Nodaway County, Missouri - Chapter 3, 1882

And it came to pass that Willti sent out and fetched the officer of the o-reat King- to his house, who took the names of Willti and all his, excepting Samidah, and recorded them on his roll. But Samidah said unto them, you may join yourselves to this band, but you know that I despise the name of any thing that is good, and therefore, I will not unite with such a band, but as I have walked in the steps of my father in times past, so will I for time to come. Then Willti said unto him, do so, my son, and thou shalt honor thy father, and now lets spread many evil reports through the country against Hanoch, and set the people against him, and so we can root him out with ease. And it came to pass that Willti and his sons began to tell many evil tales against Han- och, to make the people hate him. And Willti's wife, whose name was Fariska, did much with her nimble tongue to prepare the way for Willti. But the people of the county of I-o-ty were people of good judgment and honest, and they knew that a servant of the Lord had told them that lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but they that deal truly are his delight. So Willti's labor was vain in trying to deceive the people, for they could see that he was possessed of an evil spirit. But Willti and his sons thought that they were doing Hanoch much harm. So when they thought they had got the minds of Hanoch's friends evilly disposed against him, they came together to consult the matter. So when Willti called his sons around him, he said unto them, My sons, you see that the season for planting corn is drawing near, and Hanoch has a large field ready for plowing. I will therefore move the landmarks of Hanoch, even to his highlands, and take to myself the field of Hanoch, and there we will raise corn for ourselves, and for our cattle Now the word of the Lord said unto Willti, cursed be he that remove his neighbor's landmark. But Willti did not regard the word of the Lord. And it came to pass, after Willti had received some encouraging words from Dato, Samidah, and Olitah, they all arose and traveled to the high lands of Hanoch and made them posts and planted them for landmarks. And behold, they cut off from Hanoch the greater part of his improvement, and continued their line towards the setting of the sun, even across the plains unto the River Nodi, and they returned home in high spirits, because they had met with no resistance from Hanoch, for Hanoch was too infirm to stand up for his rights. But the people were watching Willti, and they carried the matter before the judge of the country. Now the judge's name was j Strong-force, because he had power given him to command all the mighty men of war, to go forth and execute his judgments. He was made judge by the breath of a multitude, and when he spake, he spake as a multitude, and his judgments were always right, for he executed righteously and acted in truth and justice. When Strong-force, the judge, heard that Willti had removed the landmarks of Hanoch, he sent forth some of his men of war to settle the matter, but said unto them, be gentle in the matter, and if Willti shall withdraw himself from the possession of Hanoch, it shall be well, and if not, you shall fetch him before me. So when they came to Willti, they were very gentle with him, and talked very easy before him. And Willti gave them a promise that he would not intrude on Hanoch's possession beyond the old landmark on Camp Hill. So the men of war returned to their homes, supposing all was right. But after they had left the tent of Willti, Samidah said unto Willti, How long wilt thou play the fool with Hanoch ? for behold these few men are all the friends that Hanoch has in the whole country, and cannot we raise a greater force than Hanoch ? And Willti said unto him, wait awhile, my son, until Dato returns home again, and we will see what we can do. Now Dato began to think himself a man, and had left home and gone to a far country to get him a wife, for he had hunted the country through for a wife, and could get none, for one said, his ears are too close to his mouth ; another said that his mouth crowdeth his ears ; so he had gone to find him a wife in some other country. So the matter between Willti and Hanoch was put to rest until Dato's return.