--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Eunice Wattis Bowman collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 23 number: 9 published: 1920-07 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Eunice Wattis Bowman, "Utah, the Pioneer State," *Improvement Era* 23, no. 9 (July 1920): 796–797.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2309unse 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: improvementera2309unse start_page: 796 end_page: 797 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1920-07) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2309unse publication_year: 1920 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 1920, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Utah, the Pioneer State Utah, the Pioneer State By Eunice Wattis Bowman Oh Utah! Proud State on the old Wasatch crest, Of all your fair sisters, your name we love best. You cradled us close in your rugged old arms, No State in the Union for us has such charms. Your snow-covered peaks, and the tang of your brine, Round the hearts of your children your memories twine. Your fresh, bracing air, and your skies, blue and clear, Give strength for life's battles, Dear old Pioneer! What wonderful change has come since the age When valley and hill grew purple-green sage; To East and to West you extended your hands And gathered your children from far away lands; Now, your God-fearing sons in prosperity dwell, In homes whose foundation their Fathers laid well, Your fertile, green fields, then so thirsty and drear, Give wealth in abundance, Strong old Pioneer! Our sturdy forefathers, with courage and zest, Bridged over the gap 'twixt the East and the West. They saw the sun set on your grand, old Salt Lake, And vowed that a home in your valleys they'd make; Then harnessed your rivers with infinite pains, And caused your cool waters to flow o'er your plains. Those clear, trickling streams, on your desert so drear, They made a new era, Brave old Pioneer! The snow which in winter your canyons doth fill In summer gives water, your acres to till. To save and control it, those Pilgrims did vow, And victory was won by the sweat of their brow. Through courage and faith of that resolute band Irrigation's rich gift you bestowed on the land; You struggled with poverty many a year But won the hard battle, Dear old Pioneer! When first they saw grain o'er your thirsty soil wave, WTiat courage and hope to your people it gave! When crickets crept over those fields like a flame, To save you from famine, the hungry gulls came; Your children were fed, as with manna of old By the fair sego lily with calyx of gold; Now sea. gull and flower alike you hold dear. And both you have honored, Dear old Pioneer! — —— UTAH, THE PIONEER STATE 797 Though great were the hardships your desert sons knew, As sands of the sea shore in numbers they grew, No hardship or hunger your spirit could quell; Your emblem, The Beehive, has fitted you well. Your part in life's conflicts you valiantly bear; In works of the nation you do your full share. At call of your country, your sons brave and dear Have gone to defend her, Grand old Pioneer! Utah, by birth or adoption our home! Though far from your shelter your children may roam. As life's twilight gathers each fond heart will yearn Again to your valleys and hills to return. The last journey ended and spirits set free, O, gather us back to your great inland sea; The breeze softly rippling its waves, we shall hear. Asleep 'midst your mountains, Dear old Pioneer! Ogden, Utah Just Boys Boys are just boys, so what's the use of trying To make them else? And, I tell you besides, I like the chap inclined ofttimes to tying Your apron strings to chair backs and who hides To wait the moment when you shall discover You're tethered fast as you attempt to 'rise. Just take the prank as heartsome fun, and smother All irritation, strive to realize That boys are boys and youth's the time for playing, Such boys will some day keep the old world running, Yes, that is what I mean, just what I'm saying. No sissy ever made things 'live and humming. Give me the boy who's always up and moving, Who will not take another fellow's slur; Who bares his muscle to the other's proving, And sets the matter straight with tensive whir. What matter if he shouts while you are napping, And sings and clogs outside your chamber door, And even starts his knuckles loudly rapping? Forget not, he's a boy and nothing more. Remember, too, that boys are men in making, Worth-while ones, filled with force that must be spent, And you all will more interest be taking To help them keep their heritage, God sent. Grace Ingles Frost