St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1893-06-10
SIMON GRUe.S DREAM.

e>SSO
SIMON GRUe'S DREAM.
~ eext WAS this: ''InAsmuch 20 70
rave done II 70 these. ye have done it to Ma"
soon SIMON slept for twas sultry weather.
ana the dream and the sermon went on %.
getheE.
as dreamed that he died. and stood as shs
gate
0e she outer court where the angels wait
Eoe thaee who hear the glad 'wen doue,"
Ana can enter the REALMS Of the Holy one
While Simon waited, and wondered II he
Had forgotten the password, or Lost the key,
a voice above him said, loud and clear:
~ you know you must bring your witnesses
sh witnesses there are many" said he:
my brethrea and neiGhbors will AL speak for
mo"
But the brethren and neishsors came no, near,
And he heard only . whinny, familiar and
And old Grayfoos. the horse. stood Just as his
right
while around on the other size. Just coming 4,
wss crowd Of dumb creatures, 20 sorloea "a
20 poor
That the angel wcpt - he opened the door.
Thsn Simon grew pale. and. trembling With
SAID: "oA why are NOT some Of the brethren
herep
Pray wait pray wait. they'll surely como"
Twas Grayfoot that spoke then. and Simoa
WAS dumb:
sOn wfntry nights I've stood in my stall.
When the cold winds blew through the cFacko
in the WALL
TN every Joint and sinew md bone
Seemed frozen and dead Is the coldcst stonA
s'rve ahivered the dreary time away,
With only some whisrs Of tSc poorest hay.
Then put to work with shout and blow,
So hungry and fsint could scarcely 60"
Then Old Drindle came. and. with soft brown
eyes
Fixed on her master in sad surprise.
Told pitiful tale OF starvation and cold,
And how he had sold her food for gold
The poor sheep told their story, too.
OF bitter wrongs their whole lie through:
Turned out In cold and stormy weather,
70 starve and freeze and cry together.
They were lovly cries. hut they turne& -
prayer,
And, fostiug upward. had rested there.
Close by tho car OF Him who says:
II will hear the cries o; My poor always"
The old house dog, though treated III.
Came near. and fawned on his master stslA
Because the love these dumb things know
Il more than hrman. mo.c faithful. more truA
Then conscience woke, like some torpid thing
That IL brought to life by the sun in spring.
And IL dashed and stung him like poisoned
thongs.
As memory brought him his train Of wrongs.
Forgetting nothing OF word or deed,
OF cruel blows or selfish greed.
His cruelty treated friends that were dumb.
Would they follow him on through the aCeo 70
Gomez
Mus. he sec them forever. s.uns hungry and
colas
For ''rimc and eternity never grow old"
How Oft In dumb pleading they'd asked caress
From his hands that had beaten and starved
themi All yes.
He remembered Il al. and II stung him to know
only with blow.
Oh. could he live over the life that was past
And leave out It's sins. to stand here At last
With . soul that was white, for . happier fate,
Was Il conscience that whispered: Too late,
too lste:"
He'd cruelty passed over iifes narrowing
troCks
TN remorse claimed its own-for that never
turns back;
And sins scarce remembered, remembered too
late,
Grew black as he saw them from Heavens
barred gate.
Twas in vain that he strove to speak. TO say
Those swec: old words: Forgive. pray"
Sins last sad cry; he was silent there:
He was dumb. with such woeful need OF prayer.
Then voices seemed floating On every breeze:
aye did IL to these 'Ye did Il to these
Go hence, be homeless, 60 starve and freeze:
sYe did II to these Ye did IL to these
..And when you are faint and weary With WOO.
You VIII stin hear the shout, you will stul feel
the blow,
while . voice from which you shall never be
free,
VIII whisper beside you: 'Ye did IL to Me-"
But harkI What melody over him rollsi
Do the angels sing rcqulerns over lost souls!
His hast hope had fed In IN agony new
He awoke-to nnd himself safe In his rev.
what his dumb friends thought none ever
knew,
When food was plenty and blows were few.
But the teacher who follows Us ever. II seems.
Gives his strongest lessons, sometimes. IN
dreama
ysemember. dear friends, that the lips that sse
dumb
May be those that VIII speak when our timo
shall come
10 sssnd at the entrance. and watch ard wait
FOR the angel to open. or close. the gate
Our Dumb AnimAA