The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1866-08-12
calainrthe Ferrrman.

They reached the large dark river, the
father aad his iittle daughter. late in the
evening The woods through which they
had passed reached to the very brink. and
the evening was very cloudy, and the night
very dark, the woods seemed to render the
gloom profoundly deen. Far away on the
opposite shore was here aud there faint
light IN the small. scattered houses: while
farther of still. were the bright lamps Of the
great city whittier they we're goiag- The lit
tie child was very weak and sleepy, and chill
ed by the evening air. Nothing bat urgency
would have ind nced the father 10 be cat with
her thus. As they came to the ferry. they
found the boat over on the other side, where
the ferrynan lived So the father shouted
ard called. but no voice answered !; he then
would walk 10 and fro, and speak TO his child
and try 70 comfort her, then he would cali
again and again. At length ne saw
lItae light move and heard the moving Of the
boas Nearer ana nearer the noise came.
but Il WAS too dark 10 see the boat. But it
came across, and the travellers entered
ssFatheri =
swell. my child -
Ats very dark. and | can't see the shore
where we are going
No, little one /; but the ferrymAn knows
the way. and we will soon be over, aud then
=
hght and good ire
sob. Il Ne were there now, father ~
Slowly aud gently the boat swung OF IN ths
stream and though it was dark. and the riv-
er seemed 10 run fast. they we're carried ssfe>
" over aud the child 5000 forgot her great
fear In q short time after they landed she
reached her home, who're losing Rrms re-
cxived hef-waere the room was warm with
FIRE, and was flooded with light On the boz
SON Of lore she rested, and her chllls and ter
rn1s passed Away.
Some months Altar tLis lhs same little child
had come 10 another RIVER, darker. deeper,
and more fearful still. Il was the Rire< OF
Death When she first came near il the air
seemed cold. and darkness covered Il. and al
seemed like night. The same loving father
stood near her, distressed that his child must
cross the river and be not be able TO 60 with
her For DAYS and naghss he had bcss, with
her mother. watchins over her, and leaving
her bedside only long enough tn take hk
meals sad pray for The hfe of his precious
child.
For hours she had been slumbering very
ouitely. aud IL seemed as If her spirit vas to
PASS away without her waking again but
just before the morning vAtch she Suddenly
awoke. With the eye bright, the reason nm
clouded, and ever faculty alive. 4 sHeeE,
sweet smile was playing on the face.
'.Fsther. | have come again 20 the riref
side. and am again waiting for - fseAn
10 cerne asd carry ne over W " T~S
Does it seem dark and cold rs it did when
we crossed the river?'
s.Oh. no. There are no dMk, eloomy trsae
here The RIVER IS net black. bu< covered
with floating silver. The boat coniue to-
ward us seems to be made OF solid liehs: and
though The fe1ymaa locks aaA; fsm nj
afraid Of him ?
..Can my child see across the river ~
s-0h, yesi hss isassd Of TN sli.ie .sunf'
ling light here and there. a. before, 1 can -
a great beautiful city, flooded viii flght ana
glory. l see 90 sun and no lamp, no Nos,
NJ stars: but Ii IS full Of light. An, / -
msssesse; q u6ng sa0ty sstr - riser, sussl
As the angels could make T. III
.-exn ron see suJ pHs on the other bank o.
the river7"
.xhs.yuE, I sa0n, - rDsss beaafA1
form. ever sswi SD ahasas faaeI yAse !
smilel and 49, He141se4qsto come. q
ferryman, make kestel ! know uho il isI Il
mJssdS l-ny ovn UsnsA 5un Ill =
ssTAtsse 44SwHs = - 80 - y