“In the fall of 1894 I left to attend the Brigham Young Academy at Provo, Utah. Father took a bunch of us in a wagon to Salina to go by train. In the group were Maggie David, Sabine Chidester, Maud Houston, Garn Clark and I. We boarded that year (1894-1895) at Grandma Clark’s, she having rented the Grandpa Meldrum home. Benjamin Cluff was President of BYA. The school had just moved up from the old warehouse at the south end of the street into its new home (a single building which had just been built). Then they only offered a four-year course. The next year (1895-96) John E. Steele and I batched in the rear of old Brother Fuller’s home and only a few feet from Professor George H. Brimhall’s home.

During the year of 1896-97 I taught school in Boulder in the eastern end of Garfield County. It was a “mixed” school of about two dozen pupils. The little log school house stood in the cedars among the flat sand rocks and sand patches about midway of a scattered community. This was the first school held there. It was a pleasant winter. I paid ten dollars a month for board and room at the home of John F. Hawes.

I returned to Provo again in the Fall of 1897 and boarded at the home of a Sister Meldrum (stepmother of John F. Meldrum). Our class was to graduate the next spring, known as the “Class of 1898.” It was a small class. J. W. Allred from Canada was President and Maggie Peterson was secretary. A classmate, Sam E. Hinckley was a very close chum of mine.

I had just become settled in school when one Sunday morning, the last of September, Apostle John W. Taylor walked into the Sunday School which was being held in the Academy building. At the separation for classes and while Clifford Goff, as secretary, was silently calling the roll in the very large missionary class, President Taylor (he had been recently appointed President of the newly created Colorado Mission) walked in, and, getting permission of the teacher said, I have been permitted by President Lorenzo Snow to come here and call missionaries to go with me over the mountains to the newly organized “Colorado Mission.” Then, pointing to Clifford Goff (who was still calling the roll) he said, “I want that man.” Then pointing a way back to the rear of the room, he said, “I want that man, there.” I quickly drew myself up when I saw his finger pointing toward me, and I hopefully looked behind me but that seat was empty. As I turned back around all eyes rested upon me and there was a general smile over the room. I realized I was the “victim” and dropped almost out of sight in the seat.

That afternoon in the Tabernacle, Brother Taylor, in speaking and referring to the morning incident said, “that the young man acted like he had been hit by a ton of brick.” It is needless to say that I was heartsick at the thought of leaving school. I had expected a mission but did not look for the call just then and in that way. I went to my boarding house and Sister Meldrum comforted me and otherwise mothered me. The next morning I left by train for home to get ready.

[The following was not included in the original printing.]

… After being there one week I received a letter from President Lorenzo Snow in which he released me and as the reason stated that President Cluff had visited his office and seriously objected to the calling of students direct from the school, as he felt it would hinder the attendance seriously. He said that thereafter all missionary calls would come through the bishops of the home wards. Furthermore he said that I could decide for myself whether I went now into the mission field or accepted the release.

I left the next day to go on the mission. Upon my arrival at Provo I found the others who had been called that same day all going into the mission except Elder Goff whose father (a Stake President) was very sick.

My classmates gave me a “rousing” farewell party at which Miss Aretta Young, our Training Teacher, read the following poem which she originated:

DEAR BROTHER HOUSTON