| 733 wife-to-be defended him, partially because she believed the teachings and partially in a girlish way to taunt her lover. One night while defending the "Mormon" she said: "You will yet be a Mormon preacher yourself." Whether she was inspired to make this statement or not, it came to pass in a short while. Just prior to or shortly after their marriage they both entered the waters of baptism and he was ordained an elder. They soon left Pennsylvania and came west to Illinois, where he was made a missionary and sent back to Pennsylvania, leaving his young wife and two small babes. Of the trials and sufferings which fell to the lot of those who forsook all for the gospel's sake, he and his family were partakers. Going without purse or scrip and leaving wife and young children in the care of God, he left them without any visible means of support, except their faith in the Lord that he would provide. He traveled hundreds of miles while his wife was at home praying for his success, with an abiding faith that God would not forsake her, though at times it would seem she was left without a ray of hope.
At one time when he was sent back from Illinois to Pennsylvania, leaving her with two babes, only fourteen months apart, and one an infant, she walked a mile to a creek to do a washing for a farmer's wife, after eating the last bit of corn cake in the house for her breakfast. When through with her day's work she entered the farmer's house at night, faint and hungry, where a table was laden with choice edibles; and when she departed without an invitation to dine, and knowing there was not a bit of anything at home to eat, her heart sank. Then her strong faith came to the rescue, and upon entering her home she poured out her soul to Him who regardeth the sparrows, and she found relief in prayer and was given assurance that all would be well. She had scarcely risen from her knees when a knock came at the door and she found the farmer's hired man there with a large basket full of cooked food, enough to last her several days. When that was gone the way was provided for her to get more.
Another time, when they had four children, and Elder Deam
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