264 LIFE IN THE FAR WEST 



to, and the lost tribes of Israel is thar, and will jine 

 us. They say as we'll starve on the road, bekase thar's 

 no game and no water ; but thar's manna up in 

 heaven, and it '11 rain on us, and thar's prophets among 

 us can make the water ' come.' Can't they, brother 

 Dowdle ? " 



" Well, they can." 



" And now, what have the Gentiles and the Philis- 

 tines to say against us Mormons ? They says we're 



thieves, and steal hogs ; yes, d 'em ! they say we 



has as many wives as we like. So we have. I've 

 twenty forty, myself, and mean to have as many more 

 as I can get. But it's to pass unfortunate females into 

 heaven that I has 'em yes, to prevent 'em going to 

 roaring flames and damnation that I does it. 



" Brother Dowdle," he continued, in a hoarse, low 

 voice, " I've ' give out,' and think we'd better begin the 

 exercises grettful to the Lord." 



Brother Dowdle rose, and, after saying that "he 

 didn't feel like saying much, begged to remind all 

 hands, that dancing was solemn like, to be done with 

 proper devotion, and not with laughing and talking, 

 of which he hoped to hear little or none ; that joy was 

 to be in their hearts, and not on their lips ; that they 

 danced for the glory of the Lord, and not their own 

 amusement, as did the Gentiles." After saying thus, 

 he called upon brother Ezra to " strike up : " sundry 

 couples stood forth, and the ball commenced. 



Ezra of the violin was a tall, shambling Missourian, 

 with a pair of " homespun " pantaloons thrust into the 



