Wrote a letter to Br. Rice in regard to the one which I received from Mr. J.L. Mitchell, also wrote one to Mr. Mitchell himself; took them down to the post office and found a good lot of letters for myself and the other elders. Found 4 for me, and 3 for Br. Cannon, 3 for Br. Woodbury, 1 for Br. Lawson, 1 for Br. Bigler. One of mine was from the Valley written by Br. John D. Woolley; 2 from the States, one of them from brother Samuel and one from brother Sanford, also one from Br. B.F. Johnson at Honolulu. My letter from the Valley was filled with good news. The Saints were prospering in all their undertakings. Health, peace and union prevail.
My letters from my brother were written about the 7th and 15th of March, many things in them which cause me to rejoice and some to make me feel sad. Uncle David Young died on the 4 of March without a struggle as it were, for he had no sickness but dropped away as were like the lamps going out for the want of oil. “Aunt Patty” was alone with him at the time. After they were done breakfast, he said [that] Uncle David said to Aunt Patty that he did not feel very well and asked her to help him on to the bed. She did so, and he laid down and died almost instantly. He was my second father; I thought a great deal of him for his kindness to me when a boy, for I lived with [him] when a boy. Father and Mother were well and so were all my brothers and sisters. They all desire me very much to come home soon, and I am sure I would like to very much if it was the mind and will of the Lord so to be, for I am not my own master but a servant of the Lord and go only where He tells me. Uncle David has made some provision for me in his will, saying that I was one of his boys, and it seems he did not forget me.
Employed in answering letters. Called away to administer to a sick brother from Hawaii, he is very sick. May the Lord forgive his sins and raise him up. Have given up my intended trip around the island.
