Mother: Ann Temperance George
Father: John Doney
Birth Date: January 28, 1875; Franklin, Oneida, Idaho
Death Date: January 31, 1961; Rexburg, Madison, Idaho
Spouse: Frederick Smart Parkinson
Children:
(1) Fred Doney
(2) DeVerge Doney
(3) Russ Doney
(4) Reed Doney
(5) Carrol Doney
(6) Ann Doney
(7) Keith Doney
(8) Lygia Doney
(9) Blaine Doney
(10) Max Doney
(11) Morris Doney
(12) Boyd Doney
I, Bessie Ann Doney Parkinson, daughter of Ann Temperance George Doney and John Doney, was born January 28, 1875, at Franklin, Idaho, Oneida County, U.S.A. I was blessed and given a name, but unable to find the date; baptized by James Herd, August 2, 1883, in the mill race by the Franklin Woolen Mills; confirmed by James Packer; endowed in the Logan temple, Logan, Utah, September 2, 1896, and was married to Frederick Smart Parkinson in the Logan temple, Logan, Utah, September 2, 1896.
My earliest recollection, when only a few years of age, takes me back to when my father kept a few sheep. They sheared the wool off the sheep and had it made into long round rolls, four feet long and one-third inch in diameter, which were spin on the long needle spindle of a spinning wheel, the wheel being about 4 feet in diameter. My mother spun the white rolls into fine white yarn, about line no. 8 sewing thread, which was used for the warp in the cloth. The black wool also was made into rolls and spun into fine black yarn and used as the filling for the warp. When this cloth was finished, it was called grey linsey and was sewed by hand into men’s suits and ladies dresses. It wore very well, was warm, and very durable; the fine yarn was also colored very beautifully with wild lowers, making a great variety of plaids and checks used for the ladies and children’s clothing. Yarn for socks and stockings was made by twisting a white thread and black thread of wool together on the needle spindle making a grey yarn, very strong and quite thick. This yarn was wound off the spindle on to a wheel called swiffs; a wheel about two and one-half feet in diameter. After the yarn became about two inches thick on the wheel, it was taken off, held between the hands, twisted a little, and formed into a skein. I knit a great many pairs of socks and stockings for this yarn for the boys while mother and father went to Logan to do temple work for the dead. I knit one sock each day, which was a big days work, having finished several pairs by the time they returned. I was fully compensated to see mother’s smile of approvement [sic] and pleasure for my labors.
At the age of ten years, I remember my mother weaving carpets made of rags about three-fourths of an inch wide and any length that could be torn or cut from worn-out clothing. The rags were then sewed and wound into small balls. She could weave about three yards per day and received 10 cents per yard. Mother took the bright colored carpet work, a cotton thread about the size of wrapping cotton, which had been prepared and cut into lengths as log as the carpet was supposed to be. If the carpet was to be 25 yards long then each thread would be 25 yards and about 200 of them are enough to reach across one yard, the width of the carpet. These strings were all placed side by side, very evenly and rolled into a very large ball. Then each of these pieces was put into a harness about 15 inches wide and 3 feet long, made of warp. Each piece was put through a little opening in this harness all by itself until all the 200 pieces had been put through, and just in from t of the harness was reed about five inches high and three feet long. Each of the 200 threads were put through the harness and then had to go through the reed, each one in a separate place. When this was finished all the threads were fastened onto the front beam of the loom. Then the weaving the threads were fastened onto the front beam of the loom, then the weaving could begin. The wooden shuttle which was about one foot long, 2 ½ inches wide and 1/3 inch thick was now filled with carpet rags that had been wound into balls from old clothing. This shuttle was passed through a little tunnel formed by the warp, leaving one single rag in the tunnel, then a heavy wooden arm called a beater was pulled against the rag, holding it firm while the treddles upon which the feet rested. While one was moving up the other was moving down, formed a little tunnel which locked the warp as a person would lock their fingers, making it possible for the next rag that was put through to be separated from the previous one, and in this way each rag was beaten tightly all to itself and separated from all the others. So the weaving continued from the getting of the carpet started until it was finished. I helped my mother very earnestly and faithfully day after day, and week after week, putting many thousand threads through the harness and reed, also filling thousands of shuttles with rags. After filling enough shuttles to weave 25 yards of carpet, mother gave me 5 cents to spend as I wished. Usually I bought large candy hearts. The money received from weaving carpets was used to buy different articles of clothing.
In the fall of the year after the wheat and timothy hay were cut and hauled, mother and I went into the field with knives and cut off the heads of grain and timothy that had been left, put them into sacks, carried them home, put them onto a canvas and beat them with sticks until the seeds fell out. Then when the wind blew we would hold a bucket of chaff and seeds high in the air and pour slowly onto a clean piece of cloth where just the seeds remained, the straw and the chaff being blown away. Quite an amount of money was earned through this project.
My good old school days began at the age of seven years in a little rock school house in Franklin, Idaho. Reading, writing, and arithmetic, all went to the tune of the hickory stick, my sister Lucy Doney Parkinson being my first teacher. The friends of my childhood were selected with care, realizing that my life would be characterized by their ideals, virtues, and ambitions.
When about 10 years old, I was asked to sing quite often at the Latter-day Saints’ quarterly conference held at Franklin, Idaho. At about this same time I was primary secretary for 2 or 3 years while Sister A.P. Fordham was president. At age 12 I went to work in my Father’s and Robert G. Lowe’s store, counting out eggs and weighing butter as they came in. I was soon asked to wait upon the customers and to do the work of a real clerk. I received first about 10 cents per day, later 25 cents, then 50 cents per day, which was considered a good wage. With this money I bought an organ which cost $115. I took lessons from Nellie Flack, paying for them with my money. I also bought a New Home sewing machine and many other useful articles.
Between 15 and 18 years, I worked during the summer in Webster’s store, Coop store, Smart’s and Doney’s stores, all of which had been consolidated into a Union. Each morning I went to each store and gathered the previous days accounts, copied them into a ledger, balanced them, and turned them over to the bookkeeper. During the winter months I went to school, attending the Oneida Stale Academy which was held in Franklin, Idaho. Cornwall, Rawlins, and William H. Smart were some of my teachers. I graduated from the eighth grade in this academy.
Between 14 and 16 years I received three books as prizes in Sunday School for answering the most questions, and being present the greatest number of times during the year. During this time I was asked to give some public talks on the life of Jesus which we had been studying in Sunday school. I took part in Sunday school plays, also, was a member of the choir and young ladies organization.
In the year of 1894 I began a three year normal course at the Brigham Young College in Logan, Utah. I graduated from this course in 1896, qualifying for teaching school .Those days were happy days, except for the algebra, geometry, physics, and chemistry that I was required to take. Through my parents toiling and never ceasing efforts, my education was made possible from which I have received countless blessings. May their memories forever live in their posterity. The pleasures of youth such as dancing, riding and walking were simple and wholesome, yet very much enjoyed and appreciated.
My friends and social environment have been among the leaders of the church and communities in which I have lived. Their high ideals, their struggling onward and upward to gain eternal blessings, have brought to me lasting joy and friends never to be forgotten.
My physical environment in youth was housekeeping, clerking, bookkeeping, and etc. After marriage it was home making, and it was one of great responsibility, interest, and pleasure because I have brought 12 sons and daughters upon the earth, whom my Father in Heaven had entrusted into my care and keeping to see that they developed into strong, stalwart men and women, and able to cope with the great responsibility of life. Although the responsibility was great, still greater was the interest and pleasure because of the love for my children, to train them all to grow up and be an honor to all with whom they associated, and to their Father in Heaven.
A great amount of pleasure and satisfaction have come to me in my religious life through the unlimited benefit and education that I have received from the different organizations of our Latter-day Saint church, which is one of the most perfect organizations upon the earth. I was a stake board member for 5 years in the primary. This organization includes children over 4 years of age, who remain there until the boys reach 12 years and the girls 14 years. Then we have the Young Ladies association, enrolling all females over 14 and u p to as old as they are able to go. The Young Men’s Association enrolls all males over 14 years of age and up to as old as they are able to go. The Relief Society includes all ladies of maturity; the Priesthood, all males over 12 years of age, if they are worthy. They then have the seminaries including all school children who wish to join. Each one of these organizations have a definite outline for study each year. As the rocks and pebbles in the bottom of the creek become by their close contact with each other smooth and polished, so also do the members of these organizations, and their rays of light are shed upon all with whom they associate.
Our Savior’s plan, together with the bringing forth of the same plan by the prophet Joseph Smith in this last dispensation of the nineteenth century, have woven about me such a network of religious environment that I feel I shall never know any denial of the gospel plan and shall give thanks and praise to God for all we are or ever shall be.
At the age of 18 my attention was drawn to Frederick Smart Parkinson of Franklin, Idaho as being one of the best boys in the church, with lofty ideals and all the characteristics of a real man, husband, and father. My thoughts continued in this direction to such an extent that I accepted him as a companion and husband for life and eternity. Our marriage was consummated September 2, 1896 at the Logan Temple in Logan, Utah. In those good old days we did not travel on wings of lightening, such as by auto, to be married, but they were happy days, yes, very happy days.
In the fall of 1896 my husband and I left Franklin, Idaho, took our belongings in a hayrack and went to Gentile Valley, a distance of 90 miles, where my husband taught school that winter. In the spring of 1897 we moved back to Franklin where he worked in the Union store.
On June 26, 1897 Fred Doney Parkinson was born. No happier mother than I lived at that time and I thanked my Heavenly Father for the great privilege and blessing that had come to me. October 3, 1898, Franklin, Idaho, Deverge Doney Parkinson came to join his brother Fred, who had left his 16 months before in the spirit world. Now my happiness was the was complete to know that I was the mother of two beautiful sons. When DeVerge was 10 months old, August 1899, my husband went on a mission for 2 years to the Northern States. Then I took Fred and Deverge and went to live with mother and father in Franklin and remained there until my husband came home.
I had been at home only a few weeks when my father died, October 4, 1899. He had been sick for 6 months, paralyzed from his feet to his hips; his lower limbs being helpless. He welcomed death as he would a jubilee and felt sure he would continue to live on in the spirit world and receive his reward for the deeds done in the body.
In 1899-1900 I was teaching the religion class, a group of young boys and girls in Franklin, Idaho. 1900, Franklin, Idaho I was health class leader for the Relief Society.
In 1901 I went for a three week trip to St. Louis, Missouri to meet my husband who had been released from his mission. This was a great experience for me and wonderful privilege to become acquainted with a few things in the world. After returning home I took guitar lessons and in connection with others was put to play in public.
In 1902 Fred, Deverge, my husband, and I moved to Snake River Country, Rexburg, Idaho, where we made our home. That surely was a sad day for me to leave my mother, brothers, and sisters, and friends. Numerous friends soon came to bless our lives in the country.
Rexburg, Idaho April 17, 1904, Ross Doney Parkinson was born. During seven months prior to his birth I was bedfast, but after his birth I felt that I had triumphed over a weak condition of my body and was well paid for my sacrifice.
June 13, 1906, the fourth son, Reed Doney Parkinson was born at Rexburg, Idaho. With each new baby came more job because I dreamed of their future; dreams of strong stalwart men with unquestionable character and as strong as steel in the service of God. At the age of 9 years May 22, 1915, when little Reed’s death came as a result of scarlet fever. Words could not express my grief and sorrow. A blithe was left upon my life that will never be effaced upon this earth. Reed was a beautiful little singer, was always trying to help me, and anything he could do for my comfort made him happy.
In 1907 I took a short course in cooking at Ricks College. During the year 1908 together with my husband, Fred, Deverge, Ross, Reed, and I were homesteading a dry farm ten miles east of town. Although these were frontier days, when we drove white top buggies drawn by horses, they were very pleasant days and bring back fond memories of youth.
1909, February 14th, Carrol Doney Parkinson, fifth son, was born in Rexburg, Idaho. He was a large, black-eyed baby adding pleasure and happiness as all the others had done.
1910, November 11, Ann Doney Parkinson, the first girl, 6th child, was born in Rexburg, Idaho. She was a beautiful little blonde who brought joy and sunshine into the home. At the age of 4 years she could memorize long songs and sing them almost perfectly.
November 1, 1912, Keith Doney Parkinson, 6th son, was born at Rexburg, Idaho, brining with him peace, joy, and comfort.
In 1913 I joined a Ladies Educational Club in which I remained a few years until it was dissolved. From 1913-1914 I was president of the 1st Ward religion class of boys and girls at Rexburg, Idaho.
March 5, 1914 little Reed and I went to Los Angeles, California to meet my husband who had been on a short term mission for 6 months. His was another colorful experience added to my life. Little Reed was also very appreciative of the trip, but only lived one more year to enjoy life and the association of his parents, brothers, sisters, and friends.
In the month of July 1914 I took Reed, Carrol, Ann, and Keith to Salt Lake where Ann was put under the care of a massage doctor for the treatment of her leg and foot that had been effected with infantile paralysis. The treatments were not very successful. We were in Salt Lake until August. While there I took a course in cooking and china painting. After coming home I painted, with gold paint, my Haviland china dinner set of 125 pieces.
December 19, 1914, Rexburg, Idaho Lygia Doney Parkinson was born. She was my second girl. A beautiful little brunette with dark eyes and jet black, lustrous hair. My happiness now seemed to be complete.
March 1915 I was asked by Rozella Ausborn, president of the Stake Primary to be a member of that board which I appreciated very much. I was sustained in that office May 9, 1915 and released March 15, 1921.
1916 I was sustained as second counselor to Sister Lavina Walker in the Rexburg 1st ward Relief Society, holding that office for 1 year. In 1916 I was asked by the secretary of the United States No Tobacco League to organize a No Tobacco League in Idaho, at the expiration of two years. I had succeeded in having 17 counties organized when Mark Austin, President of the Fremont Stake asked me to discontinue the work. He said we did not need it in Idaho because the Mutuals were taking it up that year.
From 1916-1917 I was president of the American Defense Society putting on picture shows and turning the proceeds to the American Defense society that the proceeds might be used for the benefit of the Great World War.
In March 1917 I was sustained as President of the Rexburg First ward Relief Society and held that office until 1925. I honored that office to the fullest extent because I had been counted worthy to receive it. I put into it all within my power and received in return one hundred fold for my service by virtue of the appreciation of my sisters, of my bishop and the unlimited honor that came to me for my service. I will say to the whole world “whatever we put into the church we shall receive in return one hundred fold in the way of good fellowship from our brothers and sisters, development, progression and improvement in leadership and a consciousness that we are doing our duty toward God and man. This has been my experience all through my life.”
July 6, 1917 Rexburg, Idaho, Blaine Doney Parkinson came to us just a little boney frame with a little skin drawn over it. Did I love him less than the others who had been born with a normal body? No, but my loved went out to him more than ever because I knew it would take all the skill and knowledge I had to save his life. For a few weeks he could scarcely be aroused from his sleep, but soon developed into a normal child. He is now fifteen and a big husky young man with high ideals and a desire to serve God and keep his commandments.
In 1918 my husband, Carrol, Ann, Keith, Lygia, Blaine, and I went to St. Louis, Missouri. Ann was taken to the McClain Sanitarium where she underwent treatments. She had some ligaments cut in her heel and foot for the benefit of paralysis in her leg. The treatments were helpful, but the operation proved to be unsatisfactory.
October 6, 1918 Rexburg, Idaho, Max Doney Parkinson came to our home bringing sunshine and love wherever he passed.
July 4, 1920, Rexburg, Idaho, Morris Doney Parkinson came to us not less welcome or less loved but shared in that unexhausted parental love, bringing a strong character and love and faith in God.
Rexburg, Idaho September 26, 1921 little Boyd Doney Parkinson was born. He was a beautiful little rose bud, but it was not permitted to blossom and shed its fragrance among his fellow men. October 21, 1922 he was taken and no doubt is performing a mission in immortality. He was the last but not the last loved. Every babe that came into the home seemed to be appreciated more and more. We as parents had grown older had more experience and could realize to some extent the value of these souls who had come from the presence of our Father in Heaven. With little Boyd’s passing the grief and sorrow was equal to the love we had for him.
During the summer of 1923 I took a course in child psychology at Ricks College. In 1924 I took part in a drama entitled “Pollyanna.”
In the year of 1926 my husband was called to go on a short term mission to New York City, so he arranged for my daughter, Ann and I to go along so that she could receive the best medical attention.
When we arrived in Chicago, we called upon Dr. Whitman, who was recommended to be very fine for her special condition. He said he could improve her foot by performing the estragles operation. After this operation her foot would move in a rocking motion like the rocker of a rocking chair, but we decided that was the wrong thing to do. He charged $50 for the advice of 2 or 3 minutes. Then we traveled on to New York City, arriving there January 19, 1926. We spent nearly 3 weeks visiting and revisiting all of the large hospitals suggested for her trouble. We tried to determine the results of these operations by examining patients who had had them performed. We could not be satisfied. Finally we were recommended to go to an LDS man, Dr. Cannon, who was a specialist on cancer. He advised us to wait for Dr. Hibbs, who was then in Florida and would be back in a week. We waited for him and the operation he suggested seemed the most feasible and natural of any, so we told him to oversee the operation. Ann was taken to the hospital Monday where there was not a living soul she knew.
The first operation was performed the next Wednesday, but we were not allowed to be there during the operation nor until the next Saturday. All the flesh was taken from around the heel bones and the bones were put into one solid pack so they could not get out of place any more. She was in the hospital five weeks with that operation. As soon as the operation was performed her foot, was far up as the knee, was put into a Plaster Paris cast. The pain was almost unbearable but she had to suffer it out alone because we could not visit her only twice a week two hours each time. She was out of the hospital about sex weeks and went back again for another operation.
When we took her to St. Louis, to the McClain Sanitarium, they were supposed to partly cut the cord in the back of her heel so it would stretch and let her heel down upon the floor, but they cut it too much so it broke. Then her foot moved around like a rag and the cord dried up almost as far as her knee. These doctors in the second operation in New York made a new cord of silk, fastened it to her heel, and nature filled in what human skills could not do. She then wore a cast again for several weeks and came home in June 1926. Her foot and leg were very much improved, and a permanent condition prevailed which has meant more to her than words can express.
The three months I was in New York I took courses in appropriate clothing for all occasions, social etiquette, and public speaking. Miss Boykin, one of my teachers, wrote a short sketch of my life and had it published in the Brooklyn Eagle. She thought it strange that I had had such a large family and had come out to New York for such a short time and still wanted to spend my time in an intellectual way.
We visited all the great museums. I don’t suppose there is any kind of relic or specimen of any description of earth that cannot be seen in those museums. It would take month and I suppose years to get an idea of everything there. In fact, they are beyond description. The Zoological gardens, Botanical Gardens, elevated railways and subway railways all show master pieces of human intelligence and handiwork. That visit to New York City was the greatest material blessing that has ever come into my life.
December 8, 1926 Mrs. Nell Porter and I organized a Rexburg Ladies Educational club, 16 in number, known as the RLE, which met twice a month at one of the member’s homes and studied literature, dancing, all the different customs of the different nations of the earth, art, music, foreign and local comment. Refreshments were served at the close of the lesson. In 1927 I was secretary for the RLE club. 1928 I was president of the RLE Club. 1929 served as a member of the program committee. 1930 I was chairman of the program committee.
In September 1927-1928 I was teacher trainer for the teachers of the different organizations of the LDS church, in the 4th ward of Rexburg, Idaho. A great deal of satisfaction and help came to me as a result of this work.
During 1929 and 1930, I was teacher of the Genealogical class of the 4th ward of Rexburg, Idaho. When Brother Watts asked me to be teacher of the genealogical class, I told him I would rather do some other kind of work in the church. I said, “My people have a temple organization and I am contributing to that each year, and my sister, Lucy Parkinson, is looking after the records, so I feel that I am doing all that is necessary in that respect and would rather do other kind of work than teaching.
That night I had a dream. I thought I was in my old home town walking along one of the old familiar sidewalks that I had traveled many times. I looked back and saw a lady dressed in dark clothes coming in the rear. She was walking quite quickly and over took me. As she came up to my side she turned around, faced me, and said, “I am going to Salt Lake City with a lot of names and I want you to help me.” She did not say will you help or I should like you to help, but emphatically said, “I want you to help me.” I did not hesitate any longer whether I should do the work I had been asked but told Brother Watts the next day that I would be glad to help him. As a result of this, I have had work done in the temple for several hundred people, baptisms have been performed, and we have found many new names, which have been added to the Doney temple records. Through this experience I have found that we should never hesitate when asks in the ed to do things in the church but accept them willingly and know that whatever we are asked to do is the right thing, and by so doing we shall receive many blessings.
In 1931 I was sustained as chairman of the Junior genealogical work in Fremont Stake under the supervision of Brother Fred Schwendman, who was chairman of all the genealogical work in Fremont Stake.
In 1932 I wrote a pageant entitles, “the Whole Armor of God,” and put it on in the 4th ward recreation hall of Rexburg. There were 22 boys and girls taking part in this pageant. The junior genealogical work was portrayed showing the kind of work to be done by junior members and corresponding merit badges for completed work. The whole Armor of God was shown by a youth of Zion riding upon a beautiful white horse carrying a lighted torch in his uplifted hand and the whole Armor of God girded round about him, such as faith, etc., which protected him from the great dragon that was lurking at his feet and ready to devour him unless he lived the principles involved in the emblems.
In May 1932 I wrote another pageant and presented it in the 4th ward recreation hall. It was entitles, “The Building of the Coat of Arms” in which 12 boys and girls took part. Each emblem was explained by a boy or girl then tacked upon a large pasteboard until 12 were finished and the coat of arms was completed. These emblems, which represented some characteristics of genealogical work, were made into a pasteboard design.
In September 1932 I wrote a 3 act pageant for the Fremont Stake genealogical convention held November 29, 1932. It was entitled “The Great Beyond.” The object being to portray genealogical work in a more interesting way and in story form.
Since 1923 (it is now 1932), my husband and I, together with our family have moved to our dry farms each spring, remaining there until the ground was frozen too hard in the fall for plowing with the exception of coming down each Saturday night to do shopping and remaining over Sunday to attend to our church duties. When we moved to our ranch in the spring we took everything we needed for real housekeeping. Our farms are separated so it necessitates our moving about 6 times each summer, taking all our possessions, so that it makes a real caravan procession about 3 blocks long, horses going first, cows next, water tanks, two or three wagons or hayracks loaded with different kinds of machinery, sheep camps for hired men, engines, harvesters, mowing machines, rakes, drills, 2 large hay racks filled with turkeys, one portable kitchen, one wagon with household supplies, 2 cars loaded to the top, the cats and dogs and workmen driving, and members of the family taking care of the things for which they were adapted. I did not dislike these days, had it not been for so much moving. Most of our family was there three times a day for their meals and at evening we were all there together and ready to go to rest. We did not have to wonder where part of the family was but could rest in peace under the protection of a frugal farm home in the mountains.
I was called in May, 1931 to be chairman of the Doney temple organization which I feel is a very grave responsibility, a great privilege and honor to be able to do for our dead progenitors that which they cannot do for themselves. Those who had not the privilege, in life, of receiving the gospel and having their temple work done are anxiously waiting for someone to be charitable enough to do for them that which they cannot do for themselves. In this way we may become Saviors upon Mt. Zion.
My travels abroad, in St. Louis California, Chicago, Denver, New York City, Massachusetts, Vermont, Connecticut, and Maine, have been among the richest experiences of my life. I visited my mother’s relatives in Connecticut and Massachusetts which made those states dear to me. My travels have been a great privilege and wonderful education. They have helped me to see the extremes of good and bad and profit by their examples and become broader and better. They have made me to see the handiwork of God in the development of the greatest arts and sciences in the world. No greater projects have ever been conceived that on Manhattan Island, New York City.
One more opportunity and privilege have come to be by being permitted to travel by automobile and visit the San Diego Exposition in San Diego, California in July 1935. My husband and I accompanied by our sons and daughter, Morris, Max, Blaine, Lygia, Ann Parkinson Scott, her husband Vernon Scott. All expressed ourselves as having a very educational and profitable trip never to be forgotten.
One of the greatest things we saw on our trip was the Boulder Dam in Boulder City, Nevada—one of the greatest projects and master pieces ever accomplished.
We saw Bryce’s Canyon in Southern Utah. We stood in awe and amazement at nature’s great art and sculptured work—the numerous shades of pink and rose colored lime rock, which no doubt had taken centuries for nature to carve into kings’ palaces, courts kings’ and queen’s thrones guarded by soldiers, lines of armed men ready to march, palaces and temples towering upward to the sky.
Zion’s National Park also showed nature’s great art and sculpture. It was one of nature’s wonders, too grand to miss. A person was thrilled to know they had a being upon this earth and had been permitted to see the wonders of nature and God.
The mighty Pacific Ocean, which for centuries had been roaring and carrying ships and beating upon the seashore, filling the measure of its early existence, which was created by our Father in Heaven, was indeed, in its majesty great to behold. Near the Pacific were the great massive trees of the Redwood Forest towering hundred of feet into the air as if giving thanks to God for their existence. And we, no less thankful, for having the opportunity of seeing the wonders of nature.