---
title: Improvement Era
description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930.
authors:
  - Sorensen, A. J. T.
collections:
  - periodicals
tags:
  - magazine
  - improvement-era
periodical: Improvement Era
volume: 21
number: 1
published: 1917-11
publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations
publisher_place: Salt Lake City
language: en
type: magazine
reference: 'A. J. T. Sorensen, "Memories," *Improvement Era* 21, no. 1 (November 1917): 50.'
source:
  url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2101unse
  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: improvementera2101unse
start_page: 50
end_page: 50
rights:
  status: public-domain
  basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1917-11)
  source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2101unse
  publication_year: 1917
  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 1917, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright.
---

# Memories

<!-- page:50 -->

—



50                          IMPROVEMENT ERA

    And then there seemed to me to be a tense silence by the
Heavenly Gate. I saw others of the waiting group cease looking
for someone who knew them; and at this I wondered greatly,
and my wonder was mingled with pain; and in my suffering,
I awoke from my dream; and in my waking, I thought I heard
someone say:
    "Write the dream."
    "But what about the interpretation?" I managed to ask;
and the voice said:
    "Leave that to those who read."



                                Memories
                             (To my dear Mother)
            While evening shades to night are gently falling,
              Dear scenes from childhood days return to me,
            I seem to hear my mother's sweet voice calling,
              On northern winds from far across the sea.
            Of northern scenes dear memories live forever,
              Home where the midnight sun her vigils keep,
            Where sweet birds sing, youths play in fields of heather,
              Where zephyrs gently sing the babes to sleep.
            Again I play around our moss-decked dwelling,
              Play hide and seek, build houses on the sand,
            While southern winds the ocean waves are swelling,
              I safely pull my sailboat on the land.

            Ihear the cuckoo calling through the hollow,
             While fishing from my boat out on the deep;
           While evening shades the fleeting sunbeams follow,
                The nigthingale oft sings me fast to sleep.
            I seethy crystal heights and snow-capped mountains,
                                         —
              Streams and great rivers numberless thy rills,
            Creating thousand lakes and sparkling fountains
              To crown and beautify thy vales and hills.
            The church on yonder hill I well remember,
                Within its shades, on hallow'd days serene,
            The sweet refrain came to my heart so tender,
                To comfort give, on life's great battle scene.
            Return again, dear mem'ries of my childhood,
              To cheer me when the clouds are hanging low;
              let me ofttimes roam among the wildwood
              And ramble through the fields I used to know.
            O angel mother, never cease thy calling.
              Upon my face still burns thy pleading tear;
            Thy sun is setting, shades of eve are falling;
              I bless thee now, thy name I will revere.

Miljord, Utah                                            A. J. T. Sorensen.