Rosa. A Poem

BELATED EMIGRANTS OF 1856 299 cattle that were taken from Devil's Gate, perished before they reached Fort Bridger. Probably no greater act of heroism was ever recorded in the annals of history than that performed by the twenty-seven young men who, on the morning of October 7, 1856, went from the city of the Great Salt Lake to the relief of the 1,550 belated emigrants, who were caught in the early snows of a severe winter, hundreds of miles from human habitation, without food and without shelter. By their indefatigable labors these brave mountain boys were instruments in the hands of the Lord in saving 1 ,300 of that number. Had it not been for their heroic efforts, not enough emigrants would have been left to tell the dreadful tale. [In the preparation of this series of articles for the Era, the writer acknowledges with thanks valuable aid and information received from the authors of the following works, and from surviving members of the handcart companies, and the relief party: Original records at the Church Historian's office, "The Contributor," "Orson Pratt'- Journal," "William G. Young's Journal," "The Liverpool Route," "Forty Years among the Indians;" "Whitney's History of Utah;" "The Pioneer Book of Utah;" Assistant Church Historian Andrew Jenson; Thomas Dobson, Andrew Smith, Samuel S. Tones, and other living members of the Martin and Willie companies; Mrs. Elizabeth Raleigh, Mrs. Margaret Whitehead Young, and other surviving members of the Hodgett and Hunt companies; Harvey H. Cluff, Stephen H. Taylor and Benjamin Hampton, surviving members of the relief party. The use of original paintings and sketches from the following artists: George M. Ottinger, Lee Greene Richards, L. A. Ramsey, Mahonri M. Young, Dan Weggeland, J. B. Fairbanks, and Samuel Jepperson; and courtesies in the loan of rare paintings "and portraits from President Toseph F. Smith, Richard W. Young, and many others.— S. F. K.] Rosa There's a brighter gleam in the morning beam, On meadow, hill, and plain, And a blither note from the blue-bird's throat That sings in sun or rain. For Rosa, dear Rosa, is coming home again, For Rosa, our Rosa, is coming home again. How my heart doth beat as the carriage fleet Comes swiftly up the land, Now it draweth near. "She is here, yes, here!" With lovely smiles again. For Rosa, dear Rosa, at home, at home again, For Rosa, dear Rosa, at home, at home again. Minnie Iverson. laie, oahu