The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1876-10-02
How The Smile Came,

An old man died the other night
died in his he'd. The Papers said IL
WAS n poor old man, friendless, livipG
Oh charity, and that his life had b+tI,
drear and full OF bitterness. The ol.
man died alone, the darkness Of nigh
hiding the darkness OF death until hi
eyes opened to the brightest, fairest vi
ion human eyes 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 had fought the battle Of
life, and women whispered to each
other :
"Perhaps an angels hand smoothctl
down his gray locks as the dampness Of
death gathered on his wrinklcd fore.
head"
There were mon there who had given
him money, and women who had fod
him. They knew that be was old and
weak and poor, but they had not thought
Of his dying, and his white ince shocked
them. They had not stopped to think
that one could not go on fighting hun
ger and bitter poverty forever. The old
mans heart was like flint. He did
not seem thankful for the good given
him, and sometimes lie was harsh to the
children as they blocked his path. But,
when men and women and children
walked softly in to look upon tho dead,
they forgave him everything, forgot
everything, and said:
"He was poor old man, and We
sorrow that his life was notfull Of sun.
shine"
1t was not strange that the face Of the
dead wore smile. When the human
heart has been imbittcred against the
world-when IN old man has been
wronged by men, followed by hunger
and driven to despair, he cannot die
with the burden on his soul. Heavens
gates must bo opened q little to let
the glorious light Of paradise Hhine into
the dying mans eyes and soften his
heart until he will say: "Men have
not dealt by mo as they should, but l
forgive each and ALL"
When the old man awoke in the
darkness aud felt the touch OF death Mt
his heart, there were no tears in his eyes,
and he grimly reioiced that his aching
limbs were to fiud rest at last. Ho did
not caro- whether any one missed him, or
what men would say when they entered
his desolate room aud found his corpse
on the bed OF straw. Then tho angels
threw iack the gates and the light came.
Then came with it, singing so sweetly
and tenderly that the old man started up
in fear that he might lose single uote.
They walked around him-they floated
above him, and oil 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
forgive them, whispered the angels.
II do dol" hc replied.
"Poyerty has oppressed you-mis.
fortune has walked with you-woe aud
sorrow have been your companions, but
You must not blame the world," they
whispered.
az forgive all men p he answered.
"Behold the light from heaven
listen TO the music which is never heard
outside tho golden gates except by the
dying-loos yondsr and tell us what you
see."
Peeriug into the glorious light, while
tho film of death gathered over his eyes,
the old man read
"Sone so old and poor and hopeless
that heavens gates arc shut against
them"
Aspirit scared away with tho food Of
light, and it was only clay which the
men and women looked upon the next
dny. They wondered at the tender
smile on the white face-they had not
heard the music nor seen the flood Of
glory which lighted up tho bare old
room.-DetroR Free Press.