Mary Sabin Powell's Story ... continued

page 5

The President of the Branch now placed Father in charge of Three Districts, Lan Ellen, Abi Gavanni, and Lan Toni Abbey [sic]. He met with the saints in one of these Districts each Sunday. Often the Elders returned with him and remained at our place several days. Mother washed, ironed and mended their clothes. Said she, "Maybe I'll have a grandson go on a mission someday, or a son." (She had several grandsons and a great-grandson who have fulfilled missions, also one son-in-law.)

Just before little Sarah Ann was born, Mother had a remarkable dream in which she saw numerous white coffins going out from many homes in the village and in neighboring villages. She dreamed that one little white coffin went out from her own home. Father said, "You are just worrying. Try to dismiss it from your thoughts." When Sarah was four days old, Mother's sadly-troubled dream began to seem real. A strange sickness spread throughout the village. Father was sorely stricken and went to bed. Although the baby was only four days old, Mother had to rise and give Father the medicine. None of the neighbors dared enter the house. I was kept busy running up and down stairs with fresh drinking water for Father and Mother. I was but nine years old, light-of-foot, and eager to be of service to my parents in their afflictions. One kind man came daily and made a journey to the spring to fill two huge water jugs for me. During normal times I always brought the water and thought nothing of it.

In the midst of our trouble, Lady Hall and her maid came. This Lady Hall was the wife of Lord Hall - a member of Parliament. She spent her winters in London and her summers in the country. She had known Mother since a child.

When Lady Hall came to us, I met her at the door and hung her wraps in the little hallway. She went straight upstairs to Mother's room. The moment she entered she said, "Lie down, Eliza, I shall give John the medicine."
"I don't like to have you do this for us, Lady Hall," said Mother.
"Never mind," she answered, "your neighbours are willing at heart but they are frightened. They dare not come. As for me I'm glad to help you. I am not frightened."

Night after night Lady Hall and her maid came and cared for Father. Mother protested that Lady Hall might overdo. "No," said she, "I can rest and sleep during the day. Eliza, you are not in the condition to wait on John. Lie down and get well."

One night when Father was much worse than usual, I suddenly heard voices outside the door. In came our friends Brother and Sister Huish, Brother and Sister Duke, and with them a missionary from Utah.
Lady Hall said to me, "Bring them right up. I shall be glad to meet them." She greeted one and all very cordially and said, "Are you folks Latter-day Saints?"
"Yes," said they, "we are trying to live the lives of Latter-day Saints."

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