Attempted Murder of Joseph Smith

“Joseph being a remarkably quiet, well , disposed child, we did not suspect that any one had aught against him. He was out one evening on an errand, and, on returning home, as he was passing through the dooryard a gun was fired across his pathway, with the evident intention of shooting him. He sprang to the door much frightened. We immediately went in search of the assassin but could find no trace of him that evening. The next morning we found his tracks under a wagon, where he lay when — he fired; and the following day we found the balls which were discharged from the gun, lodged in the head and neck of a cow that was standing opposite the wagon, in a dark corner. — Lucy Mack Smith, History of Joseph Smith by His Mother, Chapter XVIIL”