TINA was a sweet little singer. She was too young to be able to read, but at the Sunday-school she had picked up a couple of verses of the children's favorite hymn―
"Shall we gather at the river?
Where bright angels feet have trod;
With its crystal tide forever
Flowing by the throne of God.”
In sweet silvery tones, the dear child sang it morning, noon, and night, and never seemed to tire of the sacred sound.
Sitting by herself, singing over the first verse one day, she suddenly started up in the middle of it, and running to her mother, she caught hold of both her hands, looked up wistfully into her face, and said, "Mother, dear, shall we gather at the river." The "we" was strongly emphasized, and the mother felt the force of it, but put her off with an evasive answer. Poor woman, she had no certainty that she would be there. The cares of her family seemed quite enough, and more than enough, to occupy her from morning till night, and these things seldom troubled her.
But Tina's question turned her thoughts to a world beyond the present, and for the first time she began to wonder if she would be among those who will
“Gather at the river,
Where bright angels' feet have trod.”
The following day, Tina took ill, and was put to bed. Her sweet voice was hushed, and her mother missed it. Nothing serious was suspected at first, but as night drew on, Tina became worse. Her favorite hymn was not forgotten even then, for she kept repeating over and over the line:
"Shall we gather at the river?”
and young as she was, she was helped of God to give a clear and ringing testimony, that she was going there to dwell in Jesus' country, where tears are all dried up, and singing never ceases.
Two days later, dear Tina passed away to be among those who will "gather at the river," and her mother, not long after, was saved. Then she could sing her daughter's favorite hymn, and did so with joy and truthfulness―
"Yes, we'll gather at the river,
The beautiful, beautiful river,
Gather with the saints at the river,
That flows by the throne of God.”
Will you be among those gathered at the river, my dear young friend? I know you hope to be! I'm sure you would like to be there! Well, that's right, but then you know, sinners unwashed and unforgiven cannot join that happy throng. You must be washed from your sins, and made white and clean. And Jesus' precious blood can make you white. Trust it, and like Tina, you will be able then to sing―
"Yes, we'll gather at the river.”