LIFE IN EPHRAIM

I'll focus on Sarah here for a bit. You'll see how her whit and humor got her through some odd and trying times. Sit back and imagine her life then...a new town with different people, fitting in, making new friends and running the household. I've learned what a wise woman she was....

Ephraim was a small town nestled between the mountains with a little creek flowing through the center of town. The settlers were mostly Scandinavians, Norwegians, Swedes and Danes. That was one reason Canute was sent there. He knew the different dialects. He also knew it was a gross mistake to call a Swede and Dane, or a Norwegian a Swede, or visa versa. The people strove desperately to maintain their individual identities and yet the spirit of cooperation and friendliness were very noticeable.

Besides the numerous and varied duties about the house, Sarah was very busy with her church activities. Soon after coming to Ephraim, she was chosen as a leader in the Relief Society. This was a group withing the church for the women. They did everything they could to help other women, families in need and the community as a whole. Under Sarah's able management, they had a Relief Society Hall built in which to hold their meetings, and by working in the fields, they stored up many hundreds of bushels of wheat.

Sarah also instigated the novel idea of 'Sunday Eggs.' The idea was to give all the eggs that were laid on Sunday to the Relief Society and they would sell them to raise funds. Thousands of dollars were raised through this project. The money was used to help people in need and the immigrants as they come to start their new life. Also through this Sunday Egg project, over thirty seven hundred dollars was raised to help in the construction of a new Temple in the neighboring town of Manti. On one occasion, Sarah remarked "It seems even the chickens know what to do. They lay more eggs on Sunday than any other day of the week."

Life wasn't all work and no play for Sarah. She knew there needed to be fun and relaxation along with all the hard work. So she would keep children and grown ups happy by having partys and picnics. On one such occasion the entire community arrived on horseback, wagons and buggies. One of them was a man named Swen Olsen. This is how the story goes....the Scandinavian accent is included...

Swen arrived with his fine team of horses, most of his children and all three wives. As he drove up he gallantly climbed down, tied his horses to a tree then went to the side of the wagon to help the ladies down. His newest and most lately acquired wife he helped down first, then the second wife was assisted down. But he walked off with the two women, ignoring his older first wife. Pamella, whom they called Pella, sat there unassisted looking forlorn and slighted.  Sarah had glanced in that direction as the episode took place, and sensing Pella's shame, tapped Swen on the shoulder, smiled at him and said "There's one more Swen. Aren't you going to help Pella down from the wagon?"

"Naw, Pella can yump."

For a second Sarah wanted to shake him. But knowing it would be useless, she went to the wagon and told Pella she would help her down. Peter had just arrived and seeing what was going on, quickly came to his mother's side, gently lifted  Pella to the ground and stood her on her feet. Pella laughed and thanking Peter said, "Tanks Peter, dat voss bedder dan dat ole ting could ha done." At this all three laughed and went to join the group.

Sarah had told Canute about it and he said he would be having a talk with Swen. He wouldn't tolerate abuse. And although he knew it happened at times, that some men weren't smart enough to keep friction and selfishness from growing within their families, he had a hand on getting things settled.

As was the custom that whenever a death occurred in the community, the Relief Society would help with the 'laying-away and laying-out' Thus it was one day when Sarah was washing the dishes, an excited knock was heard from the kitchen door. Quickly opening the door, she saw the disheveled Swen Olsen standing there.

"Come in Swen, what can I do for you?"

"Ust come qvick, my vife Pella ust die!"

"Oh my goodness, I'll get my coat and come right with you Swen."

As they hurried toward Swen's house Sarah asked him how it happened.

"Vell, it vass like dis, my vife she get seek vit a pain in da belly. She get vorse and her belly svell oop. I ust tink it may be information of de vowls and it soon pass off, but it don't Sarah, instid it get vorse, so I go get doctor from Manti to come."

"He com and look at her and by dis time her belly is svelled vay oop. De doctor he say look like bloat, she vas svelled oop ust lak a cow dat had over et on green lucern. He say maybe he better to stick her and she git better lak da bloated cow when day stick dem. So he tak hees sharp knife and run it into her side clean to der hilt. Ven he pool it out her vowls com tru der hole. Der doctor try and try to push it back but da more he poosh and try, da more com out. Poor doctor, he did not know vat to do now so he cut da vowl off. In a few minutes my Pella die."

The cruelty and horror of it shocked Sarah so much that she involuntarily cried "Oh! how awful Swen. Poor Pella! And you, how awful for him to do that to your poor wife!"

After a moments thought, Swen said, " Oh I gees dat vas alrite. Pella vas old and vorn out, she vould ha died soon anyhoo."

The absurdity and heartlessness of the whole thing struck Sarah with such force that the impulse to laugh hysterically was irresistible. Covering her mouth with her scarf, she shook with uncontrolled mirth and laughter.

Swen, surprised at her show of emotion, put his hand on her shoulder and patted it saying "Don't feel soo bad Sarah, I didn't know dat you tot soo mooch of Pella"

Grateful for his interpretation of her actions, she soon gained her composure and they continued toward his home. The family of Pella had been summoned and all rhe grown children and grandchildren stood around grieving for Pella. Sarah sent a boy for some of the other women to help and they prepared her for burial.

Some saw horses and planks were brought over, set in place and the planks were covered with a sheet, then the body was placed on the planks. Ice was brought from the sawdust sheds, broken up and placed in fruit jars. Then the bottles full of ice were placed all around the body and a small clothe dipped in formaldehyde was placed over Pella's face to prevent discoloration. When this was all done, Sarah and the other women, along with Swen, went to the dry goods store to buy material for the burial dress. As they looked through the assortment of cloth, trying to find something suitable, the asked Swen what he thought was the best. He replied "Vell, vich vill vare da best, vad do you tink ?"

Sarah looked at one of the other women and again the urge to laugh took a hold of her. She had to walk a few steps away and look at ribbon until the urge for laughter passed. She wished her funny bone would stay home sometimes.

The burial clothes rapidly took shape with the help of the women. Then they took turns "Sitting up" with the body for the two night that passed before the funeral. The face cloth had to be filled frequently and the fruit jars had to be kept filled with ice.

The services were short and the flowers that could be obtained were few, but the entire community turned out to pay their last respects to this good woman. Thus, what the funeral lacked in eloquence and flowers was made up in kindness and in the food that was brought to the home during their bereavement.

When some time had passed, Canute gave Swen a severe reprimand for what had happened to Pella. It always annoyed Canute that Swen had such a hard attitude towards women, unlike most of the men who respected their plural wives.

And Sarah's life continues to grow with the love and understanding she feels for life..
 
I hope you could see the humor in this also, as Sarah told the story. There are many stories like this about that time and the different, sometimes absurd things that happened, within the history of this County. I'll be sharing stories of the conflict with Indians next time. And of how the children grow and begin their own lives....oh, and another mission....

Thanks for the visit again.
Let me know what you think.



See ya Yesterday...