Этюд в багровых тонах
The Flower of Utah.
Hewasamanofapracticalturnofmind,keeninhisdealingsandskilfulwithhishands. Hisironconstitutionenabledhimtoworkmorningandeveningatimprovingandtillinghislands. Henceitcameaboutthathisfarmandallthatbelongedtohimprosperedexceedingly. Inthreeyearshewasbetteroffthanhisneighbours,insixhewaswell-to-do,inninehewasrich,andintwelvetherewerenothalfadozenmeninthewholeofSaltLakeCitywhocouldcomparewithhim. FromthegreatinlandseatothedistantWahsatchMountainstherewasnonamebetterknownthanthatofJohnFerrier.
Therewasonewayandonlyoneinwhichheoffendedthesusceptibilitiesofhisco-religionists. Noargumentorpersuasioncouldeverinducehimtosetupafemaleestablishmentafterthemannerofhiscompanions. Henevergavereasonsforthispersistentrefusal,butcontentedhimselfbyresolutelyandinflexiblyadheringtohisdetermination. Thereweresomewhoaccusedhimoflukewarmnessinhisadoptedreligion,andotherswhoputitdowntogreedofwealthandreluctancetoincurexpense. Others,again,spokeofsomeearlyloveaffair,andofafair-hairedgirlwhohadpinedawayontheshoresoftheAtlantic. Whateverthereason,Ferrierremainedstrictlycelibate. Ineveryotherrespectheconformedtothereligionoftheyoungsettlement,andgainedthenameofbeinganorthodoxandstraight-walkingman.
LucyFerriergrewupwithinthelog-house,andassistedheradoptedfatherinallhisundertakings. Thekeenairofthemountainsandthebalsamicodourofthepinetreestooktheplaceofnurseandmothertotheyounggirl.
