Middletown transcript., 1876-09-30
HOW THE SMILE CAME.

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An old man died the other night
died in his bed. The papers said HI
was poor old man. friendless. living
on charity. and that his life had beer
dreary and full of bitterness. The ole
man died alone, the darkness of nigh,
hiding the darkness Of death until BIZ
cyes opened to the brightest, faires'
vision human eyes ever beheld. There
was kind and tender smile on his pale
face when they found him dead. Mer
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 grey 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 vas old and
weak and poor, but they had not
thought of bis dying. and bis white
face shocked them. They had not
stopped to 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 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:
I, ..He was a 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 a 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, be cannot
die with the burden ON bis soul
Heavens gates must be opened 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 / forgive each and ALL"
When the old man awoke in the
darkness and felt the touch of death at
bis 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 miss
ed 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. They came with
it, singing SO sweetly and tenderly that
the old man started up in fear that he
might lose a single note. They walked
around him-they foated above him,
and all the while his hard hdart 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 forgive them,' whispered the
angels
Il do do" be replied.
Poverty has oppressed you-mis-
fortune has walked with you-woe and
sorrow have been your companions, but
you must not blame the world" they
whispered.
Il forgive all men p he,answered.
behold the light from heaven
listen 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 food
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 food of
glory which lighted up the bare old
room. Detroit Free Press.