A Reminiscence of Nauvoo

A REMINISCENCE OF NAUVOO. Bfhold a sower went forth to sow; and when he sowed, some seeds fell by the wayside, and the fowls came and devoured them up; some fell upon stony places,where they had not much earth and when the sun was up they were ; scorched, and because they had no root they withered away. The words of the Savior are applicable, in the present in-

960 IMPROVEMENT ERA. stance, to illustrate the hapless conditioi.i of some converted per- sons to the restored gospel in these last days. In the early settlement of Nauvoo, eleven families of profess- ing Latter-day Saints, arrived there from Boston, Massachusetts. In those primitive days of settlement of the place, agricultural pursuits were mostly in demand, the mechanical trades did not offer much inducement till later on. The company took under consideration the subject of how to provide means of procuring a living for their families. After mature deliberation, it was agreed advisaole that a committee be chosen to represent their physical necessities to President Brigham Young. President Brigham Young's abode was a diminutive log cabin. On introducing themselves, they presented the matter of their vis- itation. President Young remarked, "Organize the elements." Bidding him good day, they departed, feeling much disappointed in their expectations. On returning to report their findings in the premises, it was agreed that they forthwith return to Boston. One family concluded to remain. Brother William Wordsworth, the head of the remaining family, took a walk down to the shore of the river, and after walking for awhile, came to a bend in the river, and remarked to himself, "This is a good place to catch fish." Looking in a certain direction, he saw a house in the dis- tance, to which he wended his way., Arriving there, he found a small store. He inquired of the proprietor if he had a seine. The answer came that he had one, but needed some large holes in it mended. Brother Wordsworsh asked him if he could let him have some twine to mend it. Procuring the twine, he proposed to give him one half of the fish caught; to which he agreed. Having pro- cured a skiff, he rode to the bend of the river; after casting the net, he hauled in two wagon-loads of fish. He sold enough fish to provide his family with provisions for a whole season, and this was the method he adopted to "Organize the elements." The writer is informed that Brother Wordsworth is still living at Spring ville, Utah, "A true born son of Zion," a faithful Latter- day Saint. George W. Crocheron. Salt Lake City, Utah.

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