Utah: A Poem

804 IMPROVEMENT ERA. Oh, well do I remember What peace and love so fair Awoke in me while hearing The angels singing there; For all the choir of angels Sang wondrous praise and prayer. They sang a song of Priesthood Again to earth restored, — A song of songs so joyful In praise of One adored: I knew the choir of angels Was singing of our Lord. And then I greatly marreled That Priesthood was their theme; To me the word awakened A half- remembered dream Of life among the angels. Recalled by faith's bright gleam That memory I treasured As years went fleeting by; I sought and found the Priesthood, And knew the reason why The chorus of the angels Wad sent me from on high! Salt Lake City,

Utah. And oft is mem'ry singing Again those words of cheer I heard in happy childhood, With faith so fair and clear, — The dear, sweet song of angels, With heaven's love so near. J. L. TOWNSEND. UTAH. if or the Improvement Era ) There is a valley in the West, Set like a gem amid the hills — The wealth of empires in its breast, The light of freedom on its sills. High on the crest of circling peaks The silver of eternal snows A flashing signal ever speaks However green its vesture shows. Land where the light of golden suns Mellows the golden bud& of Spring! Where Summer long her season runs To steal the plumes from Winter's wing. Where armies of the golden corn March acre square in tasseled ranks. And the wheat's beared sheaves are borne By meadow bars and river banks. Salt Lake City, Utah. Land of the rippling, inland sea, Rimmed with its low, salt-crusted shores, — Whose moods of deep or silver key Intone their music at thy doors; Of fertile plains, still to the dream Of sage and sego keeping pledge — Which yet with fruitful fields shall teem From mountain slope to salt sea edge. Land of a thousand peerless gifts ! Theme for the ages' minstrelsy — The voice of loyal peoples lift A song of fervent praise to thee! Sweet peace her olive sprays shall leave On paths thy mounting steps must tread; And the far reaching years shall weave Chaplets of laurel for thy head. Josephine Spencer