LittleLucyFerrierwasbornealongpleasantlyenoughinElderStangerson\'swaggon，aretreatwhichshesharedwiththeMormon\'sthreewivesandwithhisson，aheadstrongforwardboyoftwelve。Havingrallied，withtheelasticityofchildhood，fromtheshockcausedbyhermother\'sdeath，shesoonbecameapetwiththewomen，andreconciledherselftothisnewlifeinhermovingcanvas-coveredhome。InthemeantimeFerrierhavingrecoveredfromhisprivations，distinguishedhimselfasausefulguideandanindefatigablehunter。Sorapidlydidhegaintheesteemofhisnewcompanions，thatwhentheyreachedtheendoftheirwanderings，itwasunanimouslyagreedthatheshouldbeprovidedwithaslargeandasfertileatractoflandasanyofthesettlers，withtheexceptionofYounghimself，andofStangerson，Kemball，Johnston，andDrebber，whowerethefourprincipalElders。
OnthefarmthusacquiredJohnFerrierbuilthimselfasubstantiallog-house，whichreceivedsomanyadditionsinsucceedingyearsthatitgrewintoaroomyvilla。Hewasamanofapracticalturnofmind，keeninhisdealingsandskilfulwithhishands。Hisironconstitutionenabledhimtoworkmorningandeveningatimprovingandtillinghislands。
Henceitcameaboutthathisfarmandallthatbelongedtohimprosperedexceedingly。Inthreeyearshewasbetteroffthanhisneighbours，insixhewaswell-to-do，inninehewasrich，andintwelvetherewerenothalfadozenmeninthewholeofSaltLakeCitywhocouldcomparewithhim。FromthegreatinlandseatothedistantWahsatchMountainstherewasnonamebetterknownthanthatofJohnFerrier。
Therewasonewayandonlyoneinwhichheoffendedthesusceptibilitiesofhisco-religionists。Noargumentorpersuasioncouldeverinducehimtosetupafemaleestablishmentafterthemannerofhiscompanions。Henevergavereasonsforthispersistentrefusal，butcontentedhimselfbyresolutelyandinflexiblyadheringtohisdetermination。Thereweresomewhoaccusedhimoflukewarmnessinhisadoptedreligion，andotherswhoputitdowntogreedofwealthandreluctancetoincurexpense。
Others，again，spokeofsomeearlyloveaffair，andofafair-hairedgirlwhohadpinedawayontheshoresoftheAtlantic。Whateverthereason，Ferrierremainedstrictlycelibate。Ineveryotherrespectheconformedtothereligionoftheyoungsettlement，andgainedthenameofbeinganorthodoxandstraight-walkingman。