The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1859-02-15
NO. CAB.
"Come This way Father"

During a short visit TO tho sea shore Of
Our State somo two yeats since, with a
party Of friends, il was proposed ops bright
afternoon, that we should make up party
and 60 down tho harbor on fishing ex-
cursion. We accordingly started, and af-
ter sailing abont three miles, Young lady
of the company declined going farther, and
requested us to land her on one Of the small
islands iu the harbor, where sho proposed
to stay until our return. My little boy
then four years old, preferred remaining
with her. Accordingly VIC left them, and
proceeded somo six miles farther. We re-
maincd out much longer than we intended,
and as night approached, thick fog sot in
from the SEA, entirely enshrouding U.s.
Without compass, and not knowing
the right direction to steer, We grouped
our way along for some hours until finally
we distinguished tho breaking of tho surf
on the rocks Of one Of the islands, but were
at a loss to know which one of them. l
stood up in tho stern of the boat, where
| had been steering, and shouted with all
my strength. l listened moment and
heard through the thick fog and above
the breaking of the surf the sweet voice
ofmy boy calling--"Come this way, father!
steer straight for me-Tm hero waiting
for your We stcered by that sound, AMI
soon my little boy leaped to my arms with
joy, saying-"I knew you would hear mo
father" aud nestled to sleep in my bo-
som. = = = The child and the maiden arc
beth sleeping now. They died in two
short weeks after tho period referred to,
with hardly an interval of timc between
their deaths. Now tossed on the rough
sea Of life. without compass or guide, en-.
veloped in fog and surrounded by rocks, 1
seem TO hear the sound Of that sweet voice
calling from the shore--"Como this way
father steer straight for me~ When
oppressed with sadness | take my way to
our quiet ccnetary; still, as stand by one
little mound, the same musical voice echoes
from thence-'Come this way, father!-
I'm waiting for thee !"-Ex,
Iremenbet voice
Which once guided my way,
When lost on the sea
Fog, enshrouded lay;
Twas the voice Of child,
As he st.,od on the shore
II sounded out clear
0'ee tho dark billews roar:
Come this way, my fathers
Steer straight for me,
Here, safe on the shore
iam waiting for thse>"
rem ember that voice,
Which once guided my way.
Mid rocks and through breakers
And high dashing spray:
How sweet to my heart
Did il sound from the shore,
As il echoed out clear
Der the dark billows' roar.
"Comc this wny, my fatheh
Steer straight for me:
Here safe on the shore
nm waiting for thso!"
remember my joy,
When held to my breast,
The form Of that dear ono,
And soothed it to rest:
II the tones Of my child
Shii sound In my ear,
IL called you, dear father,
And knew you would hear
The voice of your darling
Far DER the dark sea
While safe on the shore
was Whiting for thee!'
That voice now is hushed
W bich then guided my way
The form then pressed
10 now mingled with clay;
Rut the tones Of my child
Still sour in my ear.
IL am calling you. father!
%, can you not hear
The voice Of your darling
A you toss on ife's seal
For on n brigh< shore
i am waiting Tor hee''
remember that voice:
In manya lone hour
II speaks to my heart
With fresh benuty and power,
And still echoes far oxt
Over lfe's troubled wave.
And sounds from loved lips,
That lie in the grave
Come this way, my fathes
o, steer straight for mel
Here, safely in Heaven
ava waiting for theei"