Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1893-05-29
HIS CHOICE,

Just at the time when the earth was full
of joy and it was hardest to die, for sweet
flowers were blooming two men took the
road to heaven, n rich man and poor one
They had lived next door to each other on
earth, the poor man in Il hut, while sump
tuous house was 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 neighbor; 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 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" said Peter, land profit
well by my absence to decide what yo"
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 a kings pal
ace, and the best of foods every day-roasts
and vegetables and jams and chocolate;
then comfortable armchair, and beauti-
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; | also want my cellars full o.
gold"
VERY WELL" 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
its interest because it talked of people and
things that were new to him, he found the
time long, and he yawned.
"What can | do?" he thought. But he
had all he had asked, for and he could have
nothing else
And hundred, two hundred and then 6
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 like itf" he said. II do not like it al
ALL hate It'll How could you have such {
miserable place in heaven"
I'm heaven" says Peter But you ar,
in hell for you have wished for your OWL
hell Did you think we burned all sin
ners? Oh, no. Those were old times. w,
now let people choose their own hell"
Terrified, the man sinks in his chair
Oh, yes, he knows now he is in hell ant
eternity before him. He turns pitifully tC
"And how long is eternity9"
"Without end"
He began to weep bitterly, and Peter
feeling sorry, led him to the top of the
| house, and there through a 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 beautifulp' cries the poor rich
man. But, tell me, Peter, who is the man
sitting at Gods feetY"
This is the poor man who lived near you
on earth. After | had given you time to
wish and returned to ask him what he
wanted he begged for little bench to sit
Mt the feet of God, and his wish was granted,
just as yours was granted to you"
And Peter walked noiselessly away be-
fore the rich man was aware of it, for he
was still gazing into heaven, standing pain
fully on the very tip of his toes
And when Peter returned aftera thousand
years the rich man was still looking long
ingly into heaven, forgetting all other
things and unmindful of pain or fatigue
He did not hear Peter, who, putting his
hand on the mans shoulder, said gently:
Come, you have stood long enough, you
are forgiven. am to take you to heaven.
Don't you think you might have chosen it
from the beginning?"
And at last the poor and rich live again
near each other.-Translated From the Ger
man, For Boston Globe.
Practical Doll Sboyy.