Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-08-17
Calling the Ferryman.

They reached the river, the father and his |
little daughter, late in the evening. Far
away on the opposite shore was here and
there twnkling light in the small scattered
houses while farther off still were the
bright lamps of the great city whittier they
were going. Nothing but urgency would
have induced the father TO 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, but no VOICE answered then he
would walk to and fro, and speak TO his
child and try to comfort her; then he would
call and call again. At length they saw
little light move, and heard the moving of
the boat. Nearer and nearer the noise
came, but it was too dark to see the boat.
But it came across, and the travellers entered
it. "Fatherl'' "Well, my child" "It's
very dark, and I can't see the shore where
we are going" "No, little one; but the
ferryman knows the way, and we shall soon
be home in the city, where there will be
light and good fire." "Oh, / wish we
were 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 her, where the
room was warm with fire, and was flooded
with light. On the bosom of love she rested,
and the chills and terrors passed away.
| Some months after this, the same little
| child had gone to another river, darker,
deeper, and more fearful still 1t was the
River of Death. When she first came near
| it, the air seemed cold, and darkness cov-
cred it, and all seemed like night. The
| same loving father stood near her, distressed
that his child must cross the river and he
not able to go with her. For days and
nights he had been, with her mother, watch
ing 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 slumbering very quietly, and
it seemed as if her spirit was to pass away
without her waking again but just before
the morning watch she suddenly woke, with
the eye bright, the reason unclouded, and
every faculty alive. A sweet smile was
playing on her face. Father, have come
again to the riverside, and am again waiting
for the ferryman to come and carry me
over !" "Does it seem dark and cold as II
did when we crossed the river ?" "Oh, no
there are no dark gloomy trees here. The
river is not black but covered with floating
| oilNtTs luc podt ColuiuB toWoiu ho oooui
TO be made of solid light, and though tn
ferryman looks dark, am not afraid ol
him |" "Can my child see across the river ?
"Oh, yes but instead of the little twink
ling lights here and there as before, | see a
great, beautiful city, flooded with glory ant
light. / see no sun and no lamp, no moon
or stars, but it's full of light. All heal
! the music, too, coming softly over the river
sweet as the angels could make r. "Car
you see any one on the other bank of thu
river ?" "Why, why yes l see One, tn
most beautiful form ever saw And wha
} face what smile Aud he beckons m
to come. o, ferryman make haste knoN
who it isl 1t is Jesus-my own blesse
> Jesus shall be received into his arms
| | shall rest in his bosoml" "Is my littl
daughter afraid ?" "Afraid, dear mother
: Not bit. I think of my Psalm, 'Thoug
, | walk through the valley of the shadow o
DEATH l will fear no evil; for thou art witt
: me; thy rod and thy staff they comfor
t me-" And thus she crossed the dark rive
made like silver stream by the presence c
. the blessed Redeemer The father an
mother wept, but Joy and sorrow mingle
in their tears. They could almost see th
J. Golden Gates open to receive their love
one; and they understood the words of tn
prophet, "The child shall die an hundre
years Chiidren's Friend.