A few years since he was called upon by a Sister Corradi, whom he only knew by sight, who desired to employ him to officiate for her male kindred dead, saying the Spirit had manifested to her that he was the person to whom she should apply. He consented, and has worked almost exclusively for her list since, and has enough names left to keep him occupied for about another year. Having a spell of illness some time since, he told Sister Corradi she had better find some one else to finish her work, as he feared he might not be able to do so. She, however, refused to believe that he was going to die soon, or fail to finish her work, and said she knew he was going to live to do it. She may be right. Now that he has lived so long (he was seventy-eight years old in May) there is reason to hope that he has several years yet to remain in mortality. It will soon be forty-eight years since he arrived in Utah, notwithstanding the predictions that he would not live to make the journey. It is nearly sixty-eight years since he met with the accident that left him deformed and crippled for life, and during that time he has never been free from pain, though it has varied in degree, being much more intense at some times than others. For many years hernia was added to his other afflictions, but he was healed of that in answer to prayer. About four years ago he lost the use of his voice, and has not since been able to speak above a whisper. In spite, however, of all these handicaps he has accomplished a work of self-sacrifice for the salvation of others that any able-bodied man of his age, desiring the welfare of his fellows, might well be proud of. He has officiated for fully twenty-two hundred persons in all the temple ordinances necessary to place them on a par with the living who have received these ordinances in their own behalf. All this in addition to the work he has had done in behalf of numerous female dead. Truly he has earned for himself the distinction of being a "Savior upon Mount Zion." The crucible of suffering to which he has been so long subjected has had a sanctifying and exalting effect upon him, and eliminated from his character all semblance of sordidness. His struggle for existence has developed the strong traits of his character that otherwise might have remained dormant, and his beneficent concern for others has helped him to bear with equanimity, if not to forget his own troubles. Even age seems to sit lightly upon him. Few who see him ever suspect his advanced age. The peevish, crabbed disposition that so frequently characterizes old age is never manifested by him. Instead, he wears the patient, serene expression of one who lives for a noble purpose, and indulges only in clean and wholesome thoughts.
CHAPTER VIII.
A MODERN STOIC—HIS MODEST OBSCURITY—WHAT RELIGION HAS DONE FOR NIELS—PHILOSOPHIC WAY IN WHICH HE VIEWS DEATH.
Of the many who have witnessed Niels pursuing his toilsome way between his home and the Temple—a distance of about a mile—leaning upon his crutch and moving along at a slow but steady gait, perhaps not one has had a definite idea of what a heroic effort it has required for him to walk at all, and how his constant pain has been increased thereby.
Perhaps none of his fellow workers in the temple, who are in the daily habit of gazing upon his sphinx-like countenance as he silently passes among them, ever even dream that he is the best modern example of the stoic that this region has ever known, the physical agony that he suffers being never betrayed by word or facial expression.
Though casually known to many, he has scarcely been intimate with any. Even the facts pertaining to his life that are herein divulged, had to be fairly pried out of him by degrees, and they will doubtless be a revelation to many of his acquaintances when they read this recital. If his real condition had been generally known in the past, his every want would have been anticipated and supplied by his kind-hearted neighbors or the relief society. The chivalrous boy scouts might have adopted him as their protege, and done what they could to make his home cheerful, or otherwise lighten his burdens, and dyspeptics and other victims of luxurious living might have been making pilgrimages to his house to learn the secret of his long and useful life under such unfavorable conditions.
Possibly it is as well that he has been allowed to make his own way in the world. If he had been petted and pampered, and not had the incentive of want to spur him to exertion, he probably would never have accomplished anything worth mentioning, or that would have distinguished him from the great number of unfortunates that only excite our pity.
Niels acknowledges his indebtedness to the Gospel for all the comfort he has experienced in life. Indeed, without its sustaining power, it is doubtful whether he could have lived as long as he has, or retained his reason, if he had so lived. Without it, he could have had no desire to live; and, failing to find relief in death, his bodily suffering would probably have made of him a raving maniac or a driveling imbecile. As already mentioned, he was converted to the Gospel some time before he was baptized. He has never since entertained a doubt as to its truth. One might as well try to convince him that the sun does not shine, as that the Gospel is not true. Since his baptism he has been unwavering in his devotion to his religion. He has doubtless got more out of his religion than most adherents do. It has been the controlling inspiration of his life. He has been zealous, without being fanatical; devout, without outward expression. He has been a regular attendant at meetings (until he became in recent years too deaf to hear the preaching,) but never ambitious to take part therein. He feels amply repaid in the joy and satisfaction that have come to him for all the labors he has performed, and all the sufferings he has endured. He has no fear of death, but does not court it. He is content to live as long as the Lord is willing to have him do so [[1]]. He seeks no notoriety. He is the very personification of modesty. He is willing to be regarded as a grain of dust, an insignificant atom, and plod on in obscurity during the remainder of his mortal existence, as he has done in the past, without attracting any attention.
The author of this sketch has known Niels casually for years, but never discovered his real character until quite recently. For aught he knows, he may be the original discoverer. He regards as a very great compliment from Niels, the statement that he understood his character and motives as no one else had done before. He sought the acquaintance and confidence of Niels—was not sought by him. He it was, and not Niels, who conceived the idea of reducing to writing some of the incidents of his eventful life, and who surprised him later with a proposition to publish the same. The author is responsible for all deductions expressed herein, the facts alone having been somewhat reluctantly mentioned by Niels, but he has perused the story and endorsed it as correct, with some evident misgiving as to the possible resultant notoriety.