Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1854-05-28
The Land Beyond the River.

/ 1t was lovely day. The balmy breath of June
waited the rich fragrance of the summer flowers
while the warbling songsters of the grove chanted
sweetest melodies to their Creator God: and in
their most melodous strains We'd with all created
Nature in rendering praise to the Fountain of all
blessings. The golden orb of day was Just sink
ing behind the western wave, and its last lingering
rays, though 10th to leave the scene, still shed
| their halo of mellow light upon it, lighting up the
the arch of heaven, and gliding the Aeecy clouds
with the tints of Paradise. The whole scene is
one of surprising lovelness But, kind reader,
while your heart is filled with praise and love to
the bountiful Giver of good, go with me and learn
to adore his richer love
Little Ella. was dying. Pain no longer racked
her weary limbs. Under the touch of the icy
hand of death, the fever that for days had been
dying the blood in her veins was rapidly cooling,
and the flush was fading from her thin cheek The
dying little one was dear to many hearts theirs
was the grief too deep for utterance, and in the
silence of bitter, fearless agony they stood around
her dying couch, for they knew that she was de-
parting. The father and the mother and the kind
physician stood bending over the form of the lovely
child, watching her labored breathing. In appa-
rent sleep, she had for some time been SILENT and
the thought that it might be thus she would pass
away. But Suddenly her blue eyes opened and
smile of heavenly sweetness rested upon her fea-
lures. She looked eargerly forward at first, then
turning her eyes upon her mothers face, said in
sweet voice #
Mother, that beautiful country, beyond
tbpua Il n
What is the name of that country, Mother?''
81 can see nothing, my child" said the mother.
''Look there, dear mother" said the child,
pointing again "can you not see it now? See
how those angry waves dash against those rocks
and oh what beautiful country bcyond-the sun
shines so pleasantly, and | see such beautiful
flowers, and the birds sing so sweetly; oh they
so near me now, l can almost touch them with my
hand and the people all look happy there
Oh papa, can you not see beyond the river?-
Tell me the name of that land
The parents exchanged gances, and replied to-
gether, the land you see is heaven, is it not my
child2"
Oh, yes, that is its name | thought it must be
Heaven. Oh, let me go. But how shall | cross
that deep, dark river? Father, carry me, will you
not? See, the angels are waiting for me on the
other side they are holding ont their arms for me.
Oh, father, take me in your arms, and carry me
across the river. must go"
A solemn Pervad4l the room, as il they
stood upon the very verge of eternity-as if the
curtain about to be withdrawn that concealed
the unknown glories of the eternal world.
MY child will you not wait with US a little
longer" said the father, stronger arms than mine
will soon bear you across the river. Stay with
with your mother little longer; see how she
weeps at the thought of loosins you"
Dear mother do not cry, but come with me
and cross the stream. Come, father, come-a angels
are whispering in my ears, and see ii being stand
ing upon the other shore who is smiling upon me,
and stretching out his arms to take me. Now he
il coming down into the river to carry ME across.
| must go-come with me- and stretching out
her little arms for the last embrace, she Said good
bye father-goOd bye mother. Don't you be afraid;
He has come to carry me safely across the river"
And these were her last words. Gently did they
lay her fair form back again upon the pillow, and
kneelng at the bedside, those griestricken hearts
thanked God for this lesson of love- and prayer for
resignation, saying, The Lord gave and the Lord
hath taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord"