Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1870-11-16
& Child Coin ? Home.

lOur i more clearly exhibited than IN the
life and death Of Emily \. Drake, the ell
Jest daughter of Rev l.. l. Drake, Of West
Liberty, Ohio, who died July l, 1870, with
IL about u month Of her sixteenth birthday.
Modest in disposition, and naturally anna
ble, she attracted the good and greatly en-
deared herself TO those who best knew her.
1t is believed that from child she had been
born Of the Spirit but it was not until the
last few months of her life that the glory
and strength of the religion of Jesus were
so clearly shown. In the triumphant death
Of one in the very bloom of life, with all
its fair hopes spread before her, there is
surely abundant encouragement for the wea-
ry and oppressed to trust in the Saviour.
While yet the prospect of length of days
and the realization OF the pleasures of life
were fair, aud seemed, humanly speaking, to
be sure, she said to her father,
i think, pa, if al. the joys and pleasures
of the world were offered me for Chrisr.
would put them all away and cling to Christ.
From being apparently the most healthy
Of her family, she began 10 decline about
five months prev ious to her death; but 50
obscure was her disease. that not until with
in ten days OF her death did she or her
family think she might not recover. She
spoke of death with the greatest calmness.
Il do not think AN going to die soon +;
at least not now but in Cod ,ime [ want
to so home to Jesus.
For her, death had lost its terrors, and
faith in a risen Saviour had taken away its
sting. As she became conscious that the
hour of her dissolution was not far distant.
she repeatedly spoke of her death as go
ing home"
Il do want to go home to jesus. [ want
to die now. | do not wish to live longer.
do do not mean that death seems pleasant,
but then shall be with Jesus. -
At another time sic said to her parents,
Il am going home wish you could 60
with me but then Jesus will so with me.
When asked whsS portion of the Bible
was the most precious to her, she replied,
20, it is all precious; but now the Twen
ty third Psalm seems most precious. The
Lord is my Shepherd; aud when / shall
walk through the valley of the shadow Of
death, viii fear no evil, for Thou art with
me-
The Bible was to her a treasure. Her
mother said to her one day,
Daughter, shall read to you from some
other good book or from the bible p
She Re piled, 20, read from the Bible all
the time.
Her mind was remarkably clear She
spoke of many things that the awful reali-
ties of death and eternity would seem to
shut out from ones thoughts; But she
seemed to feel that what she did must be
done quickly, and the past redeemed. For
getting nothing, she reminded every one OF
his or her kindness with thanks.
Il would ike to be buried" said size
by the side Of sister Lille. But it does not
seem like | was going 10 be buried, when |
die. /, just seems that | am going home.
going to jesus ia heaven. It is, | know, a
long way ; it is dark way bat Jesus vii!
be with me" To enc Of her yolng com
panions she said,
Il think have found the Saviour. Won /
you love Jesus, aud be a Christian, too?'
To her brother she said You have be
gun 10 follow Jesus. You must not draw
back. BE faithful Christian man.
70 one aged AMI inirm elder in the
church she sent word, Tell hIn | am going
to die soon, aud it will not De long until We
meet in heaven.
To the Sabbu,S school she sent this mes
sage by the Superintendent Tell them
want them ali to love Jesus to seek Him
early, for He says, | love them that love
Me aud they that seek ne early shall tiud
Me- would like to meet them in Sab
bath school once more, but am 100 weak
to go but tell them [ shall sooon be carried
Dy bright angels to heaven, where Jesus l.
the great Superintendent.
During her last days, there were time;
when she seemed entirely gone-when ex-
hausted nature sauk under its load. Wher
she would recover little strength, she
would say: 20, | have come back.
thought [ was going home, ."
Once she said: %, pa, | saw Jesus!
was almost over; lie put out His hand t,
me- but turned and came back | am st
sorry ! came back
A few minutes before she breathed he
last she took an affectionate leave of he
parents, brothers, sisters, and of all arounC
her, with all the calmnesS of one going OF
visit from home Looking up at he
father, with smile of triumph ON her face
and the light Of heaven in her eye, she ex
claimed, Il am going home this time. Goo(
bye, ma Good bye, dear pa kiss ms
tor ma D." Tier mother was lying sick IN al
adjoining room, and could not go to her dy
ing child.
When the darkness Of death came owe
her, she said, 1T is getting dark and cold
/ O. so dark! know you are all here in tn
room, but | cannot see you.
After this she called out again, loud c
nough for her mother to hear, Good bye
ma - And as though she would draw a
after berth dying girl exclaimed, Goo
/ bye, everybody T. And with broken sob
/ from those around came the response, Goo
! bye. darling" Wnen the darkness of deaf
-.