The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1854-04-12
The Land Beyond the Mountains.
BY HELEN BRUCE.


The little child was dying. His weary
limbs were racked by pain no more. The
flush was fading from his thin cheek, and
the fever that for many days had been
drying up his blood, was now cooling rap.
idly, under the touch Of the icy hand that
was upon him. @u
There were sounds and tokens of bitter,
but suppressed grief, in that chamber, for
the dying little one was very dear to many
hearts.
They knew that he was departing, and
the thought was hard to bear; but they
tried to command their feelings. that they
might not disturb the last moments of their
darling.
The father, and the mother. and kind
physician, stood beside dear Eddy's bed
and watched his heavy breathing. lie had
been silent for some time. and appeared to
sleep. They thought that it might be thus
that he would pass away. But suddenly
his blue eyes opened wide and clear. and
a beautiful smile broke over his features.
He looked upward and forward at first.
then turning his eyes upon his mothers
face, said in a sweet voice
mOUlSI. Wlut lS Tie udtDc VI tilO Dedu'
iiful country that see beyond the noun
tains-the high mountains?'
IL can see nothing. my child" said the
mother; "there are no mountains in sight
Of our home" -aees
sl s.Look there. dear mother" said the
child. pointing upward. ''yonder are the
mountains. Can you moi see them noio?"
he asked in tones OF the greatest astonish-
ment, as his mother shook her head
They are so near me now-so large and
high. and behind them the country looks
SO beautiful and the people are so happy
there are no sick children there. Papa.
can yom not see beyond the mountains?
Tell me the name Of that land" zi.t
The parents glanced at each other. and
with united voices replied. s.'The land you
see is heaven. is il not. my child?"
.Yes, it is heaven; thought, that must,
be its name. O, let me GO; but how shall
| cross those mountains? Father. will you
not carry me2 O. take me in your arms
and carry me, for they call me from the
other side. and must go.''
There was not a dry eye in that cham
ber. and upon every heart there fell SOL
emn awe. as if they stood upon the very
verge of eternity-as the curtain which
concealed its mysteries was about to be
Withdrawn.
"My boy" said the father, "will you
not stay with us a little longer?
ou shall cross the mountains soon.
but in stronger arms than mine. Wait
stay with your mother little longer; see
how she weeps at the thought of losing
yous" .sDes
so. mother, 0, mother, do not cry; but
come with me across the mountains-O.
come )" and thus he entreated, with a
strength and earnestness which astonished
ALL ~
The chamber was filed by the wonder
ing and awe-stricisen friends. AT length
he turned towards his mother. with q
face beaming with rapturous delight, and
stretching his little arms to her for one las,
embrace. he cried, "Good bye, mother;
am going; but don't be afraid-the strong
man has come to carry me over the noun
tains.''. as re.s ,g III .f5.t,s,.5
i These were hisypaiting words; upon his
mothers breas; he breathed his last, and
they lay the fair. body down again upon
the pillow and closed the lids over the
beautiful blue eye, over which the mists oi
death had gathered heavily. and bowine
by pthe bedside, prayed with submissive
though bleeding hearts, and said. "The
Lord gave, and the. Lord hath taken away
blessed be the name of the Lord"