--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Anderson, Nephi collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 11 number: 10 published: 1908-08 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Nephi Anderson, "Romance of a Missionary: Visitors to England," *Improvement Era* 11, no. 10 (August 1908): 743–750.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera11010unse 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: improvementera11010unse start_page: 743 end_page: 750 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1908-08) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera11010unse publication_year: 1908 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 1908, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Romance of a Missionary: Visitors to England ROMANCE OF A MISSIONARY. BY NEPHI ANDERSON, AUTHOR OF "ADDED UPON," " MARCUS KING," "the CASTLE BUILDER," ETC. VISITORS TO ENGLAND. It was hard for Willard to decide whether or not he should accept Elder Donaldson's invitation to visit Liverpool, and meet the steamer which carried such important visitors to England. The very evening after he had listened to Elder Donaldson's story, he had received a letter from home wherein he learned that the Grace Wells who was coming to Europe was the one he knew. This certainly did not help him with his own uncertainty; and as he reasoned with himself he could not help feeling "somewhat peculiar" at the prospect before him of meeting under such strange conditions the Grace Wells of his boyhood dreams. But he at least decided that he would not act foolishly in the matter. He was old enough to do the proper thing, even if this renewal of acquaintance with his young lady friend should not prove a pleasant experience. There were Elder Donaldson, his wife and sister to consider; besides, it might be possible that Grace Wells had, with the addition of years, added that to her character which he thought she had lacked years ago. And so Elder Donaldson's invitation was accepted. Willard was happy to learn of his friend's "luck." Elder Donaldson had been in the field two and a half years, and he would no doubt be released, so that he could take his sight-seeing trip free from the thought that he was neglecting any duty. "I wish I could go with them," he thought; but instantly put it away as 744 IMPR VEMENT ERA some great pleasure which lay far beyond his reach; so that he had no envious feeling towards his friends. Willard had been in the field nearly two years. The mission president had often tried to impress the elders with the truth that two years was not necessarily a mission period; and yet, somehow, many of the elders felt as if every month over two years was good measure added to their missions. Willard was enjoying his work very much. He realized that he was now more useful than he had ever been before, and that a month at the latter end of a mission is worth two at the beginning; he, therefore, had no desire to be released yet. After Elder Donaldson's departure,Willard went back to work in earnest. He always felt as though he must work doubly hard after he had spent a day or two of sight-seeing, although he also realized that time spent in helping a visiting elder was not wasted. Dwight Thornton was a frequent visitor to the elders' lodg- ings, and recently he had attended a number of meetings. He had obtained employment, and as far as the missionaries could see, he was trying hard to reform. Nora Loring lived with her brother. She was now a regular attendant at the 'Mormon" meetings ' She . often brought her sister-in-law with her, but her brother never could be prevailed upon to attend. He was "saved" to the end, and that without the "works of the law," as he explained. Willard went to Bradford a week before the steamer which he was to meet was due . He spent a few days happily with Elder Donaldson visiting Saints and friends. The Sisters Fernley at Stonedale were the same kind friends. Sister Fernley seemed to be much older; Bessie was the same lively talkative girl; and Elsa had become a little more reserved. She was, however, the same lovely girl, good and true and beautiful. Try as he would, the ''somewhat peculiar" feeling which Wil- lard experienced when thinking about Grace Wells became very much intensified the nearer he drew to the Liverpool Landing stage. The morning that the two elders set out from Bradford to Liverpool, they found it difficult to do much taking. Elder Donald- son was, of course, supremely happy. It would have been hard for Willard to say whether he was happy or not. At the Church office at Liverpool, they obtained tickets ad- 746 IMPROVEMENT ERA. mitting them to the part of the Landing Stage reserved for the incoming steamers. They crowded through the throng of people up to the rope barrier, gave up their tickets to the big policeman on guard, and were admitted on to the cleared space. The steamer was out in the river, and by the aid of a tug was slowly making its way up to the Stage. As it drew nearer, the passengers could be seen on the decks, eagerly looking towards the land. Elder Donaldson scanned the crowd closely, and once or twice thought he caught a glimpse of his folks. Slowly the huge vessel came alongside the Stage. Ropes were thrown from the ship to the men in the small boats that lay a few rods out ready to receive them. Having secured the ropes, the men rowed back to the pier with the heavy cables in tow, a loop of which they threw over the stanchion. The windlass on board the steamer wound the rope around its iron drum, and in this way the vessel was drawn closely up and made fast. The people on board pressed against the railing. They stood dressed in their "land clothes," with bags and trunks piled around them on the deck. The big platform on the Stage was properly adjusted, the gang plank was pushed out to the ship and made fast, and then the steam-ship company's officers rushed across on board. An elder from the Liverpool office went with these officers to give proper instructions to the company of missionaries that were on board. Elder Donaldson soon discovered his wife and sister, and greeted them from the pier. ' 'Do you hear the American language?" asked Willard. "Yes; I would not believe that we Americans speak so through our noses, had I not heard it." First came the saloon passengers down the passage way and into the custom house, then the second class, and lastly the third. The "Mormons" were among the second class. Willard looked closely among them for Grace Wells, but he could not see her until they came down the gang-plank. Then he noticed a third lady, well wrapped up, and supported by one of the missionaries. She came down the steps slowly, and when she reached the plat- form Grace Wells stood before him. Yes, it was the same Grace, She had changed very little, it seemed to Willard . She held out ROMANCE OF A MISSIONARY. 747 her hand to him and appeared pleased to see him. Her face was pale, as if she were not well, but she smiled as she told them she would be all right now that she had reached land again. — "Grace has been ill in fact is ill now," explained Sister Donaldson. ''She must get to some place where she can rest be- fore she can go on to Berlin." "1 know such a place," replied Willard — "Sister Fernley's." "Just the place," said Elder Donaldson. After the inspection of the baggage, which is a very simple affair at Liverpool, Willard called a cab to take them to the station. They decided it would be better for Grace to get out to Stonedale at once, and not take part in the crowd and rush incident to the arrival of the missionaries at the Church office. So farewells were said. It is wonderful how strong the attachments become between fellow travelers on a nine days' ocean voyage; and this is especially true between Latter-day Saints. The three ladies were called "the girls," and the missionaries, "the boys." They were all from the West, and had western ways and manners. Many of the "boys" wore their slouch hats pulled well down over their ears, and it could not be successfully contradicted that some of the girls chewed gum and talked with a pronounced nasal twang. How- ever, who would be so bold as to find fault with the unpolished edges of diamonds in the rough? The five had a coinpartment to themselves in the train to Bradford, and in that cozy condition the newness of acquaintance- ship soon wore off. Elder Donaldson, of course, was all beams and smiles, as was also his wife. Amy was not so demonstrative, taking it all as a matter of course. This was not her first trip away from home. She had "traveled" before. She could not understand why she could not check her trunks and cases, and her brother had to assure her that there would be no trouble in get- ting them at the other end. All that would be necessary would be to engage a porter to get them from the "luggage van" and put them on the cab. "Will they give him our baggage without any checks?" she asked. " Oh we just go along and pick out what is ours was the reply , , ' ' "Well, but suppose someone else should get there first and 748 IMPROVEMENT ERA. claim our baggage. There is no reason why a thief shouldn't take the whole lot. I don't understand." "Nor I, my dear; but that's the way they do it in England, and I haven't yet heard of any baggage lost in that way." Grace was made comfortable with pillows in a corner of the compartment. Willard did for her what he could well do without appearing over-solicitous. That he had determined not to be. He had resolved to hold himself in proper check, no matter how she might affect him. She leaned back on her pillows and closed her eyes, and Willard could see that she was even worse than she seemed to be. She appeared to him about the same girl whom he had known. She had not changed much. She was older, of course, and her beauty was more of the matured kind; but, strangely enough, it was not this that appealed to Willard. Rather, it was the girl of former days, that could yet be seen in the form and face and voice, that touched his tender heart that day. was yet early in the afternoon when they reached Brad- It ford, and so it was decided to go directly out to Stonedale. There were a goodly number of Saints in the city that would be pleased to entertain the visitors for a few days, but Grace must be looked after first. They, therefore, all went with her in the carriage which Elder Donaldson had engaged. "But what will they think of us, coming upon them like this?" said Sister Donaldson. "They will be delighted," her husband assured her. Amy couldn't "see it," and even Grace murmured a faint ex- postulation. "You girls cannot understand it," I know, said Elder Donald- son; "but I tell you that Sister Fernley will consider it a great pleasure. We are not bound by strict society rules in the mission field, you must understand. If so, what would we poor elders do who sometimes travel without purse or scrip? In your visiting, do you always send your card ahead of you, eh, Willard?" It was as Elder Donaldson had said. Sister Fernley received them most graciously, and would have gladly housed all the girls; but Sister Donaldson and Amy would not listen to that. Grace, however, was "mothered" in a sweet way; and the sick girl's heart went out to the gentle, pleasant-faced woman. Tbey had not long ROMANCE OF A MISSIONARY. 749 to wait before Elsa came home from her school, and she too added her welcome to that of her mother's. Bessie came in later — came into the house in, for her, a quiet way. There was a simple ''tea" quietly arranged for all, and even Grace was tempted to eat one of the dainty slices of buttered bread. Elder Donaldson went back to Bradford with his wife and sister, promising to call the next day. "You will not be lonesome, will you, dear?" asked Sister Donaldson of Grace before she left. "I feel at home already," she replied. "I think a few days of rest will be all I need, and then I shall be able to go on my way." "I hope so, dear— these people are very good." Willard did not go back to Bradford. He was to remain at Stonedale that night, so he was in no hurry to leave. The spring day closed with a cool wind, and a fire was made in the grate. Grace rested easily in the cheerful warmth, and while the sisters of the household were busy with home duties, Willard and Grace talked of affairs at home. He remained until he saw that she was quite tired, and then he bade them all good-night and left. The next day Grace felt better, though she was prevailed upon to keep to her bed for a time. When Elders Dean and Donaldson called in the afternoon they administered to her, and she thanked them sweetly for the blessing which she said she had received. On the following day the sick girl was feeling so well that she was down stairs again. Elder Donaldson had received his release, and as Amy especially was anxious to get to Paris on a certain date, they decided to set out immediately. Willard was to remain in Bradford and Stonedale a few days. "We'll see you in Berlin," they said to Grace as they left. But Grace Wells' musical education was not to be completed in Berlin. On the third day of her stay at Stonedale, fever set in. Her friends nursed her as carefully as they knew how, and used in connection with their faith and prayers all the simple remedies which they knew; but the fever and the weakness increased, and then Willard brought a doctor, who was a good friend to the elders, to see her. He pronounced it a case of typhoid fever. Good, careful nursing, said he, was what was needed; and the good Saints of Stonedale under the supervision of Sister Fernley 750 IMPROVEMENT ERA. provided it. Her traveling companions had gone, and Willard felt that had no nearer friend than him. He ought to remain she with her. They were neighbors at home, and why should he not be her neighbor now, to the full extent of Christ's interpretation of that term? He wrote to the president, explaining the situation and the reply was that he should stay. The dreaded fever ran ibs course to the critical period. Sister Fernley was not strong, and therefore could not do much; Bessie's work at the mills prevented her from helping a great deal; and so Elsa soon became the chief nurse. She spent all her spare time at the sick girl's side. She watched far into the night, and none seemed able to soothe the fever-racked brain as well as she. Wil- lard did what he could, and he acknowledged that that was not much. He tried to do some missionary work, but he found that his mind was rather on the pale-faced girl who lay fever-tossed at Stonedale. All his faith and all his prayers went out for her. And yet he said to himself, as he walked alone in the lanes across the near-by fields, why should it be so? Was he losing control of himself again as he had done once before, years ago? There was not a particle of reason for his thinking of Grace Wells other than as a friend. He would do his simple duty, and let that suffice. But if he thought to deceive himself, he could not deceive others. Elsa Fernley read what was in his inner heart as easily He would come and sit as if it had been printed in an open book. by the hour in the Fernley home, talking when he could to the — mother or to the girls and the burden of his talk was the sick girl up stairs. Sister Fernley was worn out, and yet Willard did not notice it . Elsa's usually rosy cheeks took on the nature of her patient's, but the change was lost on Willard. His one concern was Grace Wells, plainly evident to all but himself. The fever ran its course, and the patient took the turn for the better. The recovery was slow. The weeks went by. The Eng- lish summer came, with its beauty of green and flowers. When Grace was able to sit up, she loved to look out of the window over the fields and lanes; and then Willard Dean came and sat by her and talked to her. If Elsa was in the room she would usually slip out quietly and leave them alone; and yet the stupid Willard did not even notice this. (to be continued.)