We had experienced our first ride on a steamboat, coming from Glasgow to Liverpool, and had a very rough journey for 24 hours, and Cecelia and I were very sick, but Margaret proved to be a good sailor.
After arriving at Liverpool, we tarried there for a few days, waiting for the good ship- Ellen Maria, the ship on which we emigrated, to get loaded, there being a large company of Saints, so we had to time to look around the city and to go to the shops to buy, and hear them talk English, which was quite amusing to us, as we had never been out of Scotland until then. We also had time to reflect back to the time of bidding an affectionate farewell to our loved ones and many neighbors, among whom we had been raised in the town of Edinburgh, on the coast of the beautiful Firth of Fouth, where our hearts were much endeared to the many hills and dates, where we three girls with our brother, Alexander, had roamed with our many comrades in the neighborhood, 47 India Place.
It was February 10, 1852, we sailed from Liverpool, and the Saints all sang Hymn #No. 235, Page 241 of the Latter-day Saint Hymn Book-"Yes My Native Land, I Love THEE,"
All thy scenes, I love them well; [p.8]
Friends, connections, happy country,
Can I bid you farewell?
Can I leave thee,
Far in the distant lands to dwell?
[verse] 2
Home thy joys are passing lovely,
Joy no stranger heart can tell;
Happy home 'tis sure I love thee.
Can I, can I say farewell?
Can I leave thee,
Far in the distant lands to dwell?
[verse] 3
Holy scenes of joy and gladness
Every fond emotion swell;
Can I banish heartfelt sadness
While I bid my home farewell?
Can I leave thee,
Far in the distant lands to dwell?
verse [4]
Yes, I hasten from you gladly,
From the scenes I love so well,
Far away, ye billows, bear me,
Lovely, native lands, farewell.
Pleased I leave thee,
Far in distant lands to dwell.
verse [5]
In the deserts let me labor,
On the mountains let me tell
How he died, the blessed Savior,
To redeem a world from hell.
Let me hasten,
Far in distant lands to dwell.
verse [6]
Bear me on, thou restless ocean,
Let the winds the canvas swell;
Heaves my heart with warm emotion,
While I go far hence to dwell.
Glad I bid thee,
Native land, farewell, farewell.
The first few days of our sailing along the Irish coast was very rough and stormy, and Cecelia and I were again very sick, but Margaret proved again to be a good sailor and able to help us a little.
When we got out in the open sea, we had lovely voyage excepting by being delayed by some contrary winds and [p.9] dead calms, causing the vessel to scarcely move. We were nine or 10 weeks at sea and reached New Orleans, April 6, 1852. We then took a steamboat up the Mississippi River to St. Louis , where many of the weak-hearted Saints apostatized. After tarrying there a few days, we boarded another steamer and went up the Missouri River to Kansas City, where we landed.
We were assigned, with others, to two log cabins, or rooms where we were to sleep, and to do our cooking at a fire-place, taking our turn with the bake kettle. We made our beds on the floor at night. It was here we learned to wait to be patient and take our turn, as there were so many of us to use that oven. We were a pretty good set of people and did not quarrel. President A. O. Smoot, was our captain. [p.10]
. . . Our company arrived in the Valley September 3, 1852, and were met by Ballos Brass Band, at Echo Canyon. We were the first company of Saints to have been brought by the Perpetual Emigration Fund, which had been organized by President Brigham Young. We received great honors. . . . [p.14]
BIB: Brower, Hannah Thompson. Autobiography (Ms 10204), pp. 8-10, 14. (CHL)
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