Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1895-11-22
St. Peter at the Gate.

A man and woman assembled tnere'
Annlied for admission came and STOOD
BEFORE St. Peter, so great and good,
I'm homes tie CITY of Peace to win
Ard asked St. Peter to let them in.
The woman was tall and lank and thin,
With scraggy beardlet on her chih'
The man was short and thick ana STOUT !
His stomach was built SO 1t roundeA OUT
His face was pleasant and the Whlie
lie wore Kindly and genial smile.
The choirs in the distancetle echoes WOKE
The man kept still and the woman spoke.
90 thou who guardest the gate, said she,
"Wetw come hither, beseeching thee
7 0 let us enter the heavenly lahd'
And play our harps with the anger DaHu'
OF me. St. Peter there is no doubt,
There nothing in heaven to bar me OUT
I'VE been to meetings three times week,
And almost always I'D rise and speak
"Pve told the sinners about the day
Wnen they'd repent their evil way,
! I've told nv neighbOrs-l,v We told EN- all
Bout Adam and Eve and the primal fall;
Eve showed them what they'd have to 90
If they'd pass in with the chosen few.
Pye marked their path OF duty clear
Laid olt the plan of their VIII, lie career.
owe talked & talked to 'em loud and long
For my lungs are good and my voice IS
strong;
So. good St. Peter, you'll clearly see
The gate of heaven is open TO me,
But nv old man, / regret to say,
Ha.n't walked in exactly the narrow way
IL omokes and he sWears, and grave
faults he's got,
md don't know whether he I'll pass or mol
ale never would pray with earnest vim,
Or 20 to revival or join in hymn,
So I had to leave him in sorrow there
While I with the chosen united IL prayer.
He ate what the pantry h inced to afford
While / in nv purity, sang to TIE Lord;
And if cucurbers were all he got,
It's a chance if he merited them or not.
oBut 0. St. Peter, love-him sol
/ 70 the pleasure of heaven let HIM go.
g Pve done enough-a SAINT We oeen: -.
| Won't that atone? Can you let MN III
. By nv grim gospel know lis so
i That the unrepentant must FRY beloW'
< But isn't there some way YOU can see
That he may enter who's dear to me?
t OFFS narrow gospel by which pray
& Rut the chosen expect to- find some way
E or coaxing, or fooling, or briDing you
~ that their relations can amblc through
I And saw. st. Peter, it seems to me
+. This cate isn't kept as it ought to be,
IS Won 0urht to stand by that opening there
g And never sit down in the easy chair
u And say, ST. Peter, my eyes are dimme
g Rnt I don't like the way your whi'F eT
! are trimmed
/, TheI re cut too wide and outward toss,
at They'd look better narrow, cut straigf
l. across.
G Well we must be going our crowns to WI
= So open, st. Peter. and we'll pass IN.
~ < x :;
I'd St Peter sat and stroke his staff,
ne But, spite his Office. he had to laugh
a. Then said, with a fiery CLEAN in his eye,
10 "Who's tending the gateway-you or l.
~ And then he arose in his stature tall
rs And r.ssed button upOr the wall
he And said to the imp who answered the b(
Nv "Fscort this lady around to hell!'
as Z
in The man stood still as a piece Of stone
-" stood sadly, gloomily there alone,
IS a life long. settled idea he had
IT, 'Tbot his wife was good and he was bad,
rs. lie thought if the woman went dow
he below
-, That he would certainly have to go
~ That f she went TO the regions dim
Is There wasn't the ghost Of a chance Tor Il
lel Slowly he turned by habit bent
To follow wherever the woman went.
81 peter standing on duty there,
Observed that the top of hishead was Da
: lie called the gentleman back, and said
Tho "Friend. how long have you been wed:
49, "Thirty wears" with a weary sigh.
on- And then he thoughtfully added, wv b.
~ a. St. Peter was silent, With head bent do
@1y,, He raised his hand and scratched
q: crown,
in Then. seeming different tho't to lake
ow Slowly, halft to himself he spake:, .
~. "ThiIty veals with that woman there!
nN' No wonder the man hasn't any hair!
'ell Swearing is wicked Smokes not goo
my Ne smoked and swore-l shonld thnK
rem would.
hut "Thir,v wears with that tongue so sha
-, Hol Angel Gabriel! Give him harp!
III A ieweled harp with golden string!
ase. Good sir, pass in, where the angels sin
and Gabriel, give him seat alone ,o
che One with cushion-up near the thro
in Can up some angels to play their best
i'"' Let him enjoy the music and rest!
-UIe ."see that on finest Ambrosia he feeds
tue He's had about all the hell that he nee
her 1t isn't hardly the thingto 90
Nh. 70 roast him on earth and in future to
did They gave him harp with golden str
o',h A glitfering robe and apair OF wings
'P" AID he said as he entered the realm o {!
nus well, this beats cucumbers anyway 7
) a And 90 the scriptures had come 10 pa