cheek, and said to be of good cheer, that all would be well. I could not believe him, for my heart was troubled. The long week came to an end, and we went back to complete the harvest. I saw little of Starr, for he was busy helping father with the grain, and in his spare time hauling lumber and rock, and piling it upon his city lot to build a house. Peopla began to talk, saying that Starr would marry Natty. Oh, how Marie's eyes danced in those days ! What wicked, triumphant glances she shot at me whenever Natty and Starr were together. She knew I was grieving, and rejoiced in it. 'What a grand pair,' she said to me. 'He so dark an' gay, and Natty so grand and beautifu.' Ah, I hope you get a grand lov'ar,' she would say, and then sigh an/1 shake her head as though she knew I never would, "Soon the chill of autumn crept into the days. The teams were getting back from their long journey to the east. Father's teams had returned; some bringing emigrants and others merchandise. One day he came into my little bed room with a package done up in brown paper. He undid the paper, and spread out on the bed a bundle of white silk, with a cream rose pattern, some old point lace, a pair of silk hose, and dancing slippers. As I stood looking in amazement, a merry smile came to his mouth, his eyes twinkled, and his white teeth gleamed. '0, you good daddy,' I said, and then I cried. He soothed me and laughed. 'My little girl shall have a dancing dress fit for a queen,' he said. "How mother and I worked on that dress, my children, and how Marie scolded and acted ugly all the while, but dared do noth- ing. Soon it was just in time for the first dance finished, in the Social Hall, and a grand event it was to be. Oh, how happy I felt ! Ah, my children, I was young in those days, and my cheeks were red and my eyes bright, and I could dance, ah, how I could dance and never tire ! "Mother was dressing me in her room, and Marie came in. Oh, how she scowled ! I could s.ee her face wrinkled into lines of " A WOMAN'S STORY. 899 hate. I heard a step* and father was at the door, dressed in his best, for he was to take mother and me to the dance. He caught the look on Marie's face, and turned his great eyes full upon her with such a burning look that I thought she would wither up. 'Marie,' he said, in an awful voice, and very slowly, 'no more med- dling with my little girl's affairs.' Marie trembling and murmur- ing left the room. "Ah, what a dance we had ! There were others besides Starr who begged for dances that night, while Natalie scowled and sat against the wall. Starr asked me to let him take me home, and after keeping him waiting a long time for an answer, I finally con- sented, which I intended to do all the while. We walked home through the clear starlit night, chatting so gaily, he with his mer- ry laugh ringing out, and his gay talk keeping me in the best of spirits, for no one could be dull with Starr around. Near our home, the water ditch had overflowed its banks, and made a big muddy puddle. We paused on the edge for an instant, then he picked me up in his strong arms, and before I could protest, carried me over and set me down upon the dry walk. "I could not get away from him, his arm held me so tight, while I trembled and dared not look into his face. He put his hand under my chin and gently lifted up my face, 'Sweetheart,' he said, 'I love you, and I want you for my wife.' "Then he looked at me in a proud way. How could I say him ''nay ?' He was not one to take nay, if he wanted anything. So I put up mv hand gently, and touched his face, and he smiled his merry smile and kissed me. 'Oh, sweetheart,' he said, 'I have loved you for many a long day, but I've been afraid to tell you.' "Well, my children, we were married a few weeks after. I was dressed in my silk dress, and father looked so glad and pleased that I told him he was happier than the bridegroom." "And Marie, grandma — "Ah, my child, she would not stay after that night, and went to live with Natalie's folks, "So, my children, this is an old woman's tale. Though my boy has slept for many years in God's quiet acre, yet he comes to me in dreams, and, in my waking hours, I hear his merry laugh, and .sometimes I can see the curly head that lay upon my breast as he . — — 900 1MPRO VEMENT ERA breathed away his life. Ah, my children, heaven send yon such a lover." "Why, grandma ?" said Louise. "Some day thou shalt know, my little love, and may the knowl- edge be sweet to thee." She put her hand on the curly head. "Some day," she said dreamily, "I shall see him again, but oh, the waiting's weary, the waiting's weary !" TRANQUILITY. The soul may tranquil be, despite its pain, Despite wild tears that sweep across the heart For hopes unsatisfied, for longings vain; And for some griefs with which we would not part For all the joys that gladdest lives afford, Since they but lead us nearer thee, Lord. We plead not that all passions may be still With the pale stillness that resembles death, Unknowing love's great warmth and grief's deep chill Calm only with the calmness when no breath Doth stir the bosom of the sea of life, And heedless seems alike of joy and strife. But, 'midst the storms that beat, give us to smile, And cheeful gaze with fearless eye on fate Mindful (since thou canst patient wait the while), Ours, then, the duty is to patient wait. So may we feel thy Spirit's calm delight Sink on our hearts, as doth the tranquil night. R. W. Sloan. — THE "DIVINITY THAT SHAPES OUR ENDS." BY EDWIN F. PARRY. There's a divinity that shapes our ends, Rough-hew them how we will. Shakespeare. It is often observed that the history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints reads like a romance. Everyone who is acquainted with this history can testify that unique and it is marvelous. There is no community of modern times that has had such varied and thrilling experiences as those which have fallen to the lot of this people. As is the case with the story of the Savior and his followers in olden times, that of his latter-day disciples can be told over and over again, and is always fresh and inspiring. The story of the lives of individual members of the Church, so far as it is recorded and known, is also dramatic and wonderful. It i3 replete with stirring adventures, romantic incidents, heroic deeds, and other features which serve to make it interesting as well as instructive. In the lives of many of its members, as in the career of theChurch as a body, there are events which forcibly were shaped by a great suggest that their destinies overruling Power; and this fact makes the perusal or study of such biographies additionally charming to the thoughtful reader. Let us briefly review the life-narratives of a few characters among the Latter-day Saints by way of illustrating or confirming the statement from Shakespeare which appears at the head of this paper. In the limited space available, only a few life-sketches can be outlined in the briefest manner; this, however, will be sufficient for the present purpose. 902 IMPROVEMENT ERA Eighty years ago there was born to a humble shoemaker and' his wife, in the State of New York, a son who for a time, after becoming old enough, followed his father's occupation; but early in his teens he began the life of a sailor as cabin boy. He soon became attached to a sea-faring life, and his ambition was to be- come master of a ship. At the age of twenty-two, he went as an able seaman on a whaling expedition to southern waters. The vessel with which he sailed cruised along the coast of South America, in the straits of Magellan, around Cape Horn, and about the Falkland islands. After several exciting adventures, during the several expedi- tions he accompanied to the South seas, he embarked on a whaler bound for the Arctic ocean. While hunting whales in the Okhotsk sea, he met with a severe accident which not only nearly cost him his life but had the effect of entirely changing his course. Being disabled for service as a seaman, he was put ashore upon one of the Sandwich islands. Here he recovered sufficiently to work at his early avocation of shoemaking. Later he went to San Francisco, intending to continue his journey eastward, back to his native State, where he expected to marry and then return to the Sandwich islands to make his home. But subsequent events again changed his intentions. In San Francisco, he become acquainted with some of the Latter-day Saints and members of the "Mormon" Battalion; for it was in 1847 — the year in which that famous body of soldiers was disbanded in California. He embraced the gospel; and. soon after the discovery of gold in that land, set out for the mines. After mining for a few weeks, he bought an outfit, joined a company bound for Salt Lake valley, and arrived at the pioneer fort in September, 1848. From that time till the day of his death, his interests were united with those of the Saints, and he filled many positions of responsibility among the people. Instead of returning to his old home to find a wife, he met the lady who was destined to be his future companion in the valley. This young lady with her mother had accepted the gospel in her native State — Pennsylvania and — together the mother and daughter had migrated to Utah the same year as did the first company of pioneers. Only a little over two months elapsed after his arrival in the valley before the immigrant THE "DIVINITY THAT SHAPES OUR El^DS." 903 from the west was wedded to the young woman from the east. The two were congenial spirit s, and together they worked for the advance- ment of the great latter-day cause. Together they filled a mission to the Sandwich islands; together they went as pioneers to the country north of Salt Lake City; together they became leading members of the little community which they were helping to establish —he as bishop of the ward, and she as president of the Relief society. In the early days, the husband was one of the militia, and helped defend the people and protect them in their homes. He filled several missions abroad and in foreign lands; labored at home, exploring the country, establishing colonies; en- gaged in manufacturing pursuits, helped build railroads, etc. ; and for nearly a score of years presided over a stake of Zion. Not least among his achievements, he raised a large family of children to honor and perpetuate his name in the earth. The man whose career is so briefly outlined above is Francis A. Hammond, late president of the San Juan stake of Zion; and his wife who has been mentioned, Mary Jane Dilworth, who held the distinction of being the pioneer school teacher of Utah. I remarked that it was an accident that changed our hero's course of life. (I refer to the mishap that occurred to him while on a whaling voyage.) Such happenings are called accidents. But was this an accident, or was it design on the part of a guiding Providence? I am strongly inclined to the belief that the Lord permitted that event to take place for a definite purpose fully understood by him, while, no doubt, considered a mystery to the one who received the bodily injury. Knowing that the man possessed the qualification and disposition to perform an important and necessary part in bringing to pass his designs in the earth, he took this method of leading the man to the place where he was needed, and where he might accomplish the greatest amount of good. And this belief forces me to another conclusion, or at least another query, and that is, if what I have just stated is a fact in the case spoken of, is it not true of all our lives? Are not all our so-called misfortunes or accidents brought about for a purpose, and that purpose our development and advancement? They may be regarded as mishaps, with no significance, and we may think it impossible that the. Lord has any ting to do with such occurrences.