The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-10-04
How the Smile Came,

An old man died the other night-died
in his bed. The papers said that ne was
poor old man, trlendless, living on
charity, and that his life had been drear
and iull Of bitterness. The old man died
alone, the darkness OF night hiuing the
darkness of death until his eyes opened
to the brightest, fairesL vision human
ewes ever beheld. There was kind and
tender smile on his pale face When they
found him dead. Men wondered at it.,
knowing how sadly and hopelessly he
mad fought the battle OF life, and women
whispered to each other:
"Purnaps All angefs hand smoOthed
down his gray locks as the dampness OF
death gathered on his wrinkled lore
head"
There were men there who had given
hm money, and women VINO had fed him.
They knew that he was old and weak
and poor, but they had not thought OF
his dying, and his white tace shocked
them. They had not stopped 10 think that
one could not go on fighting hunger and
bitter poverty forever. The OLD mans
heart was like flint. He did not seem
| thankful Tor the food given him, ana
sometimes he was harsh 70 the children
as they blocked his path. But, when
men, women aud children walked softly
in to look upon the dead they torgaYe
him erything, forgot everything, and
said:
"He was poor old man, and we sor-
row that his life was not luIl Of sun
shine"
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
wrenged by men, followed by hunger and
driven TO despair, he can not die with
that burden on his soul. Heavens gates
must be opened little to let the giori-
Gus light OF Paradise shine i'll the dying
mans eyes and soften his heart until he
| will say:
"Men nave 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 i'll 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 Ell.
| tered his desolate room and found his
| corpse on the bed OF straw.
Then the angels threw back the gates
and the lgnt came. They came Win it,
| singing SO sweetly and tenderly that the
old man started up in tear that he mIgnl
| lose a single note. They walked around
him, they floated above him, and all the
| whIie his heart was growing softer and
| filing 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.
II can-I do!' he replied.
"PoYerty has oppressed you--mistor-
tune has walked with you-woe and sor.
row have been your companions, but you
must not blame the world" they
whispered.
81 forgive all menp' he answered.
"Behold the light from Heaven-listen
to the music which is never heard out.
side the golden gates except by the dy-
ing-look yonder and tell US what you
see."
Peering into the glorious light while
the film OF death gathered over his eyes,
the ola man read:
"Hone 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 faee-they had not heard the
music nor seen the flood of glory which
lighted up the bare old room,
NJ. QUAD.