“O, good Heavenly Father I know that I…
source date: 1891
availability: public-domain

hildlike faith she said : “O, good Heavenly Father I know that I have been a very naughty, naughty girl, but oh ! dear, I am so very thirsty, and mamma, and papa and the baby all want to drink so much. Do, good God give us water, and I will never, never be naughty again.” The gaunt, half-starved desperate men gathered around the wagons, discussing how and what movement to save their lives and their ( 91 ) dear ones, with no thought of gold now, and listened to the humble petition. One voiced the rest and said, “May God grant it!” Soon the voice of the little child, in cheerful accent, sounded clear in silent night. “O mother, mother, get me water; oh, 1 can hear it running; oh, do get some for baby and me.” They thought her delirious from her suf- ferings, when suddenly a babel of sounds broke forth from the oxen and mules, all frantic and endeavoring to break loose from the wagon poles. A rustling noise called their attention to a slight depression near the wagons, and on investigating the cause they found water gush- ing up out of the sand, sweet, clear, but warm. Their sufferings were over, and they reached the mines better and wiser for this interposition, as they firmly believed, of divine Providence.