Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1865-03-18

my Dord, are quite contrary to my nature,
and ! dl not know any prayers. should
lose my strength altogether, and had rather
not 60 to heaven at all in that way"
"Reckless man SAID tue prior How
ever. you may try another way give your
self up heartily to achieve some good
work
"Ahl let me hear" said oFerus, II have
strength Tor that"
"See, there flows a mighty river, which HIN.
dsrs pilE, ims on their way 10 Rome. Il has
neither bridge nor ferry Garry the faithful
Oyer on thy back" iHs
"Ifl can please the Savior in that way, will.
lingy will ! carry the travellers to and fro"
replied The giant And thereupon he built a
hut Of reeds, and dwelt thenceforth among
the water rats aud beavers, on the borders OF
the river, carrying the pilgrims over the river
cheeriully like camel or an elephant. But
if any one offered him ferry money, he said,
81 labor for eternal life
And when nov after. many years OIerus'
hair had grown white, one stormy night a
plaintiff little voice called to him, Dear good,
tall Oferus carry me across2' OfFerus was
tired and sleeply, but he thought faithfully of
Jesus Christ, aBd with wsary.arms he seized
the pine trunk, which was his staff when the
hSVus hNeiFu hlRut ue "hutu tufOugn the
water aud nearly reached the opposite
bank, but he saw no pilgrim there, 80 be
thought, 81 was dreaming" and went
back and lay down to sleep again. But
scarcely had he fallen asleep, when again
came the little voice, this time very plain
tive and touching, "Olferus, dear, good
great, tall 0ferus carry me across" Pa
tiently the old giant crossed the river again,
but neither man nor mouse was to be seen
and he went back and lay down again, and
was soon fast asleep, when once more came
the little voice, clear and plaintive and i'm.
ploring, Good, dear, giant Oferus, carry
me across, The third time he seized his
pine stem and went through the cold river
This time he found tender fair little boy.
with golden hair In his lett hand was ;he
standard Of the Lamb in his right the globe.
lie looked At the giant with eyes full of love
and trust, and Ofsrus lifted him up with two
Eng ers; but when be entered the river, the
little child weighed on him like tun.
Heavier and heavier grew The weight, until
the water reached his chin great drops
OF sweat stood on his brow, and
he,had nearly sunk in the stream with the
little one However, he struggled through,
and, lo.terng to the other side, let the child
gently down on the bank, and said my
little lord prythee, come not this way again,
for scarcely have escaped this time with
life" But the fair child tsptized OGerus on
the spot, and said to hlm, "Know all thy sins
are forgiven and, although thy limbs lotter-
ed, fear not nor marvel, but rejoice thou
hast carried the Saviour OF the world For a
token plant thy pine trunk, so long dead and /
lealless, in the earth to-morrow it shall
shoot out. green twgs. And heuceforlh |
thou shalt be called not Oferus, but Christie |
pher.
Then Christopher folded his hands and pray.
ed, and said II feel my end draws nigh; !
my limbs trembIe my strength fails and
God has forgiven me all my sins" There.
upon the chid vanished in light, and Christie
pher set his staff in the earth And so on the I
morrow il shot out green leaves and red bios.
SONS, like on almond and three days (
afterwards the angels carried Christopher 10
Paradise.