Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1858-09-25
THE LAND BEYOND THE MOUNTAINS.
BY HELEN BRUCE.

The little child was dying. His weary limbs were
racked by pain riore. The flush Was fading from
his thin cheeks, 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.,
There were sounds and tokens Of bitter, bat sup
pressed grief in that dim chamber for the dying lit
tie 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 mo.
ments OF their darling.
The father, and the mother, and the kind physi-
clan, stood beside dear Eddy's bed, and watched his
heavy breathing He 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 his features. He looked upward
and forward at first, then turning his eyes upon his
mothers face, said in a sweet voice, "Mother, what
is the name of the beautiful country that see be-
yond the mountains-the high rnountans?"
g can see nothing, my child, said the mother,
"there are TO mountains in sight of our home"
"Look there, dear mother" said the child point
ing upward, "yonder are the mountains. Can you
not see them noD ?" he asked in tones of greatest
establishment, as the mother shook her head
"They are so near me now-so large and high and
behind them the country looks beautiful, and the
people are so happy-there are no sick children
there. Papa, can you not see beyond the noun
tainS! Tell me the name OF mat anO.
The parents glanced at each other, and with uni.
ted voice replied 1.-THE land you heaven, it
not, my child?"
"Yes it is heaven. thought that must be it
name o, let me go-but how shall l cross those
mountains? Father, will you not carry me? o,
take me in your arms and carry me- for they call
me from the other side, and must CO."
There was not dry eye in that chamber, and up
on every heart there fell solemn awe, as if they
stood upon the very verge of eternity-as if the
tain which concealed its mysteries about to be
withdrawn.
"My boy" said the father, twill you stay with
us little while longer? You shall cross the noun
tain soon, bnt in stronger arms than mine. Wait
stay with your mother little longer; see how she
weeps at thought of loosing you"
90 mother, 0 father, do not cry, but come with
me- and cross the mountans-O come" and thus
he entreated with strength and earnestness that
astonished all.
The chamber was filled with wondering and ave.
stricken friends. At length he turned to his moth
er, with a face beaming with rapturous delight
and tIetching out his little arms her for one last
embrace he cried, Good bye, mother, am going;
but don't you be afrad-the strong man has to
carry me orer the mountains"
These were his parting words; upon his mothers
breast he brcathed his last and they laid the little
fair body down again upon the pillows, and closed
the lids the beautiful blue eyes, over which the
mists of death had gathered heavily, and bowling by
the bedside, prayed with submissive though bleed
ing hearts, and said, 1.-THE Lord gave and the Lord
hath taken away; blessed be the of the Lord. :"
to note the expedition in the transportation Of goods
from Shepard's Point westward en- the A. & n G..
Railroad
The Schooner Isabel arrived in this Harbor, the
morning of the l4th inst. Her goods destined for
the west placed board the steamer Caldwell,