---
title: Improvement Era
description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930.
authors:
  - J. L. Townsend
collections:
  - periodicals
tags:
  - magazine
  - improvement-era
periodical: Improvement Era
volume: 8
number: 7
published: 1905-05
publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations
publisher_place: Salt Lake City
language: en
type: magazine
reference: 'J. L. Townsend, "The Emigrant’s Trail—An Unknown Grave," *Improvement Era* 8, no. 7 (May 1905): 508–509.'
source:
  url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera0807unse
  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: improvementera0807unse
start_page: 508
end_page: 509
rights:
  status: public-domain
  basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1905-05)
  source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera0807unse
  publication_year: 1905
  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 1905, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright.
---

# The Emigrant’s Trail—An Unknown Grave

<!-- page:508 -->

3.    The faithful performance of a mission for Christ exalts
you to the dignity of the apostleship.
    4.   It increases your spirituality by directing your thoughts
and aspirations to the service of God, ard the doing of good to
your fellow creatures.
      5.    It inclineth to humility and       self-abnegation, which   is   to
tread in the footprints of the Master.
      6.    Broadens the mind, by familiarizing it with the geography,
politics,   and sociology of the nations.
    7.  It eradicates local prejudices, and brings you more into
sympathy with the world of mankind, for whom Christ made his
great sacrifice.
      8.    It will   soften your death-bed and pillow, for no departing soul ever regretted a service done to God, or a kindness rendered to his fellows.
      9.     It is an education that     can be gained in no other way.
      10.    It confirms your faith in God's love and truth.
      11.    It    gives stability   to your character, and, as a consequence, contributes to your future prosperity and happiness.
      12.    Yes, my young brother, it pays to fill a foreign mission.
   Ogden, Utah.
            THE EMIGRANT'S TRAIL ON THE
                            PLATTE RIVER.
                          AN UNKNOWN GRAVE.
                          (For the Improvement Era.)
                      the lone, lone plains!
                      the vastness of earth and sky!
                  The lonely river flows over its sands,
                    'Neath the kill-deer's mournful cry,

<!-- page:509 -->

— —— —
                        AN UNKNOWN GRAVE.                                  £09
                And the very air is so lonely and sad
                  That the wild winds sob and sigh;
                Sob and sigh, and forever rave
                Over an emigrant's lonely grave!
                  Who lieth here? Can no one tell
                  The tale of this silent mound?
                Soaring above, the grey hawk flies
                  And his shadow flits over the ground,
                And a prairie-dog chirps to its mate alway
                  Its shrill notes' warning sound,
                But comes no answer to tell the tale
                Of this lonely mound on the western trail.
                  And this is one, but one
                  Of a thousand marks in the sod
                Where, wearily lying down to rest,
                  The emigrants ceased to plod,
                And left the trail, the lonesome trail,
                  To return to home and God,
                Learning the faith that to Heaven cries,
                And opens the gates of Paradise!
                    the lone, lone plains!
                    the vastness of earth and sky!
                For a thousand miles the trail sweeps on
                  Where the emigrant trains went by,
                Theirs was the task to mark the way,
                  With the faith to do or die!
                And the wind, the mournful wind, still raves
                Over the trail and the unknown graves!
                                                      J.   L.   Townsend
Payson, Utah.