St. Charles Republican intelligencer. (St. Charles [Charles City], Iowa) 1856-1857, 1856-11-20
~,A tfr
.4ottru.
"COme this Way, Father. "

''Come this Way, Father" )"
During short visit to the sea shore of the
State of Maine, some two years since, with q
party of friends, it was proposed one bright af
ternoon that we should make up party and
go down the harbor on a fishing excursion
We accordingly started, and after sailing about
three miles, young lady of the company de-
clined going farther, and requested us to land
her on one of the small islands in the harbor
where she proposed to stay until our return
My little boy, then about four years old, pre-.
ferred remaining with her. Accordingly, we
left them, and proceeded some six miles farther
We remained out much longer than we intend
ed, and as night approached thick fog set in
from sea, entirely enshrouding us. Without
compass, and not knowing the right direction
to steer, we groped our way along for some
hours, until finally we distinguished the break
ing of the surf OH one of the islands, but were
at loss to know which one of them. I stood
up in the stern of the boat, where had been
steering, and shouted with all my strength.
| listeneda moment, and heard through the
thick fog and above the breaking of the surf
the sweet voice of my boy calling, "Come this
way, father!-steer straight for me-I'm here
waiting for you I've steered by that sound.
and soon my little boy leaped into my arms
with joy saying, II knew you would hear me,
father! y and then nestled to sleep on my bo-
som. The child and the maiden are both Sleep
ing now They died in two short weeks after
the period refer to, with hardly an interval of
time between their deaths. Now tossed on the
rough sea of life, without compass or guide,
enveloped in the fog, and surrounded by rocks,
seem to hear the sound Of thatc herub voice
calling from the bright shore, "Come this
way, father steer straight for mel When
oppressed with sadness, take my way to our
quiet cemetery; still, as stand by one little
mound, the same musical voice echoes from
thence" Come this way, father! I'm wait
ing for thecl'' .... ..... ....,.
/ remember voice
! Which once guided my way
When lost on the sea,
Fog-enshrouded lay;
Twas the voice of a child,
As he stood on the shore .s
1t sounded out clear
Der the dark pillows roar
"Come this way, my father
Here safe on the shore
am waiting for thee!'-
..t remember that voice s &c.,.
81 Midst rocks and through breakers
And high dashing spray; .-.tn..
How sweet to my heart
Did it sound from she shore, .''H'
9.l As it echoed out clear y.--
Ger the dark pillows roar
Come this way, my father -
Steer straight for the shore
am waiting for thee II
remember my Joy
When held to my breast ,
The form of that dear one,
And soothed it to rest: -..s47oa
For the tones of my child ..-.,
81 called you, dear father,
And knew you would hear
The voice of your darling
Far o er the dark sea,
While safe on the shore
l was waiting for thee!'
That voice now is hushd
Which then guided my way;
The form l then press'd
Is now mingling with clay;
But the tones of my child ba
Still sound in my ear
- am calling you, father!-
Oh, can you not hear
The voice of your darling
AS you toss on life's sea
For on a bright shore
/ am waiting for thee!'
remember that voice;
In many a lone hour
1t speaks to my heart
With fresh beauty and power,
And still echoes far out
Over lifes troubled wave
And sounds from lov'd lips
That lie in the grave
"Come this way, father!
Oh, steer straight for me!
Here safe in Heaven
! am waiting for thee!'