Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1867-11-16
Calling the EerrYman.

er and his lllis daughter, idte III lhe even
ing. The woods through which they had
passed reached TO the very brink and as
The evening was very cloudy, and the
night very dark, the woods seemed TO
render The gloom profoundly deep, Far
away on the opposite shore was here and
there faint light in the small, scattered
houses. while farther of still were the
bright lamps Of The great city whittier
they were going. The child was weary
and SLEEPY, and chilled b. The evening air.
Nothine but urgency would have induced
the father 10 be out with her thus As
they came to the ferry they found that the
boat was on the other side, where the fer
ryman lived.
So the father shouted and called, but
no voice answered ; then he would walk
to and 70, and speak 10 his chlld and try
to comfort her 4; then he would cal! again
and again. At length he saw a lirle light
move, and heard the moving OF the boat.
Nearer and nearer tie noise came, but it
was too dark TO see the boat Bot il came
across, and The traveller entered.
"Fsher :"
"Well, my child ?"
"I,'s very dark, and I can't see the
shore where We are going "
mo, liule one bot the feuyman
knows lhe way. and We will soon be over,
and then soon home in The city, where
will be light and good fire.
..0h I naro now fail
or."
Slowly and gently The boat swung of
in The stream; and though II was dark.
and the river seemed to run fast, they
were carried safely over; and the chIId
soon forgot ner greallear. ln short uTe
afc: they landed, she reached her home
where loving arms received her-where
The room was warm with FIRE, and was
flooded wilh light.
On the bosom Of love SIZE rested, and
her chiIls and lerrors passed away.
Some months after this, the same little
child had come TO another river, darker,
deeper, and moe fearful sll.
II vas the River Of Death. When fret
she came near i, The air seen ed cold, and
dlrkness covered il, and sl seemed like
night The same loving father stood near
her, distressed that lis child must cross
the river and he not be able TO GO with
ter. For days and nights he had Been
with her mother. watching over her, and
leaving her bedside only long enough TO
take his meals, and pray for the life OF hIs
precious child.
For hours she had been slumbeTing We
~ quietly, and il seemed as IT her sPIn'
was 10 pass away without her waking
again but Just before the morning watch
she suddenly awoke, with the eye bright,
the reason uncIouded. and every faculty
alive. A sweet smile was playing on lie
face.
"Falher, have come again 10 the river
side, snd am again waiting for The ferry
man TO come and carry me over.
"Does il seem dark and cold as II DID
when we crossed tie river q
"Ob. no There are no dark gloomy
trees here. The river is rot black. bni
covered with floating silver. The boat
coming towards me seems to be made OF
solid hight; and though the ierryman
looks dark. am not afraid Of him"
"Can my child see across The n'eF :!
"Oh, yes ! but instead of the hlne
lwinkling light here and there. as before,
can see a grca, beautiful ely, flooded
with light and glory. ! zee no sun and
no lamp, no moon or stars but II IS iusI
Of light. All y hear music too, coming
softly over the river, sweet as the angels
could make -
Can you see any one on the other
bank Of the river 2"
"Why. yes! see One, The most beau.
tiful form ever saw !-and what face .
what smile ! And now lie beckons me
10 come. o, ferrvman, make haste
know who ills! Itis Je'us ny bless
Jesus! ! shall be received INTO His
arms shall rest in HIS bosom
And thus she crossed the dark river
made like a silver stream bv the presence
Of the blessed Rpdeemer. The father and
mother weTt; but joy and sorrow min.
gled in their tears. They could almost
see The golden gates open 10 receive Their
loved one and they then understood the
words of The prophet: Thy child shall
die an hundred years OLD"