Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1893-07-20
SIMON oRue's DREAM.
this: .Inasmuch as ue


The text was this: "Inasmuch as We
Have done it to these re have done 1t to Ne"
Soon Simon slept. for twas sultry weather,
And the dream and the sermon went on to-
gether
He dreamed that he died. and stood at the
gate
0f the outer court. where the angels wait
For those who hear the glad .'Wen 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
hereS"
"Of witnesses there are many" said he
"My brethren and neighbors will all speak for
me
But the brethren and neghbors came not near,
And he heard only a 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 Goor.
Then Simon grew pale, and. trembling with
fear,
OalQ w WY AAC hOt oOA4C Va tuC DASNuiOu
here2
Pray wait, pray wait, they'll surely come"
Twas Grayfoot that spoke then, and Simon
was dumb:
ION 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
"pve shivered the dreary time away,
With only some whisps Of the poorest hay,
Then put 70 work with shout and blow,
So hungry and faint could scarcely 60"
eyes
Fixed on her master in sad surprise.
Told pitiful tale Of starvation and cold,
And how he mad sold her food for gold
The poor sheep told their story, too,
or 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 there,
Close by the ear OF Him who says;
II will hear the cries OF My poor always"
The old house dog, though treated ILL.,
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 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 ages TO
Gomez
Must he see them forever gaunt hungry and
cold9
Tor ''rime and eternity never grow old"
How oft in dumb pleading they'd asked a caress
From his hands that had beaten and starved
them All yes
He remembered 1t all, and IL 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
With soul that was white, for a happier fate,
Was it conscience that whispered: "Too late
too latei"
He'd cruelty passed over iifes narrowing |
track.
Till remorse claimed its own-for that never
turns back;
And sins scarce remembered, remembered too |
Grew black as he saw them from Heavens
barred gate.
Twas in vain that he strove TO 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:
aye did il to these, 'Ye did IL to these
Go hence, be homeless, go starve and freezes
Eye did il to these Ye did 1t to these.
"And when you are faint and weary with woe,
You will still hear the shout. you will still feel
the blow,
While voice from which you shall never be
free,
WIN whisper beside you: We did it to Me-"
But bark What melody over him roilsl
Do the angels sing requems over lost souls'
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 we're few.
But the teacher who follows us ever II seems,
Gives his strongest lessons sometimes, in
dreams.
Remember, dear friends. that the lips that are
dumb
May be those that will speak when our time
shall come
To stand AT the entrance, and watch ana wait
For the angel to open, or close, the gate.
Our Dumb Animals
ESCAPED FROM PRISON. |