The Van Buren press., 1893-06-10
st. Peter at the Gate.
PUBLISHED ny REouEs

et Peter stood guard at the golden cate,
With solemn mein aud ~ air sedate.
When up to the top Of the golden stair
Appiied o, sd%ssion they and stood
BEFORE st. Peter. 20 great and good.
And asked st Peter 70 let them In.
The woman was tall and lauk and thin
With scraggy beardlet on her chin
HIS stomache was built % Il rounded out
His face was pleasant and all the while
He wore kind and genial smile.
The man kept still while the womsn spoke.
=. .Oh. .hou who snsrd; the s:s.s SAD a. :he,
To let No enter the heavenly land
And play onr harps with the angel band
or me st. Peter there Il no doubt,
rye been TO meetings three Hmes week,
And almost always ID rise and speak.
I've told the ainnen about the day
when they'd repent their evil way.
'Bout Adam and Eve and the Primal an
II they'd pass in With the chosen few.
rye marked their path Of duty clear
Laid out the plan for their whole career
I've talked. and talked to 'em loud and long
For my lungs are good and my voice II strong.
90 good St Peter. you'll clearly see
But my old man. regret TO cay.
Hasn't walked exactly In the narrow way
He smokes and he swean and grave faults hes got
And don't know whether he'll pass or not
He never would pray with an earnest vim
Or 60 to revival or join in hymn.
While !. with the chosen, united in prayer.
while !. In my purity. sang to the Lord,
ana S.cS%eefs y ,;.d ws,s ~ es eo%f q, M.
But St Peter, l love him 10,
To'the pleasures OF heaven let him 30.
FIVE doLe enough. . saint I'VE been
v ont that Atone. Can't you let him In.
By my grim gospel know 'ts 20
That the unrepentAnt must fry below.
isut isnt there SOME way yon can see
That he may enter who's dear to Ak
Ifs aNARROw gospel by which Ipray
But the Chosen expect to nnd SOME way
or coaxing or fooling, or hrihing yon.
So that THEIR relations cen amble through;
Aud say, St Peter 1t seems to me
The gale isn't kept a. II ought to be.
And never sit down III that easy chair
And say. St Peter my sight is dimmed.
But 1 don't IKE the way your whisken ars
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 pass In!
St Peter sat quiet and stroked his stan
But spite Of his Office he had to laugh.
Then said. with fery CLEAN In his eye.
who's tending this gateway-you or p
Aud then he arose to his stature tall.
Aud pressed button upon the wall.
And said to the imp who answered the bell.
Escort this lady around TO heliF
The man stood stfll as piece OF stone-s
Stood SADLY RlOOmily there alone.
A life long settled idea he had
That his wife was good and he vas bad:
That he would certainly have to 90.
That II she went to the regions dim
There wasn't the ghost Of show for HIN.
slowly he turned, by habit bent
To follow wherever the woman went
St Peter, standing on duty there
He called the gentleman back and said.
Friend. how long have you been wed
Thirty years," with q weary sigh.
Aud then he thoughtfully aided "Whyr
st. Peter was SILENT with head bowed down.
He raised his hand and scratched his crown
Then seeming different thought to take.
Slowly, half 70 himself he spake;
Thirty years with that woman there,
No wonder the man hasn't any hair.
i Wicked ssI7S nSt ,S;SS sSSd ona
Thirty yes,s with that tongue % sharp
Ous Aukci OuUT1ct WV hi9 hAhfs
jeweled harp with golden string!
Good sif pass In where the angels singi
Gabriel give him seat alone
One with cushion-up near the thronei
Call up some angels 70 play their bestl
Let him enjoy the music -and rest
See that on the finest Ambroaia he feeds.
He's had about all the hell he needs.
II isn't Just hardly the thing 10 do
To roast him on earth and the future too!
They gave him . harp with golden strings
A glitteflng robe and pair Of wings.
And he said as he entered the Realm Of Day,
Well this beats cucumbers anyway!
And so the scriptures had come to pass
The last shall be Arst and the nfst shall be
last"
J0nenh Bsft Smiley