212 BESIDE THE GEE AT SALT LAKE. 



most to the tameness of the barnyard fowl is a 

 marvelous transformation, and one is tempted to 

 believe the solemn announcement of the Salt 

 Lake prophet, that the Lord sent them to his 

 chosen people. 



The occasion of this alleged special favor to 

 the Latter Day Saints was the advent, about 

 twenty years ago, of clouds of grasshoppers, be- 

 fore which the crops of the Western States and 

 Territories were destroyed as by fire. It was 

 then, in their hour of greatest need, when the 

 food upon which depended a whole people was 

 threatened, that these beautiful winged messen- 

 gers appeared. In large flocks they came, from 

 no one knows where, and settled, like so many 

 sparrows, all over the land, devouring almost 

 without ceasing the hosts of the foe. The crops 

 were saved, and all Deseret rejoiced. Was it 

 any wonder that a people trained to regard the 

 head of their church as the direct representative 

 of the Highest should believe these to be really 

 birds of God, and should accordingly cherish 

 them ? Well would it be for themselves if other 

 Christian peoples were equally believing, and 

 protected and cherished other winged messen- 

 gers, sent just as truly to protect their crops. 



The shrewd man who wielded the destinies 

 of his people beside the Salt Lake secured the 

 future usefulness of what they considered the 



