she will pull through. It is now about 12 o'clock at night. I am sitting up watching. The rest of the folks are to sleep. While keeping my lonely watch many things come to my mind of past troubles and sorrows. "Sat. 14 The little girl seems to be about the same. She suffers a good deal of pain when she takes her medicine. The days and nights seem to be very long for us. It seems to be pretty hard to be closed up. "Sun. 15 One more njght of watchful wakefulness have passed.... "Mon. 16 Our little girl seems a little better. But I stayed around home to help. "Fri. 19 Mable is better. She ate a little today."74 A Martyr's Death Tragedy struck the Valley in another form that summer when Alma P. Richards, son of John and Martha Richards was murdered while serving a mission in the southern states. John and Martha had lived a very difficult life, losing two infant children within two days of arriving in the Salt Lake Valley. They also experienced the difficulty of being among some of the earliest pioneer families in the Morgan Valley. Martha was an invalid when Alma, her only living son, was called on a mission. Alma was married and the father of three children, one of whom died a few days before he left for the mission field. He was murdered on 2 August 1888, and his body placed on the railroad tracks to cover up the deed. It was months before his body was finally recovered and sent home, and his murderers were never brought to justice.75 President Samuel Francis recorded in his journal the following: "Saturday, June 8, 1889, Body of Alma P. Richards arrived by D.R.G. R.R., at 11:30 accompanied by Bro. Spry [William Spry was president of the Southern States Mission from 1888 to 1891 ]. Brought body home in the evening. A host of people were awaiting to receive the body at the depot. Took body home to Littleton. "Sunday 9 Funeral of AP. Richards solemn yet grand, funeral held in stake house. Many could not get in. The procession was nearly a mile long.76 Morgan Stake Academy In December 1888, the Morgan Stake Academy opened. The school was housed in the upper room of the county courthouse and later in one or two rooms downstairs. Albert N. Tollestrup was the principal. Subjects taught were theology (the New Testament and Book of Mormon), geology, grammar and composition, arithmetic, reading, United States history, physiology, orthography, bookkeeping, penmanship, and music. The following were some of the rules presented to the school by the Church Board of Education of Morgan Stake, 9January 1889. 1. The use of tobacco and liquors is prohibited amongst the students of the Academy. 2. All students should attend sacrament meeting each Sunday. 36