They had stopped at a neighbors on the way, but would soon be home now, and she hastened that the evening meal might be waiting when they came. Like Mary Clark, she had been brought up to assist her mother in the care of the family, and no part of housekeeping was any mystery to her.

Our little friends must remember that in those days the good housewife not only fashioned and made the various garments needed by her household, but spun and wove the cloth from which the garments were made. Could any of the fashionable girls of our day have looked in upon Margery that evening, they might have envied the snow white apron worn over the neat plaid dress, the smooth brown curls tied back from her forehead and fastened with a knot of blue ribbon; but if not these, they surely would the rosy cheeks, bright but thoughtful eyes, and the buoyant tread which spoke of health, contentment, and a happy heart. Everything which she touched seemed to be transformed by her deft fingers from the ordinary thing of every day use to a thing of beauty which should be a joy forever. The snowy cloth which covered the table was the work of her own hands, as was the yellow butter, the crisp white loaf and the golden brown pumpkin pie, placed ready for the frugal supper. Cake and tea were luxuries reserved for rare occasions; but with cool water' from the spring near by and rich sweet milk, especially with appetites sharpened by healthful labor, they were never missed. last touch was given to the table, and then Margery went to the window to see if her father was coming. The carriage was not in sight and she sat down to wait, folding her small brown hands in her lap she soon fell into a deep reverie over the events of the past two weeks. Mary Clark had told her more in regard to her father's visit to Kirtland and his own experience before going there than he had made publie that day; and being naturally quiet and thoughtful, she was now reflecting upon it and trying to analyze her own feelings, to know if her preference for Daniel was not blinding her eyes, and leading her to believe things which in themselves were improbable. Her father and mother were members of the Methodist Church, and she had been brought up a Methodist. "I was baptized when I was a baby," she

The

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said, "and it was not possible for me to believe then, neither to repent. Mary

says that they do not baptize children until they are old enough to be instructed and know what they are being baptized for, but the elders of the church take them in their arms and bless them as Christ did when his disciples wanted him to send them away because they were troublesome.. I remember when reading the Bible last winter I often wondered why it was that the angels never come to the earth now as they so often did in those days. Why it really seemed lonesome to me to think of so many hundreds of years going by with-out a single messenger or message from the land where Jesus has gone to dwell with his Father.

he

If

It has been so long that one could almost doubt whether they were remembered or not. How real it makes the word of God seem, to believe as they do that Jesus promised to give to every one who obeyed him a testimony, a witness for themselves-that the doctrine taught them was just what God sent him to teach. I never thought before about the promise Christ made to his disciples, that by certain works which he gave them power to do, they should be distinguished from all others. I wonder that the world has ever believed those to be his disciples who deny the need of such things. there had been no need of them, why did God give them? I wonder what father will say about Wesley's views. How strange that Wesley did not ask God to give the "spiritual gifts" to his church. If they are a part of the Church of Christ, can the church be his without them? The church is compared to a body and these different gifts to the different members of the body, and Paul says that when one member of the body suffers, all the others suffer with it. I can see now how the Church of Christ must have suffered as one after another, these different members or gifts were taken from it, and when it turned heathen of course it was no longer the Church of Christ, but a heathen church. Daniel says, that wicked men wore out the church by their persecutions, and God took from those who pretended to be his followers all authority or power to act for him, and that the Father himself in a vision, told Joseph Smith that what they taught was an abomination in his right. I wish I had a Book of Mor

mon, but they have only one at Mr. Clark's. Daniel is going to bring more when he goes to Kirtland, and then perhaps father will get one. Mary says an angel brought the plates and showed them to three men when they were in the woods praying that God would fulfil the promise he had made. Surely God is able to let me know whether this is true or not, and I will seek to know for myself. Faith in God and his son and the gospel is required. I believe

all this. Repentance for sin and forsak ing it is next, and baptism for the remission of it comes before I have any promise of the Holy Ghost, which is to confirm the truth of all I believe. I wonder if Mr. Clark has a right to baptize? I will ask Mary next time I go there, and now there is father, and I shall soon know how they feel about this strange thing, for despite all I can think about it, it is strange.

To be continued.

"Which shall it be? Which shall it be?"
I looked at John, John looked at me
(Dear, patient John, who loves me yet
As well as when my locks were jet);
And, when I found that I must speak,
My voice seemed strangely low and weak.
"Tell me again what Robert said."
"This is his letter: 'I will give

A house and land while you shall live,
If in return from out your seven
One child to me for aye is given.'"
I looked at John's old garments worn,
I thought of all that John had borne
Of poverty and work and care,
Which I, though willing, could not share;
I thought of seven mouths to feed,
Of seven little children's need,
And then of this.

"Come, John," said I,

"We'll choose among them as they lie
Asleep." So, walking hand in hand,
Dear John and I surveyed our band.
First to the cradle lightly stept
Where Lillian the baby slept,
A glory 'gainst the pillow white.
Softly the father stooped to lay
His rough hand down in loving way,
When dream or whisper made her stir,
And huskily he said, "Not her!"
We stooped beside the trundle-bed,
And one long ray of lamplight shed
Athwart the boyish faces there,
In sleep so pitiful and fair;
I saw on Jamie's rough red cheek

A tear undried. Ere John could speak,

"He's but a baby, too!” said I,
And kissed him as we hurried by.
Pale, patient Robbie's angel face
Still in his sleep bore suff'ring's trace.
"No, for a thousand crowns not him!"
He whispered, while our eyes were dim.
Poor Dick, bad Dick, our wayward son,
Turbulent, reckless, idle one-
Could he be spared? Nay, He who gave
Bade us befriend him to his grave;
Only a mother's heart can be
Patient enough for such as he.
"And so," said John, "I would not dare
To send him from your bedside pray'r."
Then stole we softly up above

And knelt by Mary, child of love.
"Perhaps for her 'twould better be?"
I said to John. Quite silently
He lifted up a curl that lay
Across her cheek in willful way,

And shook his head, "Nay, love, not thee!"
The while my heart beat audibly.

Only one more, our eldest lad,

Trusty and truthful, good and glad—
So like his father. "No, John, no-

I can not, will not let him go!"

EORGE A. BLAKESLEE was born a at Ellisburg, Jefferson county, New York, August 22nd, 1826, and is of English descent.

His father and mother embraced the faith of the Latter Day Saints in 1833. His father was a minister of the gospel for thirty-three consecutive years.

His parents moved from New York to Perth, Canada, in 1835. In 1837 they moved to St. Lawrence county, New York; in 1838, to Waterville, Oneida county, same state; thence to Utica, where they lived until 1842. In 1843 they removed to Nauvoo, Illinois, which they reached July 4th. In 1848 they removed to Batavia, Kane county, Illinois.

The subject of our sketch attended the common schools in the various places in which his parents resided; also received good instruction from his father and mother, who highly valued learning.

His first year at Batavia was spent at work on a farm.

In 1849 he engaged in the lumber business, which he continued until 1854, when he removed to Galien, Berrien county, Michigan, where he became interested in general mercantile business, in connection with his lumber trade. He maufactured annually one million five hundred thousand broom handles, and is probably the largest manufacturer in South-Western Michigan.

He has held several minor public offices; was justice of the peace from 1856 to 1880; has been postmaster continually since 1855, and is probably the oldest Federal postmaster in the United States.

February 13th, 1848, he married Miss Lydia Alcott, an English lady who had come to America but a few years before.

Mr. and Mrs. Blakeslee have been blessed with eleven children (two sons and nine daughters) eight of whom are living. Following the teaching of his father, he espoused the faith of the Latter Day Saints, near Perth, Canada, in the winter of 1836, and remained firm to the original faith and teachings of Christ, never being

led astray by any of the factions during the dark and gloomy day of the church.

Late in 1859 he united with the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. About one year later he was ordained an elder. April 9th, 1866, he was chosen a high priest, and was also chosen to sit upon the High Council the same year, which was the only call of this council since the reorganization of the church. In 1882 he was called and ordained as presiding bishop of the church.

He has had many testimonies of the truth of the work-some when quite young. In 1833 he fell from a fence and broke his right arm at the elbow. the space of two months his suffering was very intense. Physicians were called

For

from time to time, but could render no relief, the limb being so swelled that the broken part could not be reset. Joseph Smith, the father of the Martyr, and David Patten visited his father's house, preacing the gospel. Seeing his intense. suffering, they obtained permission of his mother (who did not then belong to the church) to administer to him. By the administration of the brethren he obtained immediate relief. The bandages were taken from his arm, and in the lapse of a very few days the bones went to their proper places, and his arm was entirely healed. This was one of many convincing evidences to them of the truth of the work, and a large branch was shortly raised up in the vicinity of Woodville, New York, then his home.

In 1843 he first became acquainted with Joseph the Martyr. He found him to be a grand and noble man, a man in whom the Spirit of God dwelt, as it was always felt while in his presence.

While defending the calling of the present Joseph Smith, he received an unmistakeable evidence that he is divine

ly called. At that time a bright light

was

seen above his head by several persons, some of whom are now living.

His life is rich with many experiences and evidences of the truth of the work.