PEOPLE living where it rains have no conception of the experience we have who live in an irrigating country. Water is the all-important consideration. The laws are such in some sections that the man first using water from a creek by getting a decree from the court has the first claim; the second man, the second claim; and so on. It is only once in a number of years that the court makes a specialty of granting decrees, and those having rights are supposed to attend to them on that occasion, otherwise it is quite expensive to get a decree between times. On account of being sick and in California when decrees were granted, and not understanding the matter, I was recently brought into perplexity. A man who had recently taken a claim some distance above me, took advantage of my absence, and got a decree, taking water rightfully mine. I consulted the judge, and he told me that the law was that every one taking water from the creek had to be notified on making application for a decree, and as I was not notified I could get this decree set aside. He also told me of the expense.
My son and I talked the matter over and decided, rather than go to law and make enemies, we would let the matter go. The latter part of July and through August is usually the time of scarcity of water. We had abundance of water this year until the 20th of July, when Friday before the Sabbath I took out all the water from the creek to run on the crops during the Sabbath. On going out the next day and seeing so little water that it had not run through the rows, and our fruit at the time when it needed water the most in order to insure a good crop, I was getting somewhat nervous; but my son said, “Father, don't worry, for in a day or two there may be plenty.”
Monday morning as I arose I heard the water in the creek, and said to the folks, “There is a good head of water.” As I went down to the creek, sure enough, there was a big head rushing down.
As I stood and looked at the water, tears came to my eyes, and I just knelt down and thanked the Lord for it. While I was irrigating the trees, I thought how good the Lord was to cause it to rain up in the mountains and fill the creeks to help us out in our emergency, and then I thought of the great plan of human redemption, and how this earth that has been groaning under the curse so long will be restored to its Eden beauty. I thought of the many promises our heavenly Father has given to encourage us here amid our perplexities. Ps. 37:9 tells us that “evil-doers shall be cut off; but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth.” Isaiah, in speaking of that glad day, tells us that, “they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat; for as the days of a tree are the days of My people, and Mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.” Peter tells us, “Nevertheless we, according to His9promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.” As I think of these things, it seems to me it is enough to buoy us up amid the trials and perplexities here, and that it is worth living for. O, that will be a good country, and I do want to be there. There will be no lack of water there, and nothing to molest or make afraid. In this life we may build and lay up, and soon it is lost to us, but there will be nothing of that kind there, for the earth will be full of the glory of God.