The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-05-14
SIMON GRUe'S DREAM.

The text was this: "Inasmuch as We
Fave done 1t to these. ye have done it to Me-
Soon Simon slept, for twas sultry weather,
And the dream and the sermon went on to-
gethcr.
He dreamed that he died, and stood 1T the
+ gate
OF the outer court where the angels wait
Fer those who hear the glad well DONE"
And can enter the realms of the Holy One.
While Simon waited, and wondered il he
Had forgotten the password, or lost the key,
voice above him said, loud and clear:
do you know you must bring your witnesses
hercf"
"Of witnesses there are many" said he;
'My brethren and neighbors will all speak for
me-"
But the brethren and neighbors came not near,
And he heard only whinny, familiar and
clear.
And old Grayfoot the horse, stood Just at his
right,
While around on the other side, Just coming in
sight,
Was q crowd Of dumb creatures, so forlorn and
so poor
That the angel wept as he opened the door.
Then Simon grew pale. and, trembling with
fear,
Said: 'Oh why are not some OF the brethren
here?
Pray wait, pray wait, they'll surely come"
Twas Grayfoot that spoke then, and Simon
was dumb:
''On wintry nights I've stood in my stall.
When the cold winds blew through the cracks
in the wall,
Till every joint and sinew and bone
Seemed frozen and dead as the coolest stone
"Ive shivered the dreary time away.
With only some whisps Of the poorest hay,
Then put to work with shout and blow,
So hungry and faint could scarcely go''
Then old Brindle 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 life through;
Turned out in cold and stormy weather,
To starve and freeze and cry together.
They were lowly cries. but they turned to
prayer,
And, floating upward, had rested tnere,
Close by the ear Of Him who says:
az will hear the cries of My poor always"
The old house dog, though treated III,
Came near, and fawned on his master still,
Because the love these dumb things know
Is more than human, more faithful more true.
Then conscience woke, like some torpid thing
That is brought TO life by the sun in spring,
And it dashed and stung him ike poisoned
thongs,
AS memory brought him his train OF wrongs,
Forgetting nothing Of word or deed,
OF cruel blows selfish greed.
His cruelty treated friends that were dumb.
Would they follow him on through the ages to
come?
Must he see them forever, gaunt hungry and
cold?
FOR Time and eternity never grow DID,
How Oft in dumb pleading they'd asked caress
From his hands that had beaten and starved
themi All yes,
He remembered it all, and it stung him to know
That the love they had craved had been met
only with blow.
Oh, could he live over the life that was past,
And leave out its sins, to stand here at last "a
With a soul that was white for a happier fate,
Was it conscience that whispered: TOO late,
too latel"
He'd cruelty passed over nfe's narrowing
track,
Till remorse claimed it's 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 70 speak, to say
Those sweet, 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:
" 'Yc did il TO these 'Ye did it to those
Go hence be homeless, go starve and freeze:
'Ye did 1t TO these Ye did 1t to these
"And when you are faint and weary with woe,
You viii still hear the shout, you will still feel
the blow,
While voice from which you shall never be
free,
Will whisper beside your 'Ye did it to Me-"
But harlSt What melody over him rolls?
Do .he angels sing reQulems over lost soulsf
His last hope had fed. In an agony new
He awoke-to find himself safe in his pew
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 |
dreams.
dear friends, that the lips that are
dumb
May be those that will speak when our time
shall come
To stand ct the entrance and watch and wait
For the angel to omen. close. the gate