Description

Crusts for Betsey

June 9, 1859, the George Rowley Handcart Company departed Florence, Nebraska bound for the Salt Lake Valley. There were approximately 335 people in the Company with 60 handcarts and six wagons that carried supplies. It was the ninth handcart company to make that journey and was characterized by extreme hunger. Indeed, if not for the timely arrival of supplies from the Valley, there may have been tragedy. 

Among those traveling with the Rowley Company were Mons and Elna Larson from Sweden. Their two youngest children were allowed to ride in the handcart but Betsey, who was not quite six, was required to walk. But a child can only walk so far. And when Betsey would begin to wear down, her mother would reach into the skirts of her apron and pull out a crust of bread. That crust would encourage Betsey to go on. In later years Betsey declared that “nothing could taste as good to her as that crust did.” 

At some point however, rations were reduced to only a pint of flour per person per day– no more crusts for Betsey. Then, one night as they camped, Mons went fishing in the nearby river in hopes of catching something to eat. Elna saw a tree some distance from their campsite and felt impressed to go to that tree. 

“To her great surprise,” says their history, “there she found a pile of dry bread. She gathered it all in her apron and was so overjoyed that she sat down and wept.” In addition, Mons was able to catch several fish. “So that night they had a full meal, the first for many days, thus preserving their lives until help reached them.”

Crusts for Betsey!

Source: 

http://www.hirf.org/history_bio_larson_mons.asp

https://www.thechurchnews.com/2017/7/20/23212428/mormon-pioneers-remembered-for-legacy-of-faith