River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1882-09-21
NO SICT In HEAVEN.
FROM AN ENGLISH POEM.

FROM AN ENGLISH POEM.
Taking Of sects till late one eve,
OF the various doctrines ii e saints believe,
That night stood in a troubled dream,
By the side Of darkly flowing stream,
And 'Churchman' down to the river Games
When heard q strange voice call his name,
Good father, stop; when you cross this tide;
You must leave your robes on the other side"
But the aged father did not mizd,
And his long gown hoated out behind,
AS down to the stream his way he took,
His pale hands clasping gilt edged book.
I'm bound for heaven, aud when I'm there
shall want my book of Common Prayer
And though put on a starry crown.
l should fee. qIite lost without my gown
Then he fixed his eyes on the shining track,
But his gown was heavy and held him back.
And the poor old father tried in vain,
A single stepin the Good 10 gain.
saw him again on the other side
But his silk gown i0ated the tide;
And no one asked in that blis'ful spot,
Whether he belonged to ''he Church" or not.
Then d. wn to the river Quaker strayed,
His dress of the sober hue was made;
"Hy coat and hat must be all Of gray,
I cannot 60 any other way"
Then he buttoned his coat up to his chm,
And staidIy, solemnly waded in,
And bis broad trimmed hat he pulled down tight
Over his forehead, so cold and white
But the strong wind carried away his hat;
A moment he silently sighed over that,
And then as he gaZed OF the farther shore,
His coat slipped of and WIS seen no more.
As he entered heaven, his suit Of gray
Went quietly sailing-away-- away
A3d none of the angels questioned linn
About the width Of his beavers brlIn.
Next came DR.. Watts with bundls Of palms
Tied nicely up in his aged arms,
And hymns as many, very nice thlng,
That the PEOPLE in heaven, all round might
sing.
But l thought that be heaved an anxious sigh,
Az be saw that the river ran broad and high,
And looked rather surprised as one by one,
The palms and hymns in the wave went down.
And after him, with his MSS,
Came Wesley, the pattern of Goodness,
But be cried dear me what shall do,
The water has soaked them thro' and thro."
Ard there on the river, far and wide
Away they went on the swollen tide,
And the saint astOnished passed thro' alone,
Without his manuscripts. up TO the throne.
Then gravely walking, two saints by name,
Down TO the stream together came,
But as they stopped at the rivers brink,
saw one saint from the other shrink.
"Sprinkled or plunged, may ask you friend,
How you attained TO life's great endl'
Titus. with few drops BAY brow
but I've been dipped as you'll see me now,
"And really think it will hardly do,
- 80. . rvrv4
You're bound know, to the realms OF bliss,
But you must 90 that way and u go this"
Then straightway plunging with all his might
Away to the left--hls friend to the right,
Apart they went from this world ofsln,
Bat at last they entered together in.
And now, when the river was rolling on,
A Presbyterian church went down;
Of women there seemed an innumerable throng,
But the men | could count as they went along.
And concerning the road, they could never agree,
The old or the Hej5, whichit could be,
Nor even a moment paused TO think
That each would lead to the rivers brink.
And sound of murmuring long and loud
Came over from the moving crowd,
You're in the old way aud I'm in the new
That is the false and this is the true
Or, I'm in the old and you're in the new,
That is the false and Ibis is the true"
But the brethren only seemed to speak,
Modest the sisters walked, and meek,
And if ever one of them CHANGED TO say
What troubles she met with on the way.
How she longed to pass to the other side.
Nor feared to cross over the swelling tide,
voice arose from the brethren them
Let no one speak but the holy mem
For have ye not heard the words of Paul,
50 Oh. let the women keep silent all
watched them long in my curious dream,
Till they stood by the borders Of the stream,
Then, Just as l thought, the two WAYS met,
But all the brethren were talking yet
And would talk on, till the heaving tide
Carried them over side by side;
Side BY side, fer the way was one,
The toilsome journey of life wss done.
And all who in Christ the Saviour died,
Came out alike on the other side
No forms, or crosses or books had they,
No gowns of silk, no suits of gray
No creeds to guide them, no MSS,
For all had put on Christ's Righteousness.