Chapter 17.
Miss Carmichael's Parting Words.—San Francisco.—Orson Pratt's Prophecy. Sail for Hawaii.—Delivered From the Hands of a Wicked Man.—Visit Walter M. Gibson.—View Kawaimanu.
Wednesday, April 27, 1864. I spent the day visiting my dear mother, and passed the night beneath my father's hospitable roof. Miss S. E. Carmichael wrote "A Parting Word to my Friend John R. Young:"
My words are seldom strong, or bright,
A woman's tones are low,
And 'tis not much a hand so slight
Can offer thee, I know,
'Tis like the quivering breath that wakes
Where forest leaves are stirred,
Yet from a friend's true heart it takes
To thee, a parting word,
REMEMBER.
Remember—hope in thy sorrow,
Remember—faith in thy prayer,
Remember—the bright tomorrow
That dawns on the night's despair,
Remember—the hearts that love thee
Are with thee—everywhere.
Remember—the path of duty
When other paths seem fair,
Remember—the truth's white beauty
When weak illusions glare.
And should the world defy thee
Alone its strength to dare,
Remember—Heaven is nigh thee,
Remember—God is there.A friend's kind thoughts attend thy way
Where e'er that way may be,
And so I make remember,
A parting word to thee.
On April 28, in company with Elder Benjamin Cluff, I took stage for Sacramento. We were six days and nights, jolting across the dusty, rut cut deserts. At Austin and Egan mining camps, Nevada, hay was two hundred dollars per ton and flour 18 cents per pound.
On May 4th we reached San Francisco, where we met Apostles Lorenzo Snow and Ezra T. Benson, returning from the islands. They had cut Walter M. Gibson off the Church, and appointed Joseph F. Smith president of the mission.
I also met and spent six days with Apostle Orson Pratt. He was on his way to Austria to introduce the Gospel to that nation. He telegraphed to President Young to see if my mission could be changed, so that I could accompany him. It was thought best, however, for me to continue on to the islands.
Sunday, May 22, 1864, I accompanied Brother Pratt in a walk to the summit of the high cliff west of the city. We found a secluded crevice and knelt in prayer. He seemed oppressed in spirit, grieving perhaps, over the infidelity of his son Orson. While he was talking, the Spirit of the Lord came upon him; and he upbraided the inhabitants of San Francisco, and prophesied that the city should be destroyed by earthquake.