Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1860-03-22
[For the Intclligencer.
OVER THE RIVER.

OVER THE RIVER.
AS well ms remember, the story is that,
once upon a time there came to n certain
hotel, in this city Of Chicago, Il gentleman
from the Emerald Isle that beautiful
and blessed country. where the men make
songs and the women sing them; where the
fields are always green and the water clear
MS crystal. He had often heard Of this
little giant of Il city aud longcd to look
upon her beautiful houses and bottomless
streets. and fast horses, and faster men,
And so he came.
But he brought with him something he
had rather left behind, something that all
the world would avoid and but few sue
coed in cluding. You may call it fever,
if you wish, and Il fever it shall be. So
he awoke one fine morning in fair June,
and found himself in one of those chnm-
bers of the hotel that are peculiarly invi-
ting. because they arc so close to the stars
and SO very near the other world. We
dare say he was gratified at the view of
chimney tops and roofs beneath, and the
distant hum of the crowded streets that
came to him like memories of the busy
world he had left so far below. At least,
he complained not and seemed to bear his
sutTcrings with a manly heart.
And so he grew sckcr each day, and
think there was but little hope for the
wandcrcr. Strangers came TO look with
pity on him, and night after night his pill
low was smoothed by unknown hands and
his fcvcred head bathcd in cooling water.
from strangers palms.
Disease hung about him her terrible
mockeries and he wandered in delirium,
back to the green fields and beloved hills
of his beloved home. In vision thou
sand friends were at his side once more,
and again he heard the soft plashings of
Killarny's waves, and stood, where moth
er's smile had hidden him God speed on
his long journey over the sea.
And with these sweet and blessed
dreams in his delirious brain, he calmly
went over the river of time and stood on
the banks of the other shore.
Unknown but friendly hands closed his
eyes and laid him down in his Shroud as
gently as if he had been brother. From
Off his pale and icy brow the fair hair was
softly brushed away, and in his death he
looked as one who only sleeps. The cof-
fin came and in its soft and quiet folds he
was placed and watched beside as if he
were a lovers love; while from below
came the voices of the crowded streets,
and the noise of myriad hurrying feet
But ne knew and heard them not.
Alone in Il strange land. and surround
ed by faces he had never seen, yet was his
sleep of death ns quiet and as sweet as it
he had been far away in the tlowery fields.
Death was, there, indeed, but the dark
shadow of that wing which no sun of
earth can ever illumine, hung about him
as gently as if Il mothers hand had dress
ed him for the grave-as if Il mothers
kiss had closed the calm and peaceful life
for ever.
They had gathered together TO bear him
to the grave. Warm hearts blcd with pity
when they stood by the coffin and looked
upon him. Fair and tender women wept
like children at his side, and the sweetest
flowers were laid upon his bosom by gen.
tie hands. She, the blessed one Of all his
life, was not there indeed, but every heart
! felt mothers love and mothers pity for
| the dead and lonely stranger.
The last prayer was said, and they gath
cred round the uncloscd coffin to look
their last upon his sweet and childlike
| face, when-oh! horror of horrors and
joy of joy! he arose up and spoke to
them:
Lo. and behold, as he lie sick and
weary, there came to him an angel robed
in purity, and bearing the perfume of
! Heaven on her wings, and said unto him !:
| 80, man of pain and sickness and earth,
! arise and follow me-" And he arose and
went after her Through the blue sky
they cleared their way-he knew not how
and amid the stars still went soaring on,
until another shore was reached, and they
! had heard the music of more than human
voices, and stood upon the illumined earth
/ of an unknown land.
| Before them were walls of crystal and
| doors of silver, and behind them were
! ell
snid unto him, "knock y and he went for
ward and struck upom the door with his
hand, and heard the echo of the sound
come floating back, blended with thous-
and musical harmonies.
! And then, for moment the silver door
gIided from its place in the crystal wall
and there burst upon him such scene OF
! splcndor and beauty hs no mortal man
! hath ever looked upon. Perfumes of
myriad flower beds, comminglcd with the
! sweetest musical melodies the ear hath ever
heard floated through the open door, and
such CLEANS of brightness, too. as almost
bcwildered him.
| And then he heard a voice saying
''from whence comest thou, oh mmn?'
| And he anSwcred-"trom earth"
"Whcrcfore art thou here p
| 81 can not understand nor tell thee
Yvhv," he humbly said, and looking up he
behcld standing without the door an aged
man, with locks of silver white, and n
massive golden key in his hand, and ra-
diunt in every feature of his face,-so ra-
diant that he could hardly look upon him.
And then the angel, that had hade him
knock upon the door, said-"Oh! beloved,
am the minister of death and from city
in the other world have brought this young
man to Heaven. lie hath been 'baptised