Chapter II: Preface: To the Second Edition

In publishing this, the second edition of the STRING OF PEARLS, it is only necessary to add that the first edition of 5,000 copies is exhausted, and we are induced by the continued demand for the book to re-issue it. It is very gratifying to notice the taste which has been developed during the past few years, among the youth of our community, for such reading matter as the FAITH-PROMOTING SERIES contains. We hope to see a continued growth in this direction, and that our brethren and sisters of experience will be prompted by it to write for publication such sketches from their lives as will point a moral and convey a lesson to the minds of future generations who may peruse the same.

We see no reason why the six volumes of the FAITH-PROMOTING SERIES already published, as well as those which may follow, should not be regarded in the future as standard works of the Church, and used for home reading or Sunday school class books when their authors and those of whose history they treat shall have passed to another sphere of action.

June, 1882. THE PUBLISHER.

CONTENTS.

AMONG THE PONCAS.

CHAPTER I.

Start for the Mountains--Experience as a Cobbler--Indian Mission Abandoned--Caching Property--Ponca Indians--A Prophecy and its Fulfillment.

CHAPTER II.

Going with the Poncas--Buffalo Meat--Camped for the Winter--Council with the Indians--A War Dance--Selected to go with the Poncas on a Winter's Hunt.

CHAPTER III.

Grand "Peace" Smoke--Table Etiquette--No Dish Washing--White Friends Discouraged.

CHAPTER IV.

Last two Brethren leave me--Home-sick--Tonsorial Experience--"Whadee-Shipper," a New Name for me--Kindness of the Indians.

CHAPTER V.

A Buffalo Hunt--A Thrilling Sight--Conversation with the Indians--Scurvy--Answer to Prayer.

CHAPTER VI.

Strength in Time of Need--Afflicted like Job, with Boils--Scraping with a Potsherd Pleasant--My Prayer Room--Dressing Buffalo Robes--Dining on Cottonwood Bark--Indian Self-Denial.

CHAPTER VII.

Police Regulations--A Moral People--Marriage Customs--Invitation to a Feast--Skunk Meat at Midnight--Indians Cheated by White Traders.

CHAPTER VIII.

Symptoms of Death--No Hopes of Living--Ponca Manner of Burying the Dead--Dread of Having my Body Mangled by the Wolves--Decide to Bargain with the Indians to Cut up my Body and Take it to my Friends--Happy Assurance that I should Live, etc.

CHAPTER IX.

Visit from the Brules--Feast on Dog Meat--Seat of Honor on the Pillow--Return Journey--Opening Caches--Shooting Fish--Curious Manner of Cooking Fish.

CHAPTER X.

Chosen to go as an Envoy to the Camp of the Saints--A Solitary Journey--Surrounded by Thousands of Wolves--Providential Deliverance--Happy Sight, a Yoke of Oxen--Tears of Joy--Meet two of my Friends--Safe Return to the Camp of the Saints.

ANECDOTES OF ELDER GRANT.

CHAPTER I.

Reputation as a Ready Speaker--Putting him to the Test--Sermon from a Blank Text--Enthusiasm at the Close of it--A Collection Proposed--The Minister Objects to Passing the Hat--They Compel him to--Handsome Collection--Discussion with a Great Baptist Preacher--Preacher Nonplussed by Elder Grant's Repartee.

CHAPTER II.

Curious Coincidence--Impression upon Miss Floyd--Her Acknowledgment--Challenged by Mr. Ruby--Meeting by Chance--Elder Grant's Estimate of Mr. Ruby--The Preacher Cowed.

WAR HILL.

Elder J. M. Grant Challenged to Debate--Boone's Hill Chosen as the Place--His Antagonist gets Six Ministers to Help him--Demoralized Ministers send for Another to Assist them--Inglorious Defeat of the Eight--One of them Absent-Minded--Change of Name to "War Hill."

SIGN-SEEKING.

Persecuting the Missionaries--A Discussion--Not Content with Bible Proof-;--A Sign Demanded--No Signs Promised the Unbelievers--Warned to Repent, or Endure the Curse of God--The Result.

MISSIONARY INCIDENTS.

CHAPTER I.

A Busy Mission--A Rich Harvest of Souls--Judgments upon our Opponents.

CHAPTER II.

Visit to a Baptist Meeting--Abuse of the Various Churches, Especially the "Mormons"--Boasted Bible-name and Religion--Return to the Text--"Hard-Shell" Wail--Reply to False Assertions--Their "Bible-name" Disproved--The True Scripture Name Pointed out.

CHAPTER III.

Ministers Appoint a Meeting to Expose "Mormonism"--We Appoint one for the Same Purpose, and the Same Day--Ministers Fail to Appear--Others Preach Instead--We Follow--A Baptist Attempts to Reply--His Contradictory Statement--Fellow-Preacher's Chagrin--The Preacher's Concession.

CHAPTER IV.

My First Sermon--Remarkable Instance of Help from the Almighty.