A Study of Book of Mormon Texts

A Study of Book of Mormon Texts By J. M. Sjodahl Notes on Significant Words and Phrases. (Contii*ued) Oppressive Taxation. Mosiah records the fact that the people of Limhi were in bondage to the Lamanites (Mos. 7:15), and that this bondage had taken the form of an exceedingly bur- densome taxation. It seems (v. 22) that they were made to pay one half of all the grain they raised and one half of the increase of their flocks and herds, as well as one half of every- thing else they came in possession of. The penalty for refusal to render this unjust tribute was death. King Limhi told Amnion that the people would prefer slavery under Nephite rule to their present form of servitude. This condition was very much like that found by the Span- iards at the time of their ruthless conquest of Mexico. A kind of confederacy between three of the largest Aztec cities, with headquarters at Tenochtitlan, had been formed for the purpose of levying tribute on the other cities, which were scattered over an area of about the slame size as the state of Massachusetts. Towns that refused to pay were savagely punished, unless they were strong enough to defend themselves, in which case sangui- nary battles were fought and the war prisoners were slain oiw the altars of the gods. The city of Tlascala had successfully resisted an attack of the second Montezuma shortly before the arrival on the scene of Cortez. This shrewd Spaniard soon learned that there was deadly enmity between the tributary towns and the Aztec confederacy, and he profited by the situa» tion. The Tlascalans, after an unsuccessful attempt at resis- tance, joined the Spaniards against the oppressors. From the history of the conquest it is evident that the policy of the Lamanites of making their weaker neighbors tributary slaves was practiced by the Aztecs in the 16th cen- tury, and that it was the main cause of their downfall at that time. The Book of Mormon gives us a striking sketch of political conditions in Nephite lands which still obtained in some parts of the "new world" at the time of its discovery only four centuries ago. Are scholars in possession of any stronger evidence for the authenticity of the Old Testament writings? Corpses thrown into the river. In Alma 3:3 it is stated that, "Ais many of the Lamanites and the Anilicites who had been

A STUDY OF BOOK OF MORMON TEXTS 881 slain upon the banks of the river Sidon, were cast into the waters of Sidon." See also Alma 44:22. This custom of consigning the bodies of the dead, after a great battle, to the water, seems to have survived among the aborigines of America to more recent times. Speaking of the conquests of the Peruvians, Mr. Fiske says: "In an obstinate battle near Quito the rebels were defeated with great slaughter. Many hundreds of prisoners were taken. Very few were able to hide themselves. Near the banks of the lake the Inca ordered them all to be beheaded in his presence, and their bodies to be thrown into the water. The blood of those that were killed was in such quantity that the water lost its color, and nothing could be seen but a thick mass of blood — . The lake received the name it still bears, which isYahuarcocha, or the Lake of blood," (Discovery of America Vol. II pp. 324-5). Drinking blood. According to Alma 49:27, Amalickiah in his wrath swore that he would "drink the blood of Moroni." See also Alma 51:9. Whether this haughty traitor meant his threat to be under- stood literally or only as a figure of speech, it is evident that some of the people inhabiting these continents anciently had the savage habit of drinking the life fluid of their conquered adversaries. Otherwise his boast wiould hove had no meaning. But words always mean something. We still have in most of our modern languages the word "blood-thirsty" for "cruel," "murderous," as a relic of a time when the concumption of blood was a more or less common manifestation of cruelty. That some of the aborigines of America at times drank the blood of human victims is attested by history. When Brebeuf, a Jesuit missionary, had been tormented to death, an Iroquois chief, who admired the fortitude with which he had met his cruel fate, tore out his heart and devoured it. It is said that Cortez and his followers, at a city called Xocotlan were offered cakes dipped in human blood, as cnoice morsels to eat (Bancroft's Mexico). It was a common custom, it seems, among the Aztecs to smear the lips of their idols with human blood and to sprinkle it on the walls and floors of their temples. Nadaillac (Prehistoric America, p. 62) says cannibalism was practiced in Algonquins, Iroquis, Kickapoos and many other tribes, and that the warriors drank the still smoking blood of the victims, in order to inoculate themselves with their courage. The Bible. In I Nephi 13:20-26 the prophet records his

882 IMPROVEMENT ERA remarkable vision of the Bible. He saw a book, "And it was carried forth among them" (the Gentiles) (v. 20). Concerning this book the angel tells Nephi: (1) It is a record of the Jews, and, "It proceedeth out of the mouth of a Jew."' The words quoted are repeated (v. 23,24). (2) It contains "the covenants of the Lord which he hath made unto the house of Israel" and "many prophecies." (v. 23.) (3) As the book comes "from the mouth of a Jew" it is plain, i. e., it is easy to understand. It contains the plainness of the gospel, or the gospel, as far as revealed, set forth plainly. (4) The book also contains the record of the twelve apos- tles: "and they bear record according to the truth which is in the Lamb of God." (v. 24.) (5) "These things" — the book that came from "the mouth of the Jew" and the record of the Twelve — go "from the Jews in purity, unto the gentiles" (v. 25). (6) It remains pure until, eventually, "many parts" are taken away from the gospel, and also "many covenants of the Lord" (v. 25). This is a brief epitome of the history of the Bible, given in a vision. It deserves the closest study. Note the accuracy of the language here used. The Old Testament which is "a record of the Jews," is said to have pro- ceeded out of the mouth of a Jew, while the New Testament is referred to as the record of "the Twelve Apostles," and both these collections of sacred writings are said to have gone forth frtom "the Jews." The books of the Old Testament were composed by, or under the supervision of the men wihose names they bear. It was, therefore, "a record of the Jews." The books of the Law were deposited in the ark of the covenant in the Tabernacle in the wilderness, and afterwards in the temple of Jerusalem. To the first collection were gradually added the various historical and prophetic writings, from Joshua to Habbakuk. Jonah, Amos, Isaiah, Hosea, Joel, Micah, Nahunn, Zephaniah, Jeremiah, Obadiah, and Habbakuk, all lived before the destruction of the temple. What became of the sacred books when the sanctuary was destroyed and the people dispersed, is not known. They may have been hidden in some safe place, but the probability is that there were manuscript copies or parts of copies in the possession of many prominent Jews, that were carefully guarded. At all events, Daniel in Babylon seems to have been familiar with the law of Moses and the prophecies of Jeremiah (Dan 9:2, 11). After the captivity, Ezra made a collection of the sacred writings. Tradition has it that he presided over a body of

A STUDY OF BOOK OF MORMON TEXTS 883 learned men, one hundred and twenty in number, known as The Great Synagogue, associated for the purpose of collecting and editing sacred books Ezra may therefore well be con- sidered as "the Jew" Nephi saw in his vision, from whom the book came, for to his literary labor we are very largely in- debted for the Old Testament as we knlow it today. And in Nehemiah 8:2-18 it is recorded that Ezra brought the Law before the congregation of Israel and read it in their hearing. On that occasion the book literally "proceeded out of the mouth of the Jew." As he from day to day proclaimed its contents, they were handed down to coming ages; and since then there has been no general reconstruction of the Jewish canon. The New Testament does not, in the same literal sense, "proceed out of the mouth of a Jew;" in the vision it is called the records of the Twelve Apostles, and they are said to go forth "by the hand of the Twelve" (v. 26). Note also that the book contains, besides many prophecies, the covenant of the Lord with Israel. This, no doubt, refers to the agreement, we may call it, between the Lord and his people at Sinai; for the people unanimously accepted the laws of God as submitted to them through Moses (Ex. 24:3), where- upon the covenant was ratified by solemn sacrifices (Ex. 24: 4-8). This covenant in addition to the Decalogue is recorded in Exodus 21 to 23:19, and this section of the books of Moses may, therefore, appropriately be called "The Doctrine and Covenants" of the Mosaic Dispensation. It is further to be noticed that this book, as it came from "the mouth of a Jew" and "the hands of the Twelve," was pure and a depository of divine truth. So the angel declares. This is a complete refutation of the claims of those so-called "higher critics" of the Bible, who hold that fundamental documents supposed to have been used by the "redactors" or editors of the sacred volume have been "edited," distorted, and mutilated to such an extent that most of the scriptures, when given to the world in its completed f)orm, was positively spurious. This "criticism," according to the revelation of Nephi, has no foun- dation in fact. It is true, as further stated by the angel, that in course of time many of the doctrines taught in the Bible were set aside, and many covenants were abrogated; this, however, was not done by the collectors and editors of the sacred books, of whom Ezra and probably Simon the Just were the last in the Mosaic dispen- sation, but after the completion of the New Testament, by the great ecclesiastical organization that grew out of and took the place of the pagan imperialism of Rome. As an illustration of the process of taking away from and

884 IMPROVEMENT ERA adding to the gospel, the following facts may be considered: In the fourth century marriage was forbidden, as far as the clergy was concerned, and this decree was confirmed in the eleventh century, by Gregory VII. In the twelfth century the doctrine of seven sacraments was first taught. To the same time belongs the positive affirmation of the saving virtue of pen- ance, and the doctrine of purgatory, which, however, may be traced back to the seventh century. Transubstantiation was first taught in the eighth century. In the eleventh the Lord's Supper was changed by withholding the consecrated cup from the communicants. The ordinance, with its solemn covenants, was thereby virtually abrogated. The covenant of baptism had been done away with long before that time, in so far as the vain ceremony of infant sprinkling had taken its place. In the seventh century (A. D. 607) the claim cf the bishop of Rome to universal recognition as the head of the church was confirmed by Emperor Phocas, and the final touch was thereby given to the Babylonian tower of papacy which had been under construction for centuries. (To be continued.) The Keynote of Life To live a life the most complete , The heart must be as clean and sweet, As aid to those whose wayward feet Lead them too far astray. What is this life but one great fight, Against ihe wrong and for the right? To those who have the clearing sight, We look for noble deeds. The right ambition is to rise Above those things that foster sighs, And blinds the eyes of Paradise, The aim of those aright. The primal note must ever be Attuned to hope's clear melody; To sue for that on bended knee, Is but the plan of God. Then life becomes a song of cheer, That lightens hearts bowed down with fear, The smile supplants the ready tear, And joy it reigns supreme. Albany, New York. Mary F. Scott.

ff The Fair Weather Wife" By Athene H. Farnsworth It was a fascinating evening; the softening March air pierced with hints of spring, the starlit sky gradually deepening in mystic blue as the bright rim of the moon pushed above the dark outlines of the mountain peak. The beauty and promise of the night held Harlin spellbound as she gazed dreamily at the great luminous disc which brought back entrancing memories of another western moon. Little Mrs. Tracy, with her electrical personality, had much in common with the spirit of the evening — full of thrills and shocks but brimming with dynamic possibilities and attraction. "Knight, dear, wasn't Honolulu wonderful?" she voiced her thoughts. "A honeymoon anywhere with you would be wonderful," commented her husband as he looked up from a sheaf of busi- ness accounts and smiled. She shrugged her dainty shoulders but looked pleased as she retorted, "Now, Knight, that's a broad statement and I sup- pose it's my duty to enlighten you. Do you realize that all my friends are envying me and — and sympathizing with you — " "Really," he laughed, "and why?" "Well, I'm supposed to be an eccentric butterfly and you're — 'a prince of a fellow'." Harlin gave him an arch glance over her shoulder and turned back to the moon. Knight chuckled, gave a last estimate on an invoice for $50,000 worth of mohair in a Boston warehouse, then turned all his attention to Harlin. Until he met Harlin Kennedy, he would have jeered at the idea that any woman could fill his horizon to the exclusion of all business. The carving of his fortunes in the great sheep and cattle ranges of the southwest had once completely satisfied him, but now his wealth was only a means to an end — that of making his wife happy and giving her the luxuries to which she had been accustomed. He held out his hand to her: "If that's the case, think how they'll feel when we're in our new home — " At the mention of the 'house of their dreams,' Harlin left the window. Even the moon was forgotten as she perched on the arm of his chair beside a littered table. Mr. and Mrs. Tracy, like two carefree youngsters with their blocks and picture books, were soon wrapt in the enthralling in-

886 IMPROVEMENT ERA tricacies of blueprints, samples of hard wood, bricks, and many elaborate details for a formal garden. Knight's arm was clasped affectionately about his bride's shoulders and caressed her ten- derly when he became suddenly emphatic over a question of expense : "Dearest, I want you to have the most perfect setting money can devise. The best is — " She placed silencing fingers against his lips. "Now, Knight, boy, don't — you've spoiled me enough. You don't realize what a selfish little butterfly I am, after all. You're too generous — if I could just do something to — -" Knight interrupted her protestations, but the sudden insist- ant ringing of the bell momentarily stopped further argument. While he answered the summons and signed for a telegram, Harlin's imagination continued musingly to furnish her antici- pated "air castle." She loved to dream and plan and now she could realize even the most pretentious of her ideas. The critical condition of the wool market had no shadows for her; in fact, she did not know even that such a situation existed. Knight did not bother her with business details. Each room or the roughly sketched mansion soon appeared before her — beautiful tapestries, Persian rugs on highly polished floors; her- self at a Grand piano- Knight returned with the opened telegram in his hand, a worried dent between his eyes. "Looks, dear, as if I'd have to go down to the ranch." He handed her the message — "Fredonia, Arizona, March — 192 — ■. Better come, at once. Shear tomorrow. Blizzard threatening. Help short. — Taylor." "Those tiresome old goats! Can't they get along without you or wait until the weather moderates before shearing?" she objected. "I'm afraid not, Harlin. There are so many details to be attended to and we have to take our turn in the shearing pen. Anyway, if we did wait, we'd lose the hair as the goats begin to shed much earlier than sheep and each pound of mohair means another board in our ball room," he finished, trying to placate her. She sighed resignedly and followed her husband in to pack his bag. While Harlin indulged in more than the usual orgy of luncheons, bridge teas and matinees; Knight fought a valiant fight against the elements. Things were in a pretty bad fix. The first night after shearing, three hundred head of poor, shivering blooded goats died from exposure in an icy sleet bliz- zard. The next two days and nights were more kind but on the fourth, a similar loss was experienced. Knight bore these re-

"THE FAIR WEATHER WIFE" 887 verses quietly. The sale of his wool for the previous year would compensate and this season's clip was excellent. The anticipated fifty or seventy thousand dollars would settle his accounts. He watched with satisfaction the marking of his long rows of huge bales which represented a tidy fortune. The sale of these would not only replace the lost goats but would enable him to build shelters to guard against any similar disaster. He wrote cheering letters to Harlin, chaffing at their separa- tion but promising an immediate return after "lambing" was over. The fates seemed to have conspired against Knight Tracy. In the midst of the most strenuous work, two of his best herders contracted the dreaded disease, "goat fever," and died within a week of each other. Each left wife and family without means of support. Knight gallantly shouldered their burdens and invested substantial sums to their credit. As he signed the last check, he gazed ruefully at his bank balance. Unless the money from Boston arrived shortly, he, the wealthiest stockman in the district, would be forced to curtail his expenditures. He whistled softly to himself as he mounted his horae and rode back to the ranch. The rambling old ranch house was picturesque in a rough, rugged style, but its setting, from a distance, was one of exquisite beauty. In the background, the soft tints of the desert faded into rose and blue cliffs. Along one side, a deep gorge Wound irregularly and the tiny stream, hundreds of feet below, wove a silver thread through the sand. The outbuildings were shielded by groups of graceful weeping willow trees just budding, slender, drooping boughs fresh and green against the weather beaten logs. Knight exclaimed in delight at the beauty of the scene grow- ing more colorful and startling as the sun sank lower and lower. How he longed for Harlin. His artistic little wife would just revel in its grandeur. His desire to see her became suddenly unbearable. He hailed his foreman, who was out in the field with a herd of his special prize "billies." "Taylor, I must go back to the city for a few days. If you receive word from the buyers, forward it and keep me in touch with conditions here. The worst of the work is over and the herds are all on the summer range." Taylor nodded. "All right, Mr. Tracy. Things'll be 0 K here but I don't like the tone of the papers; the bottom seems to be dropping out of things, and — " then he checked himself and reassured his employer. "Mrs. Tracy'll be suing you for desertion. I'll keep things going here; you hurry along." Harlin was in the seventh heaven at their reunion and Knight exclaimed hungrily as he reluctantly held her at arms' length and refreshed his memory of her adorableness.

888 IMPROVEMENT ERA "Jove, but I've missed you! I didn't realize it until now. Nothing can make me leave you for so long again." Their joy was short-lned, however, as the following day brought bad news again. A telegram from Taylor forwarded the word received from the East: "Mohair received but again stored. Be prepared for the worst." He did not comment to Harlin, but she anticipated trouble from the worried lines about his eyes and the dogged expression of his mouth as he waited for each mail and started nervously at each ring of the telephone or doorbell. Events seemed to be piling toward a crisis. Harlin help- lessly watched the vicious jab of her husband's pen as he bal- anced his check book after paying the month's bills. They had been rather high, but then, Knight had never intimated that she should economize and she had not dreamed of the possibility of such a necessity. What did all his black looks mean? Harlin went to bed that night with a premonition of gloom forming the first cloud on her ideal happiness. Knight simply coudn't lose his money! It wasn't possible! " 'It never rains but it pours.' " was knight's only comment as he crushed a telegram between tense fingers. They were at supper the following evening when the fateful message arrived. Harlin waited for developments. Surely Knight would explain things without her asking. She watched the far-away look in his eyes deepen with tragic intensity. What dire ex- tremity was he facing alone? She would not be excluded. "Knight, dear, what is it?" She came around and sat on the arm of his chair. As he did not answer, she extricated the crumpled sheet from his unwilling fingers and glanced hurriedly over the brief sentences. In a flash, she realized that their days of carefree extravagance were over. "No prospect of a sale, this season. Money growing tighter." She read a second time. "Don't put me off, Knight. I'm your wife and have a right to know the truth. Just what is the real significance of it all?" Knight faced her tragically. "It means simply this — little wife — all my golden dreams for our future can come to naught. There can be no house of our dreams, no delightful winter of lei- sure together here. My total cash balance is only a paltry five thou- sand and I can only suspect the panic such a tie up of capital will result in, in our little town. No money, no supplies — Harlin, you must know the worst — even that five thousand must be kept for the goats or I go to the wall. I'll have to spend the rest of my time with the herds to keep things going, and you — dearest," he spoke with an effort, "I couldn't expect you to come with me — - a shanty after the luxury of your beautiful apartment would

"THE FAIR WEATHER WIFE" 889 be too much even to suggest. You'll have to go back to your mother." Harlin watched the set expression on his tired face, the desperate longing for her which he tried to conceal. "Knight, don't you want me with you?" He suppressed a groan as he caught her to him convulsively. "Want you, Harlin, I'll want you more than you'll ever be able to realize — " Crushed against his heart, Harlin weighed the various aspects of the situation. Her disappointment at this ruthless shattering of all their plans was tragic, but her love for her splendid husband carried her through. "Dear, I'm going with you. I'm not just a 'fair weather wife.' You insult my sportsmanship. Hurry, now, we'll start packing tonight and we'll come out on top, yet." The sudden light in his eyes as he was reasurred of her decision was worth many times her sacrifice. How he loved her! She trembled at the realization. Friends and relatives scoffed at Harlin and prophesied a speedy return from that "uncivilized hole"' for their luxurious little butterfly. Through it all, Harlin held her head high and though she had her moments of black misgivings, she remained firm) in her determination. She'd show them that she was good for something, after all. Knight believed in her and that was all that counted. She packed her wedding gifts and sent them ahead. Knight had laughingly drawn a rough plan of their future home and had whimsically pinned it over the elaborate blueprint of their relinquished mansion. Harlin had pounced upon it and was us- ing the sketch as a basis for her plans. At the train, all good byes were for Knight; Harlin was only going for a brief playtime. She flushed and ignored their taunts. Did they, honestly, think so little of her strength of character? The night of their arrival in the little Arizona town, a big dance was in full swing. They attended just for a lark and so that Harlin might have the opportunity of meeting the people who would be her friends when she came in from the ranch. Harlin had to admit that some of these so called "barbar- ians" were charming, refined and educated. Her winter looked less gloomy. A little later, however, she received a dash of cold water to her enthusiasm. A big, good-natured cowboy invited her to be his partner in the quadrille. She accepted with ala- crity and enjoyed every minute of the old-fashioned "all prome- nade," "swing partners," "balance on the corners," until her cheeks flushed with excitement at trying to follow each intri- cate change. She was immensely pleased with her prowess in

890 IMPROVEMENT ERA society but as she stood under an open window where Knight had taken her to cool off, they overheard the joking remarks: "Yes, she's a trim little filly, but not much of a team-mate for Tracy at such a time. Did you see those hands? Too d d small- — he'll have to keep the house as well as run the herds. Poor fellow!" Knight laughed and slipped his arm about Harlin, but she sighed ruefully: "Nobody seems to think much of me 'cept as an ornament. Maybe he's right, boy." But she was immediately reassured by the touch of ardent lips against the slender fingers of that be- littled hand. Early next morning, Taylor arrived in a battered Ford. Har- lin remembered their exquisitely appointed limousine with a pang, but as they drove out over miles of desert, often hub deep in the soft brown sand, she became enthralled with the wild, untramelled beauty of the scene. Curious cliff formations, scattered groves of scrub oak, purplish sagebrush and above all, the marvelous sky, made a remarkable impression on the city- bred girl. Dugouts and deep washes were encountered, at intervals. As they skirted the edge of an unusually deep cut, she was as- sured with nonchalance that if it rained before they returned, they might have to make a new road as the present one was likely as not to be the stream bed. Harlin shivered at the treachery of the sand but realized that such a formation was re- sponsible for the picturesque beauty and mystery of the country. At the house, Taylor explained to Mrs. Tracy that her things had come and were in packing cases at the rear. Knight had arranged for Taylor's sister to come out and be housekeeper and do the heavy work but Harlin insisted that she was going to learn all the intricacies and would soon show them how efficient she could be. The last, and seemingly, the worst, of all Harlin's trials was faced late that afternoon when the two men announced that they must leave for the summer range of the herds, that evening. She would be left alone for possibly a fortnight. This was the first thoughtless act on the part of her husband; so she shut her teeth on a remonstrance and determined to be game. Had he realized the fight his homesick little wife was putting up to say a cheerful good-bye? Wild horses could not have dragged him away; however, men, wrapped up in pressing business de- tail, seldom see beneath the surface and Harlin was an excellent bluffer. As Tracy disappeared over the distant hill, the sun went with him. Dusk was gathering and the desert air was chill. Harlin shivered and turned back to the house. In the doorway,

"THE FAIR WEATHER WIFE" 891 she surveyed her home. Oh, the drab ugliness of that great dim room! How could she ever endure it? Yet she might go back — back to her mother's luxurious apartment, friends, and parties .• — until Knight made a sale. A coyote howled — she jumped ner- vously. How those beastly animals startled one with their dis- mal complaints, seemingly only a stone's throw distant, when you were lonely and discouraged. Harlin lighted a candle and tried to read, but the room de- pressed her; the shadows from its bare gray walls mocked her mood. She caught up a sweater and hurried outdoors. She'd walk herself sleepy — and — tomorrow — she'd go back. She simply couldn't bear the desolation. She'd leave a note for Knight, he'd understand. Only a few hundred yards from the house, a deep gorge cut through, one of the many such forming the tributaries which dropped deeper and deeper until they lost themselves in the mas- sive grandeur of the mighty Colorado. The tiny stream, hundreds of feet below, had proved treach- erous during floods and had carved the soft sand of the desert into many grotesque figures in its twistings and turnings. Harlin stood gazing at the mystic beauty of the scene. The moonlight played tricks with her imagination. Fantastic shad- ows danced and played on the steep banks. Her mood of bitter resentment began to soften. She thought of her marriage vows — ■ "For better or for worse" — was she keeping her promise? And, she had determined to show taunting friends at home — and the unbelievers in the little town — how they would all smirk, "I told you so!" — and Knight — her heart stopped beating at the thought of leaving him. She could positively see the light die in his eyes! But, oh, that dreadful house! And he could not build another ! As she stood there on the brink of the shadowy gorge, she felt as if her decision were hanging her whole future over the edge of a precipice. Was she going to prove slacker? The millions of grinning goblins flung at her. She turned again to- ward the house. The silvery light of the moon softened its ugli- ness and the disorder of the surroundings. The great graceful weeping willow trees seemed possessed of myriads of feathery fingers beckoning to her to come back. For the first time, the possibilities of the place flashed into her vision; waiting only for the touch of understanding to make a paradise in the desert. It was her chance and she was wise enough to recognize it. Yes, she'd stay. She'd show them all, even Knight. What was the artificial beauty of a formal garden compared with the planning of nature? Did she value the admiration and flattery of conventional friends above the devotion of her husband ? She

892 IMPROVEMENT ERA had been granted a few seconds of divine insight and she should prove worthy. Work was what she needed to keep her from being lonesome and with her own hands she'd make her home beautiful. Early next morning, under the generalship of a determined litle autocrat, Maud Taylor scrubbed and scoured. One of the hired men went to town in the Ford and filled the back of the car with purchases from a lengthy sheet of paper. They in- cluded cans of gray and white enamel, dark brown stain, bolts of cretonne and chintz, dotted swiss and scrim cotton batting, a rustic swing, etc., etc. "Had Mrs. Tracy decided to start a mercantile establish- ment?" Tim couldn't answer. He had had explicit orders and wasted no time filling them. The next week saw radical changes both inside and out of that rambling old ranch house, never dreamed of before. The indignant hens were cooped inside a wired enclosure. The paths were outlined with cobble stones, the grass clipped, and the swing suspended under the trees. The men grumbled their amazement at this daring digression from the accustomed rut of their management of the premises but dared not risk the flash of disapproval from the eyes of their young mistress if they should disobey. Inside, dingy rooms exchanged drab browns for soft greys and whites under the paint brush wielded by Mirs. Tracy, herself. She chuckled as she compared her brush to the wand of Cinder- ella's godmother. She worked feverishly to complete her transformation before Knight's return. After a week of days full of work and nights of unbroken sleep, she threw her rouge box into the ash can and as she stared at her reflection in the mirror of her old fashioned but newly enameled spotless white dresser, she detected an unsuspected dimple. Was she learning a new phil- osophy and were these some of the rewards? Later, she surveyed her handiwork with satisfaction. Her new home was a work of art in taste and simplicity. "I always wanted to try my hand at furnishing a house with a bolt of cretonne and a dry goods box," she commented to her beaming lieutenant, "and I believe we just about did, Maud." Sounds as a clashing of poles, sharp bleats and thuds coming from the back of the house drew their attention and they hur- rired down to the field. Knight's pet "billies" were indulging in a gory argument. At first, Harlin tried many ineffectual means of separating them, but unsuccessful, climbed to the top of the fence and watched the vicious little beasts, fascinated by their agility and obstinacy. Knight rode up to the gate and dismounted. An indefinable

-THE FAIR WEATHER WIFE" 893 change had taken place in the external appearance of his home. He tried to determine the difference and finally decided thav Harlin must have had the lawn clipped. He smiled sympathetic- ally. "Poor litte Butterfly! How she loved beautiful things and he had brought her to this God forsaken desert." Peculiar noises startled him out of his reveries and he hastened to the back field to investigate. He wondered if the wild steer could be on the rampage. There was his butterfly alighted on the top pole of the high fence throwing stones at his goats. He gazed in amazement at the incongruity of the situation and then shouted at her. Her foot slipped and she swayed perilously, but regained her balance and waved nonchalantly. "Goodness, Knight, you startled me. Hurry over here and part these stupid goats. They've been fighting for half an hour. At first, it was as exciting as a circus to see them run at each other on their hind legs and lock horns, but now it's entirely too colorful and has turned into a regular bloody battle. They're spoiling their curly white coats." For the moment, she was so interested in the prowess of the combatants that she forgot she had not seen her husband for nearly a fortnight. He called to Pete to go in and separate the blood-stained warriors and lifted his wife from her perch and carried her into the house. "Did you miss me?" he demanded without releasing her. "Oh, no!" she mocked and rumpled his hair with emphasis. He attempted to kiss her provocative little mouth, but she evaded and caught him sternly by one ear. "Put me down, sir. I have things to tell you before we continue. Yes, I missed you, but I've been dreadfully busy." "You busy — at what?" he teased as he loosened and kissed the imperious little hand on his ear but he set her safely on the floor. "Look around you, stupid," she chided. For the first time, he noticed the changes. Those out- side trebled within. Could it be the same place? Was this at- tractive, gray walled room with its dainty cretonne draperies, Japanese prints and woven rugs — his old makeshift living and dining room? He picked up a soft round cushion from among a pile on a low couch. Harlin laughed at the puzzlement on his face. "Don't you like our divan? I've gone into the upholstery business: wool and cotton bats, several yards of cretonne plus a huge packing box did the deed. And look at our book shelves. Aren't you glad I took manual training and shocked

894 IMPROVEMENT ERA all my lady contemporaries? But come on, Knight." She drag- ged him into a spotless white bathroom. "Did you notice anything wrong with the roof as you drove up? I'm glad you haven't seen Tim, yet. He has a tale of woe a mile long about the way I abused him; made him hoist the old rain barrel onto the roof and then make two trips to town for shower attachments; but isn't it splendid?" Still pulling Knight by one hand, she danced before him from one rejuvenated room to another. "No more eating in the kitchen! See what I did to your messy old store room." He saw, but scarcely believed his eyes. It had been cleaned and calsomined. The old drop leaf table was planed and enameled; soft yellow rugs on the floor, a few hanging plants and simple pictures were cheerfully blended into an artistic setting for "tea" by the soft rays of sunlight shining through thin curtains and yellow draperies. Trousseau and wedding gifts supplied the rich little touches such as elegant linen and silver. The old log structure was no longer a drab, ugly, hope crushing substitute for home. Harlin's love of beauty backed by desperate determination and practical common sense had worked marvels with the odds and ends of furniture on hand and her theory of, a bolt of cretonne and a can of enamel to build a house, had added the final touches necessary to make a most attractive home. Outside, nature had supplied an exquisite setting. Knight could only look his astonishment and pride at his little wife. Harlin grew suddenly shy under his adoring gaze. "You wonder girl! Harlin, little pal! After all this — for me." He waved his hand about them in a comprehensive gesture. "Nothing can keep me from making good. My home and my wife are perfect." He bent and kissed her tenderly, reverently. , Harlin trembled as she thought how near she had come to missing this. She laughed shakily and drew him out into the glorious desert air and down to the rustic swing where they cozily ensconced themselves. Both radiant young faces reflected perfect contentment as they watched the last rays of the setting sun. "Are you happy, dear?" he whispered, lips against her cheek. She smiled in answer. "Need you ask, Knight? Look at those sunset bluffs, all rose and gold like our future." Hollywood, California.