THE IRRIGATION AGE. 127 



dividen-dproducing mines that have paid the owners profits ranging 

 above ^50,000,000 in the past quarter of a century, but not one could 

 have been opened and operated without the fruits of co-operative irri- 

 gation to feed and clothe the primitive prospectors and experienced 

 miners. Brigham Young as chief prophet, seer and revelator of the 

 Mormon church and recognized director in temporal and spiritual 

 affairs, prohibited every form of chance and speculation in land and 

 water and forbade the opening of mines within the borders of his 

 territory. He could see that the desire for gold if left to individual 

 impulse would destroy all co-operative elements and eventually rob 

 the entire colonial organization of its bread-producing population. 

 The first essential was the construction of ditches, irrigating and cul- 

 tivating the land and building homes for the families. When this 

 was accomplished and the colonies were independent of importations 

 the same co-operative spirit which enabled them to build homes in 

 the desert could be as successfully employed in opening the treasure 

 vaults of the mountains. If the original settlers of Utah or the 

 Greeley colony in Colorado had attempted individual home making 

 without colonial union their efforts would have been wasted, their 

 lives sacrificed and the deserts continued the homes of poisonous 

 reptiles and roaming Indians. 



AN INFORMAL PRAYER. 



"The proper way for a man to pray." 



Said Deacon Lemuel Keys. 

 "And the only proper attitude. 



Is down upon his knees.'' 

 "No: I should say the way to pray/' 



Said Rev. Dr. Wise. 

 "Is standing straight, with outstretched arms. 



And rapt and upturned eyes/' 



"Oh, no. no. no!" said Elder Slow: 



"Such posture is too proud. 

 A man should pray with eyes fast closed 



And head contritely bowed." 

 "It seems to me his hands should ba 



Austerely clasped in front. 

 With both thumbs pointed toward the ground." 



Said Rev. Dr. Hunt. 



"Las' year I fell in Hodgkin's well 



Head first." said Cyrus Brown, 

 "With both my heels a-stickin' up. 



My head a pintin' down: 

 An' I made a prayer right then an' there 



Best prayer I ever said 

 The prayin'est prayer I ever prayed, 



A-standin' on my head." 



Lynn (Mass.) Item. 



