The Progress., 1893-08-05

ana almost always Ia rise and speak.
I've told the sinners about the dav
When they'd repent of their evil Uav;
/ I've told my nei ghbofs-Tve told 'pm nj
Bout Adam ana Eve, and the Primal
Fall,
I've shown them what the'd have 10 do
If they'd pass in with the chosen few;
I've marked their path of duty clear
Laid out the plan for their whole career.
I've talked and talked to em loud ard
long,
For my lungs are good and my voice is
strong.
So, good St. Peter, you'll clearly see
The gate of heaven is open for me:
But my old man, | regret to saw,
| Hasn't walked i'll exactly the narrow way,
He smokes and he swears, and grave
faults he's got,
And don't know whether he'll pass or
not.
He never would pray with and earnest
vim,
Or 20 TO revival, or JON in hymn,
While L, with the chosen, united in
prayer.
He ate what the pantry choice1 to afford
Whilc l, IN my purity, sang to the Lord;
And if Cucumbers were all he got,
It's chan. e if he merited them or not.
But o, ST. Peter, love him so,
20 the pleasures of heaven please let him
20.
I've done enough a saint I've been,
Won't that atone: Can't you let him in?
By NV grim gospel l know It's so
That the unrrpentent must Try below,
But isn't there some way you can see
That he may enter who's dear to me?
It's narrow gospel by which pray,
But the chosen expect to find some way
OF cOaxing. or foOliug, or brlbing, you,
Sothat their relations can amble ,hrough;
And say, st. Peter, it seems to me
This gate isn't kept as it ought to be.
You ought to stand by the opening there,
And never sit down in that easy chair.
And say, st. Peter, my sight is dimmed,
But | dOn't like the way your whiskers is
trimmed:
They're cut too wide, and outward toss.
They'd look better narrow, cut straight
across,
Well we must be going our crowns to win,
So open, st. Peter, and wen go in
st. Peter sat quiet and stroi ! , i star
But in spite of ! is office he had to laugh,
Then said with q fiery Gleam in his eye
who's Tending this gateway, you or T."
And then he AROSE in his stature tall,
And pressed button upon the wall,
Aud said TO IN imp, who came all aglow,
Escort tins woman to the regions below.
The man stood still as a piece of stone
stood sadly, and sloonily there alone.
\ lifelong, settled idea he had
That his wife was good and he was bad;
He thought if the woman went down
below
That he would C rtaiDly have to go;
That if she went to the regions dim
There wasn't the ghost of Il show for him.
Slowly he turned, by habit bent,
To follow wherever the woman went.
st. Peter, standing on duty there,
Observed that the top of his head was
bare.
He called the gentleman back, and said;
Friend, how long have you been wed?"
Thirty years with a weary sigh),
And then he thoughtfully added, "Why?"
st. Peter was silent. With head bent
down,
He raised his hand aud scratched his
crown.
Then seeming different thought to take,
Slowly half to himself he spake:
"Thir y years with that woman there;
No wonder the man hasn't any hair.
Swearing is wicked; smokes not good.
He smoked and swore-I should think he
would.
Thirty years with that tongue so sharp,
OH Angel Gabriel, Give him a harp,
A ieweled harp with golden stringl
Good sir, pass in where the angels sing!
Gabriel, give him a seat alone
Une with a cushion-up near the throne!
Call up some angels to play their best!
Let him enjoy the music-and rest!
See that on the finest. Ambrosia he feeds;
He's had about all the hell he II. eds.
1t isn't just hardly the thing TO do
To roast him on earth and the future too!'
They gave him harp with golden strings,
A glittering r be and pair of wings,
And be said, as he enterd the Realm of
day:
'Well this beats cucumbers, anyway"
And so the Scripturs had come to pass
"The last shall be first, and the first shall
be last"
JossPH BERT SMILEY.