By "Homespun." JUVENILE INSTRUCTOR OFFICE Salt Lake City, Utah. 1883....

The growing demand for our own literature among the youth of this people has induced us to undertake the publication of a new series of books. The general satisfaction which the books of the Faith-Promoting Series have given, encourages us in the hope that this new series, which is designed to contain various items of interest and instruction from the lives of our noble sisters, will also be worthy of the perusal of the Saints. We present, as the first book of the Noble Women's Lives Series, the

A little girl with light-blue eyes and fair hair sat under the shade of the forest trees pulling a sheep-skin. One by one her brothers and sisters, older and younger than she, had grown weary of the work and wandered off to play. "Oh, Lydia, how can you sit there over that tiresome work. Look at the shadows under the trees, and the squirrels calling to us to come and chase them from limb to limb. Let's have a play," said the last little boy as his patience at length had ebbed away. "No," replied

Snow on the fields, on the hills and in the valleys. Snow on the house-tops and in the crevices. White, soft, dazzling snow. The scene without was lovely beyond description. The trees weighted down with their crown of glory. But within, the inmates of the farm were comparatively prisoners. "My dear," the mother said to her husband, "Lydia is full of sorrow. Her thoughts are far from her works; I fear for her unless something can be done to draw her mind from her trouble." "Well, wife, these thin

Although so remote from the States, rumors of a new prophet and a "golden bible" had reached Mount Pleasant, and had been wondered over and commented upon. Freeman had been told that his parents had joined the new Church, and he was rather disgusted with the information. It will be necessary to say here that the old gentleman was indeed full of the gospel he had embraced, and was so anxious for the eternal welfare of his sons in Canada, that he had hitched up his carriage, gone on a visit to Kir

Lydia remained here until the Summer of '34, and then, on seeing a chance to return within about eighty miles of her home in western New York, she did so. At a town called St. Catherine she remained some two months, and then went by stage to her father's house. So beautiful was this gospel in the eyes of the ardent girl, that she felt that all that was needful for her parents to share in her joy, was simply to tell them the story. But as is often the case, the father and mother, although so good

It was the advice of both Brother Hyrum and his wife, Jerusha, that the marriage should take place at once, and, as Lydia's objections were all overruled, preparations were made immediately. On the 23rd of November, 1835, was the day chosen. Brother and Sister Smith decided to have a wedding-supper and invite some guests. Accordingly, in the afternoon of the 22nd he set out to invite the friends of the family. Going to father Smith's, he asked them all to be present. Hastening on to Joseph's hou

A branch called the Colesville Branch had gone up to Jackson Co., Missouri, from New York, and this branch was presided over by Brother Newel, who had been called to this position by revelation. It was driven from Jackson Co. in the Fall of '33, and had settled in Clay Co. This then was the future home of Lydia. Newel's father, two brothers and three sisters were here. His aged mother was buried in Jackson, being the first Saint buried in Missouri. Arriving at their farm, some days were spent in

In the early morning of Wednesday, 31st of Oct., the flag of truce spoken of in the previous chapter was sent out, and the traitor soon returned to consummate his horrible plan. The day was spent by the anxious mother in work and prayer. Often she bent her knees in humble petition for the safety of her children and the brethren concealed in her house that they might not be found. Newel was away with the men who were trying to devise means to protect their homes and families. In the afternoon a n

Newel set to work to try and assist the homeless ones and feed the poor. To this labor he devoted himself through the Winter. In February he determined to go, with the rest of his brethren who were leaving the State, but did not know how it could be accomplished. "Lydia, how are we to manage? "The mob have killed all my stock but one cow, and we can't very well ride her, or drive her alone." "Can you not make some turn with the cow so that some one will move us?" "Perhaps! At least I can try." A

The Autumn and Winter passed pleasantly away. Health being restored, homes were being being made for these tent-dwellers. The busy hum of the workman sounded on every side. Trees were set out; houses, one-roomed, two-roomed and sometimes double-storied, slowly arose to take the place of the parti-colored tents. The first time Joseph came across Newel, he shook hands with him and enquired: "Have you brought your mill?" "No, sir; I had no way to move my mill, it was much too heavy to bring." "Well

Alone in an Indian country, uncertain where she would go or what she should do, this woman with seven little helpless children took up the burden of life. In and through her surged the consciousness that God doeth all things well. But oh the awful, the silent loneliness! That evening (11th of Jan.), Newel was buried. No lumber could be had, so Lydia had one of her wagon-boxes made into a rude coffin. The day was excessively cold, and some of the brethren had their fingers and feet frozen while d

What sufferings must have been endured by these brave, faithful, single-hearted, pioneer "Mormon" women. Pen and tongue are weak to express the struggles and trials of these heroines of modern times. Lydia was still in her little den into which she had moved when coming to the place one year ago; flooded when it rained, intensely cold in Winter, hot and stifling in the Summer, and always damp, low, unhealthy and impossible to make, or keep clean. Lydia was too neat and thrifty to tamely submit t

When first moving into their little, home Lydia had put all the cows but one out upon the range. The following very remarkable instance, is an example of what God will do for those who gladly keep His laws: The one cow left at home stood out in the open air, staked a little way from the house. One morning in December Lydia awoke to find herself surrounded by a mountain of snow. "Oh the cow!" said Lydia, as she sprang from her bed; "boys, something must be done." Hurriedly dressing, she went to t