The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1865-03-30
The Dark Valley.

Sweet Lilly Gray has been confined to
tne mouse tor many months. Her poor Wild
owed mother has looked forward through ali
the long, cold winter to the coming spring.
as The time which was to bring back the
bloom of health to her darling's cheek. and
strength to her limbs But alas although
the sweet spring flowers are already filling
the air with their fragrance, Lilly does but
grow weaker with each succeeding day.
Still her mother will not give up hoping
that her darling is to be spared to her for
many years; but Lilly knows better. -
One morning as she sat propped un with
pillows, her young friend, Kate Somer,
cane running in with boqnet of beautiful,
fragrant flowers, which she placed in cup
OF water on little stand by the bedside.
WIN an arrecrronarg kiss, --r-nupc YOU wrr
soon be able to go out aud gather flowers for
yourself"
Lilly smiled, and said gently
asst down, dear Kate, want to have
little talk" EG.S sA @Gisai5s8
"What about ?" asked Kate. gaiy'; shall
talk to YOU about my new dresses, and
the journey I am going to take next month";
"No," replied Lilly. "f You please, had
rather talk of tie journey lam soon to take,
and the dress must have to wear ;"
"Why, where are you going?" asked Kate
in surprise.
II am going down into dark valley, and
across deep river" said Lilly. gravely.
"What valley and what river ?" asked
Kate, stll more puzzled. -HE
"Dear Kate y said Lilly, pressing her
friends hand, "do you not know that am
going to die ?'
80, don't talk so It's TOO dreadful You
must Mt die ~ exclaimed Kate, bursting
into tears af 9
'T ,oant to 90, Kate I'm glad. o, so glad
that | am going home to Jesus" said Lilly,
earnestly, while sweet smile stole over her
face.
"Are MT Won afraid ?" whisnared Kate.
"Oh no." said Lilly, 81 shall not 60 alone
Once when I was very little girl, asked
my teacher what she meant by asking that
the Lord Jesus might 9, with us through
the dark valley and the shallow of death. Il
mean said she, 'to ask that He NAV 90
with us when we die. Dying is called, ia
the Bible, passing through the valley of the
shadow of death You know we must all
die, and it would be very sad to go away
alone: but none Of our earthly friends can
60 with us. You would not like to 90 alone
into that dark valley, Lilley. would yon 9''
1 | said, 80. no, but could not some one 90
with me I? Could ut they lie down in the
coffin with me, ifthey cho>e?' That would
do you no good, dear,' said my teacher, .for
It's only the senseless body that lies there
dying, you know, is the soul going away
out of the body the soul is the part that
thinks. and feels, and knows, and IL is the
part that wants some one to go with it,
And, dear Lilly, none but Jesus could do
that Then asked her how could get
the Lord Jesus to go with me, and she said
| must seek him at once, for II put it off
l might never be able to find him but if
would go at once and give myself to him,
asking him to forgive my sins and make me
his child, he would do so, and be would be
my friend always, and never leave me in life
nor in death. AMI did 90 to him. Kate,
and feel that he has forgiven all my sins
and made me his own dear child. And now
dying seems only like going home, and my
dear Savior viii go all the wav with me.'N
"How happy you look," said Kate, brush-
ing away her tears, "but you spoke about
dress that you must have for your jour
ney-what did you mean by that ?"
81 meant the beautiful robe Of Chrlst's
Righteousness, which he gives to each one
Of his Children" said Lilly.
at is the wedding garment which all
must wear who would partake of the mar
riage supper. You know dear Kate. that
we have all been dong wron. all our lives;
and though we try ever so hard to do right,
sin il mixed up with everything that We
can do or say, and so our very best deeds
must be very hateful in the sight of holy
God, who sees all our thoughts and motives.
!, But the dear Lord Jesus has kept Gods
law for us, and five will just throw away
all our own good works, and beg Of him to
cover US with the robe of his righteousness,
he viii do so and then we shall become
pleasing in the sight of God. Dear Kate,
ask him to give it to you, for 5ou will want
it when you are called to take that last jour-
ney."
81 WILL" said Kate, kissing her friend
good-by.
Dear little reader, win not you seek to
make the Lord Jesus your friend To day ?
You viii want him to go with you through
the dark valley, and Won viii need the robe
of righteousness to cover you when you
come to appear before Gods 8. Visitor.
WHAT 1T TAXES TO MAKE COOP News
PAPER.-The California Mercury is parent
to the following truthful paragraph:
"We receive at this office thirteen daily
newspapers, and from sixty to eighty week
lies, all of which we make it point to read .
From this mass labyrinth of matter we care
fully select such articles, items aud titbts
as comprise the miscellany or our colum rs.
Each editor acts upon this principle; hence,
each individual paper is an epitcme of the
whole. Ii requires more talent 10 make
q oooI cAtartinuS than IL 6Aa. IN urita ysrn.,y