In the "Wilderness"

Mar, 29th 1893

A.L. Clark Esq
Farmington, Utah

Dear Brother: On the 27th inst. your kind favor of the 17th inst. came to me. Glad to hear that are so well and hope that Alice is completely recovered from the Sa Grippe and that father is feeling well. 

To think of father's age is to give rise to tender feelings.  It hardly seems like he is so old as he is. If he were to give way to the natural feelings that infirmities of age teaches us that flesh is heir to he would not be around so much. I hope he is spared the sternerer realities of life; for he needs to be cautious though he may choose to active. His cares need to gradually become lighter. There is a fine old gentleman who has his horse to ride out and he is cautious. On the other hand there is 

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a lady of the broken down aristocracy who went to bed and there she lies. Why, if she had the feelings that some of the relief society sisters have she would forget, at times her own troubles in her care for the welfare of others. Not only do our sisters have an ambition that defeats the attack of pains and aches. I met a lady with some daughters growing up who would sit and knit in the morning sometimes when she was not able to go about the house. After working awhile at her knitting she would be off at her work . She is one of those who does not hire some negro servants.

There are many useful lessons in learning of the experience of others. One would be great if he would profit by all of them. The effect of a perverted gospel is noticeable to some degree. How much more precious would life be to them under the teachings of men that we have read and heard teach the Gospel! Speaking of a late editor the paper speaking of the dead man said that he had now become immortal and had had the judgement passed upon him ^{"In the presence of his maker he has already given an account of the deeds done in the body."} Whoever read wrote that would have his mind led out in a new channel if he were to understand the meaning of 1 Peter, III, 18, 19 vers. and Jno. v chap. 25 verse. There are, also, people in this neighborhood being taught by those who pretend to prove that there is no punishment after death for the wicked. Those who ask us why we don't go where there are no preachers and churches do not understand what they are giving us to understand. It is this, "As the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the son of man be."

There have been a great many cases of Sa Grippe here some time ago. A few, lately. Not so much sickness. The winter has been the severest since '56-7. Sate Spring People are planing potatoes and gardens. We have March winds here. Last Sunday it was so smoky we could not see the Blue Ridge, twelve miles away.

Next month we shall be among those mountains. After the 10 from my address will be Graves Mills Madison County, VA.

Remember me to those inquiring.

Yours Truly, a brother,

C.R. Clark