The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1893-04-19
HIS CHOICE.


They had lived next door to each other on
earth, the poor man in hut while a sump-
tuous house vas the rich mans abode.
But death makes no difference, and so it
happened that they both died at the same
time, and now they were walking in silence
near each other.
But the road was very steep, and the rich
man found it hard work and soon fell be-
hind
The poor man reached heaven quicker,
but he was afraid to knock, so he sat down
quietly and thought:
Let me wait for my neighbour; perhaps
he dares knock at the gate"
After long time the rich man arrived,
and finding heaven closed began to shake
the gate violently, making such a noise
that Peter came running breathlessly, and
on seeing the two men said to the rich one:
''That was you, no doubt, who could not
wait. should not think you would care
to make yourself SO conspicuous, for we
have no good reports Of you in heaven. But
we will see what next Come both in''-
and Peter helped the poor man rise.
They found themselves in an immense
hall, with many doors and benches along
the walls.
''Sit here and rest, d." said Peter, land profit
well by my absence to decide what you
wish, for your wish will be fully granted.
Only consider well, for there is no chance
LATER and forget nothing before it is too
late"
When Peter returned, he asked if they
had made up their minds. The rich man
jumped up at once and said he wanted a
magnificent house, better than kings pal
ace, and the best of foods every day-rOasts
and vegetables and jams and chocolate;
then a comfortable armchair, and beaut!-
full wrapper of green satin, and the daily
paper, so he might know the news. Peter
looked at him sadly and asked:
And nothing else?''
"Oh, yes; l also want my cellars full Of
gold"
Every we'll, ;" and Peter opened one of the
many doors and led the rich man into just
such palace as he had asked for, and told
him he would find all as he had wished it
to be.
And SO it was.
But when year after year had passed, and
he had counted all his gold and had every
day good dinner, and the paper had lost
it's interest because it talked Of people and
things that were new to him, he found the
time long, and he yawned.
"What can l do?'' he thought. But he
had all he had asked, for and he could have
nothing else.
And a hundred, two hundred and then
thousand years passed. At last Peter opened
the door again.
WELL" said he, chow do you like it?"
Then the man became very angry How
do I like it," he said. Il do not like it at
ALL hate it! How could you have such a
miserable place in heaven}'
In heaveH?" says Peter. but you are
in hell, for you have wished for your own
hell. Did you think we burned all sin
ners? Oh, no. Those were old times. We
now let people choose their own hell"
Terrified, the man sinks in bis chair
Oh, yes he knows now he is in hell and
eternity before him. He turns pitifully to
Peter and says:
And how long is eternity?"
without end"
He began to weep bitterly, and Peter,
feeling sorry, led him to the top of the
house, and there through crack in the
wall he saw into heaven, but he had to
stand on the tips of his toes and stretch his
neck.
There sat God in all his glory and all his
angels round him, and all was Joy!
''Oh, how bcautiful" cries the poor rich
man. But, tell me- Peter, who is the man
sitting at Gods feet?"
This is the poor man who lived near you
on earth. After I had given you time to
wish and returned to ask him what Re
wanted he begged for a little bench to sit
at the feet of God, and his wish was granted,
just as yours was granted to you"