The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-10-25
Calling tic Enrrrnidn.

They reached the large river, the father and
his little daughter, late In tho evening. The
woods through which they had passed reached
TO the very brink and rs the evening was
very cloudy, and the night very dark, the
woods seemed 10 render the gloom profoundly
deep. Far away on the opposite shore was
here and there n faint light in the small, scat
tered houses, while farther off still were the
bright lamps of the great city whittier they
were going. The child was weary and sleepy,
and chilled by the evening air. Nothing but
urgency would have induced the father 10 be
out with her thus As they came to the ferry
they found the boat over on the other side,
where the ferryman lived.
So the father shouted and called, bnt no
voice answered then he would walk TO and
fro, and speak to his child and try TO comfort
her then he would call again and again. At
leug tn he saw q little light move, and heard
the moving of the boat. Nearer and nearer
the noise came. bu. it was too dark to see the
boat. But it came across, and the travellers
entered.
Father ~
"Well, my child -
I 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, and then
soon home in the city, where will be light
and good fire
ooh, l wish we were there now, father
Slowly and gently the boat swung off in the
stream and though twas dark, and the river
seemed to run fast. they were carried safely
over and the child soon forgot her great lear :
In short time after they landed, she reached
her home. where loving arms received her
where the room was warm with fire, and was
flooded with light.
On the bosom of love she rested, and her
chills and terrors, passed away
Some months after this, the same little
child had come TO another river, darker,
deeper and more fearful still.
1t was the River of Death. When first she
came near 1t, the air seemed cold ana dark
ness covered it, and all seemed like night. The
same loving father stood near her, distressed
that his child must cross the river anu he not
be able TO 70 with her. 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 Tor Inc lie VI MS
precious child.
For hours she had been slumbering very
quietly, and it seemed as if her spirit was 10
PASS away without her waking again out
inst before the morning watch she suddenly
awoke, with the eye bright, the reason un-
clouded, and every faculty alive. sweet
smile was playing on the face.
q Father, | have come again TO the river
side and am again waiting LOT the lerlS iii''i'
to come and carry me over
:. hoes il seem dark and cold rs it did when
we crossed the river ,-,.
here The river is not black, ohl covered WIN
no,tino silver The boat coming toward me
sho.nr r. he made of solid light; ana though
the ferryman looks dark, am not AFRAID OF
him." 49,, .;.or,,,
| {. Nh yos hut instead of the little twink
| Iinr light here and there, rs before, can sec
| q rreat beautiful city, Hooded win llght ana
rIory see no sun and no lamp, no moon or
stors but 1t is full of light. All near lnu-
sic TOO. coming softly over the river, sweet rs
''t .. Gan Won see any one on the other bank OF
| the river
why, yes Isee One, the mos, 6eautltn
| form | ever saw and what face what .
| r,n;ia And now He bcckons me to come
@, frrryman, make haste! l know who it is
II is Jesus my blessed Jesus | shall bt
received into His arms! l shall rest III III:
| And thus she crossed the dark river, made
| like n silver stream by the presence OIL th'
blessed Redecmer. The father and mother
| went: but Joy and sorrow mingled in thel1
| tears They could almost see the golden gate
open to receive their loved one and they tn tn,
understood the words of the prophet IN,
| child shall die an hundred years old