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Show The Payson Chronicle, Payson, Utah Winning essay on Utah history Editors note: The essay published here, written by winLynda HaskelL was the ning entry in a contest in Ronald Hall's Utah history class at the Payson Junior High School Seventh Grade. LAURA PERKINS DIARY Nan and her Mother sat looking through the family picture album. On one page there was an odd looking picture and a little battered book. There was some writing on the book, but it couldnt be, read. Nan asked questioning-lyWhos that, and whats that funny little book? Her Mother replied, Why thats Grandmothyour Great-Greer Perkins and thats the diary she kept when she came from Nauvoo to Salt Lake. Mother, do you think it would be all right to read the Ive heard they are at diary? very personal. I think if she were here she wouldnt object." So, carefully, so as not to tear the very old pages they opened the book and read it. This is what they read: September 24, 1842 Dear Diary, Today Brigham Young told us we were going to leave Nauvoo. There have been so many deaths that to go West is the A big mob only solution. came to Grandpas farm yesterday and decided to kill him, and they did. They killed all his animals and burned down everything he had standing. I feel so bad, Momma cried all PAYSON CHRONICLE A weekly newspaper, establish ed in 1888, published ever Thursday and entered as sec ond Class matter at the pus, office in Payson, Utah, undei the act of March 8, 1879. Subscription rate. $3.00 per year, $1.75 6 months, payable in advance: single copy 10 cents. Max R. Warner, Publisher Madoline Dixon, THURSDAY, most impossible to get. Bessy, my cow, is starving to death because of lack of food. The oxen are so slow and they are very thin. We will never get there. Its awful rainy. On April 4 it rained so hard that we couldnt even have a campfire. It was so wet and cold that as a result of it I have October 24, 1842 a very bad cold. I cough all Dear Diary, day and all night and its just 20 Everybody is busy as bees. awful toa have. On April but bit mak-.n- g was little better, it is Nauvoo in shop Every something to take West. its still an awful thing to On October 1, Brigham Young have. gave us seeds, vines, shrubJune 24, 184$ bery, and the best of tools to Dear Diary, take with us, The bugs are just thick. We I have to leave my very best are on the Missouri River doll and keepsake box be- banks, and water always cause Mom says shoes are draws bugs. On June 13, John more important. I dont think Amos died. He was allergic they are. On Oct. 10 the shoe- to the mosquitoes bite, and he maker came and I helped him lost his medicine crossing the make 30 pairs of shoes. I was Mississippi River. On June 20 sure tired when that day end- there had been 10 deaths beed. cause of the bugs. It was just awful to see them lay the peo1846 4, February in the ground and just ple Dear Diary, leave them alone. Just about and the saddest is Today everybody is sick with somehappiest day of my whole life. thing or other. I have 'been We left Nauvoo, I had to leave taking care of as many peomy beautiful home and go to ple as I can. Im glad Im an ugly place that has no grass not sick. or anything. The only thing we brought was bedding, shoes, August 24, 1846 food, the tools Brigham Young Dear Diary, I havent been able to write gave us, and faith. The things we could get along without because I have been sick. Its we had to leave behind. Brig- just terrible to be sick and ham Young said altogether still keep right on doing things there were 15,000 Mormons as if you werent sick. On that left Nauvoo. It was so cold August 20, we made our first It got to 20 below Midway Station. Its kind of today. We camped at Sugar cute. Mom and some other zero. Creek and Mom was one of ladies fixed up inside and eight other women to have the men planted grain in back. babies that night. I have a Brigham Young told us that baby sister, but I dont know 500 men were to volunteer to how it will live, because its fight in the war with Mexico, so cold. On Feb. 13 we cross- and daddy did. I wish he ed the Mississippi and started wouldnt have because Mom out again. We are moving so has to take care of the baby slow, and at night the wagons and I cant drive the oxen get stuck in mud and snow alone, but I guess Ill have to and freeze; its sure hard to try. Im going to miss daddy I know I so much. get them out pushed ours out because dadOct 24, 1846 dy cant because hes sick and Mom has to tend the baby. Dear Diary, Today was a dance day. It Sometimes I wish she were was to herself. really lots of fun. I met help big enough cute a boy whose name is The rivers are real hard to cross; when we crossed the Mark. Hes 14, so he should Mississippi we lost 2 blankets, be a lot of fun, On October 1, Mom named Owwwww I wish 'I had them. my little sister Rose, because April 24, 1846 shes as red as one. Shes Dear Diary, started to talk, and Mom says Food for the animals is al that by Christmas she will she said, bring only shoes, food, something to keep you warm, and faith, m.be glad when we get there so we can see Daddy. day yesterday because of it. Im so glad were leaving, but I dont want to leave my home and everything to go somewhere that I know nothing about, and there is even danger of getting killed. I guess Ill go though. I cant write much because Im too busy. July 24, 1847 Dear Diary, Were here! Were here! Finally were here in Utah. This isnt what I had expected but I am still glad Im here. We STRONG ARM TACTICS . . . Guy Mierczuk, left, and Bill Stevens strut In front of the Arch of Constantine in Rome. They are, respectively, Mr. World and Mr. Universe. GENOLA NOVEMBER 24, 1960 leading role in Snow College play Principal roles have been assigned and rehearsals are now underway for Snow College presentation of the popHammer-stei- n musical, South Pacific," met daddy and hes changed on 8 and 9, Prof, Joseph so much. I hardly knew him. W. Dec. Crane, who is acting as He said he had come with the men that had been sick be- director, announced Wednescause he was sick most of the day. Playing the leading role as time. I saw our new house that were going to live in. Nellie Forbush will be Donna I slept in a bed for the first Smith, Payson, who has had time since I left Nauvoo on principal parts in other colJ uly 25. It was a very long trip, lege productions. Ross as- r, Salina, has been but now that Im here, FM the signed part of Emile de SURE GLAD THAT IM Mr. Becque. Bumgardner was HERE! one of the leads in Bells Are Ringing last year. July 20, 1847 Dear Dairy, Others having roles are Dee Today we entered Utah, but Bullock, Orem; Kay Morten-sowe still have about a hundred Emery; Ben Canning and miles to go. Everyone is giv- Richard Cannaday, Ephraim, ing a little push so they can and Norman Alverson, Salina. get there a little faster. I cant Assisting Prof. Crane with say much because I want to the staging is Prof. Duane W. Bum-gardne- start to walk. My tummy is full and December 1846 Dear Diary, Rose can walk Im so happy because now I dont have to pull her in the wagon. Mom said she would still have to walk, but that she would have to ride a lot of the way because shes so young. Were in Indian territory now and Im afraid of them. One whole tribe rode up on white ponies and talked to Brigham Young for a long time. Then they all rode away, so I guess every thing is all right. Yesterday two men were killed. It happened like this. We were running low on food, so Brigham Young sent 13 men out to look for food. Suddenly there was a big brown dust and the men started to shoot, but two of the men happened to be in the buffalos way and they ran right over them. It was the first time I had seen a buffalo and they sure are big. Altogether the men shot 4. We really had a big feast. happy. Im very February 1847 Dear Diary, We have been crossing this desert for one solid year. I dont think well ever get there. On March 1, Mark said he was driving along and all of his sisters said, Wheres Mother? Mark ran back along the trail until he reached his Mother. She said, Mark I want you to take good care of the children, Im so cold, Im numb all over. I know Im going to die. Mark picked her up and carried her back to the now made camp, but when he reached it, it was too late, she was dead. They buried their Mother with tear stained faces. April 1847 Dear Diary, On April 27, Susan Hall ate her last pair of shoes, as had many others, including me. We are so hungry we will eat anything, even roots. Now I know what Mom meant when n, hurry. Her Mother closed the book and as she was putting it away she noticed Nan had a very far away look in her eyes. What are you thinking her Mother asked. about, Oh, I was just thinking and trying to imagine how grandma felt when she came to Utah and actually saw what she had traveled hundred of Dorothy Thomas Mr. and Mrs. Leo Tilby from Ely, Nevada, visited at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Tilby, last week. Mrs. Burke Draper and Sam Elton, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Roberts from Goshen visited at Tooele last Friday at a tirthday party. The "Birthday Club" entertained Mrs. Rulon Finch at her home at Goshen last Saturday evening. Supper was served and cards were played. Prizes were won by Mrs. Grant Larson, Mrs. Finch, Leonard Isaacson and Dewain Sanderson. Also present were Mr. and Mrs. Myron Christensen, Mr. and Mrs. Milton Thomas, Grant Larson, Mrs. Isaacson, Mrs. Sanderson and Rulon Finch. Mr. and Mrs. Harold Oberg entertained last week end Mr. and Mrs. Farrell Asay from Salt Lake; Mr. and Mrs. Carl Oberg from Anchorage, Alaska. The Obergs will make their home in Spanish Fork, their home at Spanish Fork. Mr. and Mrs. Bill Milner and two children from Salt Lake visited at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Howard Thomas last Sunday. The "Friendly Eight Club" was entertained by Mrs. Dorothy Thomas last Thursday. Cards were played and prizes awarded to Mrs. Bonnie Thomas, Mrs. Delia White, Mrs. Beth Also present were Thomas. Mrs. Evelyn Larson, Mrs. Dee Christensen, Mrs. Nellie Finch, Mrs. Deleen Thomas and Mrs. By Donna Smith has a ular Rodgers and HEWS Ryan. South Pacific, one of the most popular musical comedies of the American stage, will be presented as a benefit for a Snow College student center now being planned, Prof. Crane said. Througn new techniques in urgery, damaged heart valves m b repaired, heart miles for. defects can be corrected, and Her Mother answered quite is eased arteries can be re- Colleen Davidson. Andrew Larsen is at his suddenly, You can be sure placed, the Utah Heart Ashome convalesing after an acthat she and the other people sociation reports. cident at his work. He spent that were with her were the three weeks at the Provo hoshappiest people in all the world, for they had what they set the table for dinner before pital. Mr. and Mrs. Zack Ewell wanted; To live as they wanted your father gets home. and to worship as they pleased. By Linda Lou Haskell spent last Saturday visiting at Tooele. Hurry, now, Nan and help me Easy way to do your new-ca- r -- in-bo- m sampling Drive Chevy once around the block at your ! Chevrolet dealers one-sto- p center shopping Just drop in and take a drive in one of the 30 spanking new 61 models your Chevy dealer now offers under the, same roof. 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