Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1876-10-06
How the Smile Came.

An old man died the other night
died in his bed The papers said that
he was a poor old man, friendless, living
on charity, and that his life had been
drear and full of bitterness. The old
man died alone, the darkness of night
hiding the darkness of death until his
eyes opened to the brightest, fairest Wis
ion human eyes ever beheld There was
a kind and tender smile on his pale face
when they found him dead. Men Won
dered at it, knowing how sadly aud hope,
lessly he had fought the battle of life,
and women whispered to each other;
" Perhaps an angels hand smoothed
down his gray locks as the dampness of
death gathered ON the wrinkled fore
head"
There were men there who had given
him money, and women who had fed
him. They knew that he was old and
weak and poor, but they had not thought
of his dying, and his white face shocked
them. They had not stopped to think
that one could not 90 on fighting hunger
and bitter poverty forever. The old
mans heart was like flint He did
not seem thankful for the food given
him, and sometimes was harsh TO the
children as they blocked his path But
when men and women and children
walked softly in to look upon the dead,
they forgaye him everything, forgot ev-
erything, and said:
" He was poor old man, and we sor
row that his life was not full of sunshine"
1t was not strange that the face of the
dead wore that smile When the human
heart has been embittered against the
world when an old man has been
wronged by men, followed by hunger and
driven to despair, he cannot die with
that burden on his soul. Heavens gates
must be opened alittle to let the glorious
light of paradise shine into the dying
mans eyes and soften his heart, until he
will say Men have not dealt by me as
they should, but forgive each and ALL
When the old man awoke in the dark
ness and felt the touch of death at his
heart, there were no tears in his eyes,
and he grimly rejoiced that his aching
limbs were to find rest at last. He did
not care whether any one missed him,
or what men would say when they en-
tered his desolate room and found his
corpse on the bed of straw. Then the
angels threw back the gates and the light
came They came with it, singing so
sweetly and tenderly that the old man
started up in fear that he might lose
single note. They walked around him
they fioated above him, and all the
while his hard heart was growing softer
and filling with such feelings as it had
not known for years.
:" Men have sneered at your gray locks
and trembling limbs, but you must for
give them" whispered the angels.
can-I do r" he replied.
Poverty has oppressed you misfor-
tune has walked with you woe and sor-
row have been your companions, but
you must not blame the world" they
whispered.
forgive all men he answered.
Behold the light from Heaven-li lis
ten to the music which is never heard
outside the golden gates except by the
dying-look yonder and tell us what
you see"
Peering into the glorious light while
the film Of death gathered over his eyes
the old man read
None SO old and poor and hopeless
that Heavens gates are shut against
them
A spirit scared away with the flood Of
light, and it was only clay which the
men and women looked upon the next
DAY. They wondered at the tender smile
on the white face-they had not heard
the music nor seen the food of glory
which lighted up the bare old room.