My Saviour calls me, I must go
To meet him in the promised land.'"
"'Don't cry so, mother,' he said, as he felt her tears drop on his hand; 'do let me sing the rest.' And then in a voice almost of rapture he went on,—"
"'I'll away, I'll away to the promised land,
I'll away, I'll away to the promised land.
My Saviour calls me, I must go
To meet him in the promised land.'"
"Not an hour before he died, and after he seemed to have lost consciousness, we heard a low, murmuring sound, and on listening intently he was once more repeating these words. I love to come here," added the lady, looking with moistened eyes at the playthings which had belonged to her beloved nephew, "but I love still better to think of him as he is now—a bright angel before the throne of God, tuning his harp to the praises of God forever and forever."
Dear little boy or girl who may road this story of Willie's grave, will you not try to live so that when your heavenly Father calls, you will gladly obey the summons to heaven? This lovely child was surrounded by everything to make life pleasant. He lived by the sea, where he could see the ships ride by in all their grandeur. He could wander along the smooth beach and pick up glistening shells and stones. His parents had money, and were ready to grant every desire of his heart; and yet he was willing to leave all, and lay his body to rest in the ground. Why could he do this? It was because he had a Friend—a Father—a Saviour in heaven, whom he loved better than the rolling ocean, his pleasant home, or even than his earthly parents.
For more than two years Willie had tried to please this heavenly Friend, by keeping his commandments, by honoring his father and mother, being kind to his brother, correcting the faults in his temper, and doing good to those about him.