The oasis., 1893-08-24

His stomach was built so 1t rounded out His face was pleasant. and all the while
 He wore kindly and genial smile
 The chOlrs in the distance fhc echoes woke And the man kept still while tho woman
 spoke.
 "Oh, thou; who guards the gate" ''Wc two came hlthrr beseeching thee ''To let us enter thc heavenly land
 And play our iiarps with the angel band. "of me, St. Peter there k no doubt There's nothing from heaven io bar mo out. live been Co meetings three times a week. And almost always I'd rise and speak. live told the sinners about the day When they'd repent of their evil way: live told my neighbor~-l'vc told them all !" Bout Adam and Eve, and ihc Primal Fall; "I'se shown them what theyd have to do "if they'd pass in with fhc chosen few; live marked thoir path of duty clear Laid out ihc plan for theif whole cafrer. "Ivctaikcd daadtAioal totem iond andlong. For my lungs are good and my voice isstr1ug. "so sopi B. Peter. you'll clearly SEC '''he gate ol heaven is open to me; Bu; my oid maa. [ regret tc -;sy. "Hasni walked cSariiy in the marrow way fl. smokes and hc swear. and grave faults
 he's got.
 And don't know whether hen pass osnot He would ncVcr pray with aa earne-, vim. "Orgo Co revival or loin la hymn, ''s0 had io ieave hiu in sufrow there While ! with tiie chosen. united in prayer lie aie what the pantry chanced io afford. While inmy purity sahg e the Lordi And if cucumbers were aii ht got -Iisa chance whether be meFited them or
 not
 "But. Q, st. Peter, love him go.
 'rothcp plcasufesof heaven please lei him go. ~ ve done cnpagh, saint Eve been. Won't that ato1es Can't you Ter him ins By any grim gospel ! know ii- so Hut Isn't there some way yon can soc "'rnat he may enter who's dear to nes "It'sa narrow gospel by which pray But the chosen expect Co ind some way "Of coaNiug or toaling or hglhingy you. 50 that thelr relations can amblc through; And say, ss. Peter. l. scems to me "This gate isn't kept ts ii oagh. 10 be. "You ought to stand right by the opening
 there.
 And never itdova In that easy caa.r And say. si. Peter my sizht is dimmed "But don't ike the way your Whisker' is
 trimmed
 They're cut too wide and outward toss, "rbcyd lJ7, better marrow cGc stsai a.
 across.
 "wall wa mui Do going, ouv srowas to w;a, "s, o2an, ss. Peter and we'll piss la" s.- Peter sa.quie' and ssroScl his staG But in spite of hi, office hc had co laugh Then said wi,t fiery eleam in his eye Who's teadiaz O s gateway yaa og iss And chen he aro.e ln his ;aiure tnll AaI ess.si 3 haft,s upon the wall Ani said t5 aa inJ gao cane a,l a ,low. Escort this womGa to tle region below The man stood ssill as piece of s,ole stood sadly, glo0niiiy there alone, X Alifc-iong settled idea he had That bis wife vas good and iic was bad He thought f the woman went down below That he would certainly have to gos That if she went toihe regions dim There wasn't tle ghost Of show for him. Slowly be turned. by hahii bent. To follow wherever the woman went. st. Peter standing on duty there, 0bserred that tho top Of his head was hare. He called the gentleman hacl. and sald Friend how long have you been wcdf' "Thlrty years, with 9 weary siglu, Then he rhoughMlly added "WhyY" st Peter was silent. With head bent down He raised his hand and scratched hla crown Then. seeming different thought 10 take, Slowly half 10 himself be spake: Thirty years wth that woman thcres No wonder the man hasii't any hair Swearing ls wlgltodi sm9lses not good. 'Hs smoked and sWcre ] should think he
 Weuldn '