I receved your
letter of Aug 17, which I received
with much pleasure, but I was sorry
to have you sick but trust that
you are all right again. I got over
my cold and am in good health at
present, I kept myself to close a
part of the time without Exercise which
did not agree with me vary well. On
the other hand I find Fatigue is handard
Exercise soon tires me. I spent a week
in the mountains lately. I spent 4 days
at the grist ^Mill^ of Brother Thompson in pine
Valley. we were there during the Great Storm
that washed away the Bridges, [Dams] & Roads
of this country during the 2 day storm
I help Br Thompson Dress a pair of Mill Stones & put them down in good
order, the first work of the kind I hadave
done for 55 years I spent one day up
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the Pine Vally canyon fishing. I spent half
of the time climing over Rocks trees & thick brush one quarter of the time untangling
my fish line, & one quarter of the time
fishing. I caught 42 trout all the rest
of my company 12 they were small pan
fish, none weighed over 1/2 a lb but they
were good to Eat I would liked to have
given you half of them to Dress & Eat.
I spent the Sunday at Br Holtsranch
on the Edge of the Desert 3 miles North of
the Mountain Meadow Settlement, and
I preached to about 75 Lamanites
who were in camp preparing to go
after Pine Nuts. After Meeting We bap-
tized 15 & confirmed them. I also blessed 6 children
On Monday we travelled 40 miles
in our Lumber Waggon over
Mountains & rocky roads. The flood
had washed the soil out of the Road &
left the rocks if it had not been for
the rocks there would have been No road
left, wanting to take home a little fresh
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meat I sat in the waggon while travelling & shot
a gun 8 times, & got 6 Rabbits, 1 quail &
1 [shide polk]. I did not miss once in the
8 shots. we got home at 10 oclock drove 3
hours in the dark, all of us was weary
Our Conference commences on Saturday
We Expect MarshalsGreenman from S. L. C. & Armstrong from Beaver and
some others after ther Pray. I dont think
I shall Attend. They call Fish Lake9000
feet I think it is $10000 It took from
6 to 8 minuts to boil Eggs so we could eat
them, but we did not get potatoes to
boil at all so we could eat them it
may be they did not boil them Long enough
But I think they would soon cook without
fire if they had been where you wrote
with the Thermometer 130. I think it
must lay in the sun. The Highest it
has been in St George this year was 112 in the shade but I never saw as hot
weather in Salt Lake City. I got letters
from Jesse N Smith & others in Mexico
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The Brethren had not finished their purchases
of Land up to last writing, but I hope
they soon will for it is Needed
Remember me kindly to Grand Pa
and Grand Ma Smith, & to all the
family please Ask Grand Pa Smith
if he would sit down & dictate to you
a letter and you write to me for him, and save him the trouble & tell
me how he is, & the News of the day
with him and what the spirit of the
Elements are in Salt Lake these times.
I have Dreamed of being in Salt Lake
severil times since I left, but I always
met with a clan of Men I did not wish to see, so I do not think I shall
go at present. We are Now having co[l]der
weather so, we can have some clothing over
us nights. Give my Love to your Father
& Grand MaW when you see them. I am
always glad to get Letters from you when
you have time to ^write^ Yours Affectionately