The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1874-08-14
Athcns Cost.
Athens, Friday, August IA, 1874.
Calling the Peruvian

Athens, Friday, August IA, 1874
Calling the Ferrymaih
They reached the river the father and
his little daughter late In the evening.
The woods through which they had
passed reached to the very brink and
as the night was cloudy and very dark,
the woods seemed to render the gloom
profoundly deep. Far away on the OPP
posite shore was here and there a twink.
ling light IN the small scattered houses (;
while farther off still were the bright
lamps OF the great city, whittier they
were going. The little child was weary
and sleepy, and chilled by the evening
air. Nothing bui urgency would have
induced the father to be out with her
thus. AS they came TO the ferry they
found the boat over the other side,
where the ferryman lived. SO the faith
or shouted and called, but no voice an
swered then he would walk to aud fro
md speak to his child, and try 10 COM
fort her then he would call again and
again. AT length they saw little light
move, and heard the moving of the
boat. Nearer and nearer the noise
came but 1t was too dark to see the
boat. But !. came across at last, and
A. .----,--~ "a a..
Father"
"Well, my child"
ats very dark, and cannot see the
shore where VIC are going"
'sNo, little one, but the ferryman
knows the way, and we shall soon be
over and then soon at home in the city,
where will be light and fire."
ooh, | wish we we're there, father"
Slowly and gently the boat swung
off into the stream and though it was
dark, and the river seemed to run fast
they were carried safely over, and the
child soon forgot her great fear.
In short time after they landed she
reached her home, where loving arms
received he's; where the room was
warm with fire and flooded with light.
On the bosom OF love she rested, and
her chiIls aud terrors passed away.
Some months after this the same lit
tie child had come TO another river
darker, deeper md more fearful still.
II was the River Of Death. When
she first came near it, the air seemed
cold, and darkness covered it, and all
seemed like night.
The same loving father stood near
her, distressed that his child must cross
this river and he not be able to accom-
pany her. For days and nights he had
been, with her mother, watching over
her, and leaving her bedside only long
enough 10 take his meals and pray for
the life of his precious child.
For hours she had been slumbering
very comfortably and il seemed as if
her spirit must pass away without her
waking again; but just before the
morning watch she suddenly awoke,
with the eye bright the reason uncloud-
ed and every faculty alive.
A sweet smile was playing on her
beautiful face.
"Bathcr, have como again to the
river side, and am again waiting for
the ferryman to come and carry me
over ilw
"Does IL seem dark and cold, as it did
when we crossed the rivcrw
oh no! There are no dark, gloomy
trees here. The river is not black, but
covered with floating silver The boat
coming toward mo seems to be made Of
solid light; and though the ferryman
looks dark am not afraid of him."
Can my child sec across the rivcr?'
"Oh, yes, but instead Of the little
twinkling light here and there as be-
fore, can see great beautiful city,
flooded with light and glory. l can
SEQ no sun, no lamp, no moon, and no
STARS, but 1t Is full of light. All! |
hear music, too, coming softly over the
river, sweet rs The angels can make"
Gan you see any one on the other
side Of the rver?"
Why-why--yes | sec one, the most
beautiful form | evsr saw; aud what
face what smile! Oh, fcrryman make
haste! know who il is; 1t is Jesus
my own blessed Jesus shall be re-
coived In His arms shall rest in Ills
h0som!"
us my little daughter afraid p
Afraid, dear mother? Not Bit
blhink Of my Psalm, Though walk
through the valley Of tho shadow Of
death, win fearno evil for thou art
With me; thy rod aud thy staff they
comfort me-"