When he saw the walls of the Temple, then in course of construction, and realized its purpose, and at what infinite sacrifice it had been so far built, he was forcibly reminded of the dying exhortion of his father, to "never forget the dead," and determined, if the Lord spared his life, to fulfill his father's hopes in that respect.
CHAPTER IV.
LOCATES IN BOUNTIFUL—GENEROSITY OF NEIGHBORS—RECOGNIZED HOME SHOWN HIM IN DREAM—BURNED OUT—RUNS A SAW MILL—DEATH OF WIFE—CHILD TERRIBLY SCALDED, RECOVERS—BRIGHAM YOUNG'S PROMISE—MARRIES AGAIN—COMFORTING TESTIMONIES.
THOMAS and his family spent a few days in Salt Lake, studying over the question, of where to locate. While wondering what to do, the thought occurred to him to inquire where an old-country friend of his, named Joseph Reed lived, of whom he had heard nothing for fourteen years. While walking up towards the Temple Block he felt prompted to inquire at the Deseret News Office. He was there informed that a man of that name lived at Bountiful.
The next morning he took the stage for that place. He found the man he was looking for, and they had a long and friendly chat. Brother Reed advised Thomas to come and make his home in Bountiful, where he could find plenty of feed for his cattle, and where he might also obtain work. Or, if he preferred to go to a new region, where he could locate on as much land as he desired, Bear Lake Valley was suggested as a good place, though rather distant.
Thomas felt that he had done all the traveling he cared to for one year, and preferred to establish a temporary home to determine where he could locate permanently to the best advantage. He accordingly returned to Salt Lake City and took his family to Bountiful. They arrived there Saturday evening, and attended meeting the next day—the first time he had been so privileged for over ten years.
The family lived in their wagon for the first two weeks, and during that time Thomas was given the privilege of helping his friend husk corn, getting every sixth bushel husked for his share. Then he rented a one-roomed house at $3.00 per month and set up housekeeping in it. They had no furniture, but converted a large box, (which they had their clothing packed in while making their journey across the plains) into a table, and made seats by buying a few slabs and boring holes in them, in which to insert sticks to serve as legs. For want of bedsteads, they made their beds upon the floor. The room was not plastered, and they felt the cold severely at times, but they were thankful for the comforts they had. Under these conditions his son James was born, on the 6th of December, 1864, and, notwithstanding the winter was long and cold, the mother and babe continued to do well.
His nearest neighbor, John Spencer, proffered to lend Thomas two hundred pounds of flour until he could afford to repay it, and when he learned that it was the proceeds of wheat which Sister Spencer and her daughter had gleaned in the fields of their wealthier neighbors, after their harvest was over, his heart overflowed with gratitude therefor.
When their flour was exhausted, and they didn't know where to obtain any more, Joseph Reed offered to lend him flour or anything else in the edible line he had, and told him not to allow his family to suffer for want of food as long as he had any.