Jon,

You all call this a Mormon Song with good justification. But to me it is another "Insect Song". I would suggest that since the "winter of '49 had passed" that the song actually refers to the summer of 1850 which puts its historical accuracy off by 2 years.

Here's 2 more verses that fit in the middle of the song.

".....courage and fight to win"

With the thrill of life, the tender shoots

Burst forth from the virgin plain;

And each day added its ray of hope,

The blessing of ripened grain.

"But lo in the eaststrange clouds.........Its course on the Mormon host.

With a vigor that desparation fanned,

They battled and smote and flew,

But the clouds still gathered and broke afresh

'Til the fields that waved were few.

"With visions of famin....."^^