Autobiography 1858 Deseret News
—I laid my hands upon my wife and
children, blessed them, committed them into
the hands of God, and started upon my Eng-
lish mission, leaving my family sick, and with
not more than four days' provisions. Br. Brig-
ham Young rowed me across the Mississippi
in a boat; I was sick and feeble. When I
landed I laid down upon the bank of the river
on a side of sole leather. The Prophet Joseph
came along and looked at me and said, "You
are starting on your mission." I said yes, but
I look like a poor instrument for a missionary;
I look more fit for a hospital or dissecting room
than a mission. He replied, "What do you
say that for? Go ahead in the name of the
Lord, and you shall be healed and blessed on
your mission." I thanked him. A brother
came along with a wagon and carried me a
few miles on my road. I started without purse
or scrip, and passed by Parley P. Pratt, who
was hewing logs for a house; he was bare-
footed, bare-headed, without coat or vest on.
He said, "I have no money, but I have an
empty purse; I will give you that." I went a
few rods and found Elder H. C. Kimball build-
ing a log cabin; he said, "I have one dollar; I
will give you that to put in your purse." He
blessed me and I went my way, accompanied
by Elder John Taylor. I had a shake of the
ague every other day and lay on the bottom of
the wagon while I traveled.
We staid with Samuel H. and Don Carlos
Smith at Macomb, and held a meeting with
the Saints, who contributed $9 to our neces-
sities, and George Miller gave us a horse.
Father Coltrin was going east; he took us into
his wagon to help up us along. We spent five
days in Springfield, where Elder Taylor print-
ed fifteen hundred copies of a pamphlet upon
the Missouri persecution. We sold our horse,
