The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1876-09-28
How The Snlbe Came,

died in his bed. The papers said he
was 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 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 smoothed
down his gray locks as the dampness OF
death gathered on his 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 go on fighting hun
ger and bitter poverty forever. The old
mans heart was like O flint. He did
not seem thankful for the good given
him, and sometimes he 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 forgave him everything, forgot
everything, and said
"He was O poor old man, and we
sorrow that his life was not full of sun
shine"
1t was not strange that the face of the
dead wore smile. When the human
heart has been imbittered against the
world-when an old man has been
wronged by men, followed by hunger
and driven to despair, lie cannot die
with the burden on his soul. Heaven q
gates must be opened o little 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 1
forgive each and all"
When the old man awoke in the
darkness 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 entered
his desolate room and found his corpse
on the bed of straw. Then the angels
threw back the gates and the light came.
Then came with it, singing so sweetly
and tenderly that the old man started VI
in fear that he might lose single note
They walked around him-they foated
above him, and all the while his hard
heart was growing softer and filling witt
such feelings as it had not known fol
years.
"Men have sneered at your gray
locks and trembling limbs, but you mus
forgive them," whispered the angels.
"I dol dol" he replied.
"Poverty has oppressed you-mis
fortune has walked with you-woe ant
sorrow have been your companions, bu
you must not blame the world" the,
whispered.
81 forgive all men !" he answered.
Behold the light from heaven
listen TO the music which is never heart
outside the golden gates except by tn
dying-look yonder and tell us what yo
see."
Peering into the glorious light, Will
the film of death gathered over his eyes
the old man read
"None SO old and poor and hopeless
that heavens gates are shut agains
them"
A spirit scared away with the flood g
light, and it was only clay which th
men and women looked upon the nez
day. They wondered at the tende
smile on the white face-they had Nc
heard the music nor seen the food {
glory which lighted mp the bare ol
om.-De7roH Free Press.