LIFE IN THE FAR WEST 267 



that the Western pioneers are made of ; his daughter 

 Mary, a fine woman of thirty, for whose state of single 

 blessedness there must doubtless have been sufficient 

 reason ; for she was not only remarkably handsome, 

 but was well known in Memphis to be the best-tem- 

 pered and most industrious young woman in those dig- 

 gings. She was known to have received several advan- 

 tageous offers, all of which she had refused ; and 

 report said, that it was from having been disappointed 

 in veiy early life in an affaire du cceur, at an age when 

 such wounds sometimes strike strong and deep, leaving 

 a scar difficult to heal. Neither his daughter, nor any of 

 his family, had been converted to the Mormon doctrine, 

 but had ever kept themselves aloof, and refused to 

 join or associate with them ; and, for this reason, the 

 family had been very unpopular with the Mormon 

 families on the Arkansa ; and hence, probably, one 

 great reason why they now started alone on their 

 journey. 



Spring had arrived, and it was time the Mormons 

 should proceed on their march ; but whether already 

 tired of the sample they had had of life in the wilder- 

 ness, or fearful of encountering the perils of the Indian 

 country, not one amongst them, with the exception of 

 old Brand, seemed inclined to pursue the journey 

 farther. That old backwoodsman, however, was not to 

 be deterred, but declared his intention of setting out 

 alone, with his family, and risking all the dangers to be 

 anticipated. 



One fine sunny evening in April of 1847, when the 



