The details of the countless hardships the Mormons endured during their immigration process before they finally settled there will not be recounted in detail here. From both sides of the Mississippi River to the western foothills of the Rocky Mountains, they fought with unprecedented indomitable tenacity.

They marched bravely in spirit. They used the unswerving fighting spirit of the Anglo-Saxons to defeat wild beasts, savages, thirst, hunger, fatigue of carriages and horses, infectious diseases and all the sufferings God could send. They traveled for a long time through mountains and rivers.

With endless horrors, even the most staunch believers among them could not help but feel frightened. So when they found the vast Utah Valley beneath their feet bathed in sunshine, and heard their leader declare: This virgin land

When the paradise God gave them would belong to them forever, they all bowed their heads and worshiped and thanked God.

It didn't take long for facts to prove that Brigham Young was not only a decisive leader, but also a shrewd and capable chief executive. After the blueprint was drawn up, the future city's appearance basically became clear.

Outline. All the land around the city is distributed in proportion according to the low or high status of each believer. Merchants still engage in business, and workers still engage in handicrafts. Broad streets, assembly squares, etc. in the city gradually appear like magic.

The countryside was building ditches and canals, dividing fences, reclaiming wasteland for planting, and it was a busy scene of large-scale production. In the summer of the next year, the entire countryside was covered with thousands of hectares of wheat, and the endless golden color stretched as far as the eye could see. In this immigrant area, which was originally a remote and remote area, it was prosperous.

Especially the magnificent cathedral they built in the center of the city, which rises from the ground day by day, towering into the clouds. Every day, from the first dawn to dusk, the sound of axes and saws can be heard in the new church.

Of course, this new church was used by these large numbers of immigrants to worship the great God who guided them through countless hardships and obstacles and finally reached a peaceful and happy land.

The little girl and John Ferrier depended on each other, and soon she worshiped this man as her adoptive father. They followed these Mormons to the end of a great journey. Elder Stangerson took little Lucy Ferrier into his home.

In the caravan, the little girl was particularly lovable. She lived with Stangerson's three wives and the elder's precocious and willful 12-year-old son. Little Lucy quickly recovered from her health. Because she

She was young and docile, and lost her biological mother, so she got the pity and love of these three ladies. Little Lucy gradually got used to such a wandering life with a tent as her home. John Ferry

Er also recovered from the hardship and weakness, and revealed that he was not only a mature guide, but also a good hunter. Therefore, he soon gained the respect of his companions. When they ended their migration and wandering life

At that time, everyone unanimously agreed: In addition to the prophet Brigham Young and the four elders Stangerson, John Stone, Ken Bow, Drebber and other figures, Ferrier also got a large piece of fertile land like a leader.

.

In this way, Ferrier obtained his own share of land. He first built a solid wooden house on this land. The wooden house was added year by year, and gradually it became a spacious and comfortable villa. Ferrier was

A man who advocates pragmatism, is shrewd and skilled. His body is also very strong, which allows him to work diligently from morning to night, working diligently on his own land, so his farm is prosperous.

Developed. In about 3 years, Ferrier's income exceeded that of all his neighbors; in about 6 years, he was living a well-off life; in about 9 years, he was very rich; after 12 years

, in the entire Salt Lake City area, there are only five or six rich people who can compete with him for wealth. Starting from the inland sea of ​​Salt Lake to the distant Vasa Mountains, in this vast area, there is no one better than John.

· Ferrier is a more famous person.

However, there was one thing that Ferrier seriously hurt the feelings of many fellow believers. That is, no matter how fiercely someone argued with him or tried to persuade him, they could not get him to marry and start a family according to the way of his fellow believers.

He never explained the reason why he repeatedly refused to do so. He just insisted on his opinion firmly and stubbornly. Therefore, some people accused him of being ungrateful to the religion he believed in. Others thought he was stingy.

He didn't want money, so he didn't want to support his wife. Some people speculated that he must have had a passionate love affair in his early years, and he had been in a difficult situation. Maybe there was a beautiful blonde on the Atlantic coast who languished and died for him. No matter what the reason was,

, Ferrier remained steadfast and lived a strict celibate life. Apart from this, in every other respect, he was devoted to the religion of the new colony, and he was recognized by most people as

He is a man of decent conduct and devout religion.

In this wooden villa built by Ferrier, little Lucy gradually grew up, and later she was able to help her adoptive father handle all his affairs. The fresh air in the mountains and the fragrance floating in the pine forest all nurtured this girl like a loving mother. Over the years

Year after year passed, and she grew up year after year. Young Lucy was as tall as a flower, with a strong figure, her facial features became more delicate and beautiful year by year, and her gait became more elegant day by day.

Lightness. Countless people saw Lucy's light figure walking through the wheat fields again and again when passing by the main road next to the Ferrier family farm, or encountered her gallantly riding her adoptive father's horse, revealing the authentic western style.

The girl's unique elegant and mature posture, the past situation can't help but come to their minds. The bud of the year has now grown into a blooming flower. Over the years, the years have turned Lucy's adoptive father into a

She became the richest among the farmers, and also helped her grow up to be one of the most beautiful American girls in the vast mountainous area along the Pacific coast.

However, it was not her adoptive father who was the first to discover that the girl had grown up. Indeed, it is rare for a father to be the first to discover this kind of thing. This mysterious change is very subtle and cannot be measured in years.

.For this gradual change, the girl herself is the most difficult to detect. When she hears someone's special words or touches someone's hand, she feels her heart pounding, feeling a sense of pride and fear.

The complicated emotions intertwined. At this time, she realized that a novel and unrestrained human instinct had awakened deep in her heart. Few people in the world would forget their own situation back then. For those who enlightened her new

The little things that are about to happen in life will always remain fresh in our memories. As for Lucy Ferrier, regardless of the huge impact this incident will have on her and other people's future destiny, but in itself, it is already very serious

.

On a warm morning in June, the Mormons were working in a hurry like a swarm of bees - the beehive is their symbol. There was the noise of people working everywhere in the fields and on the streets. On the road

The dust was flying, and herds of mules carrying heavy loads passed by in an endless stream, all heading west. At this time, there was a gold mining boom in California. The transcontinental road leading to the Pacific coast passed through Electra.

Emerging cities. On the road, there are also groups of cattle and sheep coming from far away nomadic tribes; there are also groups of exhausted immigrants who are exhausted after a hard journey.

In this place where human and animal activities are intensive, Lucy Ferrier, a skilled equestrian, rode through her horse. Her beautiful face turned red from exerting too much effort, and her chestnut hair flowed behind her. She went there according to the instructions of her adoptive father.

She worked in the city center. As before, she boldly galloped her horse with the bravery of a young person, thinking only of what she wanted to do. The weather-beaten gold diggers looked at her in surprise; even

The cold-looking Indians who were transporting the leather were amazed when they saw this stunningly beautiful white girl, and their stiff and nervous faces suddenly relaxed.

When Lucy arrived at the outskirts of the city, she saw six rough-looking shepherds driving a herd of cattle from the prairie. The road was already blocked by the herd. She waited for a while and became impatient, so she headed towards

She urged her horse forward through a gap in the herd, preparing to cross the roadblock. However, as soon as she entered the front of the herd, the cattle from behind crowded up, and she immediately found herself trapped in a sea of ​​cattle.

They were all huge beasts with long horns and protruding eyes, like a swarm. She was used to getting along with cattle, so even though she was in such a situation, she did not panic and still looked for an opening to urge her horse forward, preparing to pass through.

. But unfortunately, a cow accidentally touched the flank of the horse she was riding with its horn. The horse was frightened and immediately became angry. The horse jumped up with its front hooves and neighed continuously; it swayed violently, and if it hadn't been

A good rider will inevitably be thrown off the horse by the bumps, and the situation is extremely critical. Every time the frightened horse leaps, it will inevitably be bumped by the horns again, which makes it even more violent. At this time, Lucy had nothing but her legs clinging to the saddle.

There was no way. Once she missed, she would fall into the hooves and be trampled to pieces. Because she had never had such an unexpected experience, she felt dizzy. The reins she was holding tightly in her hands could not be pulled.

She couldn't breathe. Coupled with the flying dust and the unpleasant smell evaporating from the crowded cattle, she could hardly breathe. At this critical moment, if a kind voice hadn't appeared in her ear, she could

She was sure that there was help, but she was about to despair and could no longer hold on. At this moment, a strong brown hand grabbed the frightened horse's bit, and the other big hand squeezed a way out of the herd.

He quickly took her outside the herd.

"Miss, I hope you were not harmed!" the savior said softly and elegantly.

She raised her head, looked at his rough and dark face, and laughed. She said: "I was really frightened. Who would have expected that Pan Qiao would be scared like this." Pan Qiao was her.

The name of the horse being ridden.

He said sincerely: "Thank God! Fortunately, you are clinging to the saddle." This is a burly, rough-looking young man. He is riding a horse with gray and white spots and is wearing a strong coarse cloth.

wearing hunting clothes and carrying a long-barreled rifle on his shoulder.

He said: "I guess you are John Ferrier's daughter? I found that you rode over from Ferrier Manor. When you go back to see Mr. Ferrier, please ask him.

Do you remember the Jefferson Hope family in the St. Louis area? If he was that Ferrier, my father and he used to be close friends!"

She said: "Wouldn't it be better for you to ask him yourself?"

He seemed to feel particularly happy when he heard her suggestion, and his black eyes shone with joy. He said: "I will do this. We have been in the mountains for two full months, and now I

I don't think I can go and visit you. But when Mr. Ferrier sees us, he will definitely give us a warm welcome."

She said: "My father must thank you very much! He loves me very much. If these cows trample me to death, I don't know how sad my father will be!"

He said: "I will be very sad too!"

"Are you sad for me? Haha, I don't see how this has anything to do with you. You're not even our friend!"

After hearing Lucy's words, the young hunter's dark face suddenly darkened.

She laughed when she saw it and said: "I'm just kidding you, I didn't mean it like that. Now that you are my friend, you must come to see us! However,

I have to leave now, otherwise, my father will never let me do things for him again. Goodbye!"

"Goodbye!" he said, raising his Mexican-style broad-brimmed hat, lowering his head, and kissed her little hand. She turned her horse's head, whipped it, and galloped away along the road in the billowing smoke.

.

Little Jefferson Hope and his companions rode on horseback. On the way, he was depressed and taciturn. They had been looking for silver mines in the Sierra Nevada Mountains and were currently returning to Salt Lake City, preparing to raise sufficient funds to dig out what they had discovered.

Mineral deposits. In the past, little Jefferson Hope had always been as enthusiastic about this cause as his other partners; however, this unexpected episode led his thoughts to a different path. This extremely beautiful girl

, as fresh as the breeze on the mountain, deeply touched his volcano-like unrestrained heart. When her beautiful figure disappeared from his sight, he felt that this was the most important pass in his life, whether it was a silver mine,

Nothing else, to him, was as important as this thing that had just happened that attracted his whole soul. The love that suddenly arose in his heart was no longer the fickle fantasy of a child, but

The unrestrained passion of a man with a resolute temperament. Everything he has done in his life has always been successful. Therefore, he secretly vowed that as long as people can achieve success through perseverance and hard work, he will never succeed this time.

will fail.

That night, little Jefferson Hope went to visit John Ferrier. Later, he visited many times and gradually became familiar with each other. Ferrier lived in the valley for a long time. For 12 years, he devoted himself to his farm.

He works and has almost no interaction with the outside world. Little Hope is very familiar with the extraordinary events that have happened over the years, so he can tell Ferrier exactly what he has seen and heard. He tells it vividly, which not only makes Ferrier

I was happy to hear it, and even Lucy was very interested. Little Hope was also one of the first people to arrive in California, so he was able to tell the story of those who faced gold everywhere but relied entirely on violence to survive.

Over the years, many people have become rich, and many families have been ruined. He has been responsible for investigation work, hunting, searching for silver mines, and grazing cattle in the pasture. Whenever there is an adventurous business somewhere, he will go to explore it.

After a while, he soon won the favor of Ferrier, who often praised little Hope. Lucy was always taciturn. However, the blush on her cheeks and the bright and happy eyes were all clear.

It clearly showed that her girlish heart no longer belonged to her. Her adoptive father may not have seen these signs, but there is no doubt that these signs did not escape the pair of little Hope who won her heart.

Eye.

One evening in the summer, little Hope galloped down the road towards Ferrier's house. Lucy was standing at the door. As soon as she saw him, she went forward to greet him. He tied the reins to the fence wall.

He strode along the path in front of the door.

He said: "Lucy, I'm leaving." He held her two little hands, looked at her pretty face gently and said: "Now, I don't ask you to go with me immediately. But when I come again

When you come back, can you decide to come with me?"

"But when will you come back?" she asked with a shy smile.

"Two months at most, my dear, by then, you will belong to me forever, and no one can stop us from being together!"

She asked: "But have you asked your father's opinion?"

"He has agreed. However, our silver mining work must go smoothly, but I am not worried about this issue."

"Oh, that's fine. As long as you and your father have arranged everything, there's no need for me to say anything more." She said softly while leaning her cheek against his broad chest.

"Thank God!" he said in a rough voice, bending down to kiss her, and said, "That's it. The longer I stay, the more I feel that I can't live without you. My friends are still waiting for me in the canyon.

Here! Goodbye, my dear, goodbye for now! It only takes two months at most, and we will definitely be together."

As he spoke, he gently pushed her away. Then, he got on his horse and galloped away without looking back. It seemed that if he looked back at his beloved, his determination to leave would be shaken.
Chapter completed!