MR. BELL and his little daughter Emily were returning home late in the evening. They had to cross a river by ferry and it was dark as they boarded the boat.
“Daddy,” said the little girl, “it’s very dark; I can’t see the shore where we are going.”
“No, my dear,” said her father, “but the ferry man knows the way, and we shall soon be home where it will be light and there will be a good warm fire.”
“Oh, I wish I were there, Daddy,” she said. However, in a short time after they landed they reached home, where loving arms received her; the room was warm and flooded with light. Her fears had all passed away.
Some months after this, little Ely stood on the brink of another river, darker, deeper, more fearful still. It was the river of death. She had taken very ill some days before. Her dear father and mother watched over her night and day and prayed for the life of their precious child. For hours, she had been slumbering very quietly, and it seemed as if her spirit might pass away without her waking again. But just before dawn she suddenly woke up, her eyes bright and her mind clear, while a sweet smile played on her face.
“Daddy,” she said, “it seems I have come to the river side, and I’m waiting for someone to carry me over. But it is not dark; oh no, it’s all light. It seems I can see a beautiful city and I can see Jesus. I’m not afraid.” And so with this vision of heavenly glory before her, the dear little girl entered upon her eternal rest.
“He shall gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom.” Isa. 40: 11.
ML-03/29/1970