Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1865-04-26

came to you fettered by no promise; now
I will seek further, for the mightiest
whom only 1 will serve"
Then Satan went off with a mOeking
laugh, and OfFerus went on his way, ask
ing every traveller he met for the son OF
Mary; but, alas few bore him in their
hearts, and no one could tell the giant
where the Lord dwelt, until one evening
Ofarus found an old piOus hermit, who
gave him a nights lodgings in his cell
and sent him the next morning to the
Carthesian Cloister. Then the Lord pri-
or listened to Oferus, showed him plain
Iy the path of faith, and told him he must
fast and pray, as John the Baptist did of
old in the wilderness.
But he replied "Locusts and wild
honey, my Lord, are quite contrary to
my nature, and do not know any prayers.
I should lose my strength altogether, and
had rather not go to heaven at all in that
way"
"Reckless man p said the prior
However, you may try another way; give
yourself up heartily to achieve some good
work"
"Ah! let me hear" said Offerus; "I
Lo,-o .4-o.,~-tl, o. 4l,4
See, there flows mighty river, which
binders pilgrims on their way to Rome
It has neither bridge nor ferry. Garry
the faithful over on thy back"
"If I can please the Savior in that way,
willingly will I carry the travellers tO-and
fro, replied the giant. And thereupon
he built hut of reeds, and dwelt thence
forth among the water rats and beavers,
on the border of the river, carrying the
pilgrims over the river cheerfully, like
camel or an elephant. But If any one
offered him ferry money, he said, 'I la
Dor for eternal life"
And when now after many years OfTe-
rus hair had grown white, one stormy
night plaintiflittle voice called to him,
Dear, good, tall OGerus, carry me
across 2" Gfferus was tired and sleepy,
but hethougbt faithfully of Jesus Christ,
and with weary army he seized the pine
trunk. which was his stsff when the foods
swelled high, he waded through the wa
ter and nearly reached the opposite bank.
but he saw no pilgrim there, so he
thought, Il 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, "Oferus, dear, good,
great, tall, Offerus, carry me across. =
Patiently 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 imploring, 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 left hand was the
standard of the Lamb; in his right, the
globe. He looked at the giant with eyes
full of love and trust, and Offerus lifted
him up with two fingers; but when he
entered the river, the little child weighed
on him like a 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, tottering to the
other side, let the child gently down on
the bank, and said "My little lord, pry-
thee, come not this way again, for scarce
ly have 1 escaped this time with life. =
But the fair child baptized Oferus on the
spot, and said to him, "Know ali thy sins
are forgiven; and, although thy limbs
tottered, 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 leadess, in the
earth; tomorrow it whall shoot out green
twigs. And henceforth thou shalt be
called not Oferus, but Christopher.
Then Christopher folded his hands and
prayed, and said ~ feel my end draws
nigh; my limbs tremble; my strength
fails; and God has forgiven me all my
sins" Thereupon the child vanished in
light, and Christopher set his staff in the
earth. And so on the morrow it shot
out green leaves and red blossoms, like
an almond; and three days afterwards
the angels carried Christopher to Para
disc.
MT. Buchanan's History.