JOURNEY TO AKEMAN'S.

CHAPTER V.

OUR ANXIETY TO MEET A SAINT—JOURNEY TO AKEMAN'S—
A DREAM—FIND MR. AKEMAN A RANK APOSTATE—HE
RAISES A MOB—THREATENED WITH TAR, FEATHERS,
ETC.—I WARN MR. AKEMAN TO REPENT—HE FALLS DEAD
AT MY FEET—I PREACH HIS FUNERAL SERMON.

IN the early days of the Church, it was a great treat to an
Elder in his travels through the country to find a "Mor-
mon;" it was so with us. We were hardly in Arkansas when
we heard of a family named Akeman. They were in Jackson
County in the persecutions. Some of the sons had been tied
up there and whipped on their bare backs with hickory switches
by the mob. We heard of their living on Petit Jean River, in
the Arkansas Territory, and we went a long way to visit them.

There had recently been heavy rains, and a creek that we had
to cross was swollen to a rapid stream of eight rods in width.
There was no person living nearer than two miles from the
crossing, and no boat. The people living at the last house
on the road, some three miles from the crossing, said we would
have to tarry till the water fell before we could cross. We did
not stop, feeling to trust in God.

Just as we arrived at the rolling flood a negro, on a powerful
horse, entered the stream on the opposite side and rode
through it. On our making our wants known to him, he took
us, one at a time, behind him and carried us safely over, and
we went on our way rejoicing.

We arrived that night within five miles of Mr. Akeman's,
and were kindly entertained by a stranger. During the
night I had the following dream:

I thought an angel came to us, and told us we were com-
manded of the Lord to follow a certain straight path, which
was pointed out to us, let it lead us wherever it might. After
we had walked in it awhile we came to the door of a house,
which was in the line of a high wall running north and south,
so that we could not go around. I opened the door and saw

JOURNEY TO AKEMAN'S.

CHAPTER V.

OUR ANXIETY TO MEET A SAINT—JOURNEY TO AKEMAN'S— A DREAM—FIND MR. AKEMAN A RANK APOSTATE—HE RAISES A MOB—THREATENED WITH TAR, FEATHERS, ETC.—I WARN MR. AKEMAN TO REPENT—HE FALLS DEAD AT MY FEET—I PREACH HIS FUNERAL SERMON.

IN the early days of the Church, it was a great treat to an Elder in his travels through the country to find a "Mormon;" it was so with us. We were hardly in Arkansas when we heard of a family named Akeman. They were in Jackson County in the persecutions. Some of the sons had been tied up there and whipped on their bare backs with hickory switches by the mob. We heard of their living on Petit Jean River, in the Arkansas Territory, and we went a long way to visit them.

There had recently been heavy rains, and a creek that we had to cross was swollen to a rapid stream of eight rods in width. There was no person living nearer than two miles from the crossing, and no boat. The people living at the last house on the road, some three miles from the crossing, said we would have to tarry till the water fell before we could cross. We did not stop, feeling to trust in God.

Just as we arrived at the rolling flood a negro, on a powerful horse, entered the stream on the opposite side and rode through it. On our making our wants known to him, he took us, one at a time, behind him and carried us safely over, and we went on our way rejoicing.

We arrived that night within five miles of Mr. Akeman's, and were kindly entertained by a stranger. During the night I had the following dream:

I thought an angel came to us, and told us we were commanded of the Lord to follow a certain straight path, which was pointed out to us, let it lead us wherever it might. After we had walked in it awhile we came to the door of a house, which was in the line of a high wall running north and south, so that we could not go around. I opened the door and saw