Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1895-02-09
NO SEt,,rS IL HEAVEN

! Taking OF SectS TIL late one eve,
| And the various doctrines the sln:s believe
That night. stood in troubled dream,
| By the side of darkly flowing stream.
Ard "churchmanN down to the river came
When heard strange voice call his name
Good father stop when you cross this Iidt
You must leave your robes on Il C other side;'
But the aged father did not mind,
And his long gown floatef ont behind.
As down TO the stream his way he took.
His pale hands casping gilt edged hook.
'.I'm bound for Heaven, and when I'm there
l shall want my book of common prayer
And though put on a starry crown,
l should fcei quite lost without my gown"
Then he fixed his eyes OH the shining track
But his gown was heavy and held him back
And the worthy brother tried in vain
A single step in the flood to gain.
/ saw him again OH the other side,
But his silk gown 1oated with the tide,
And no one asked him in that blessed spot
Whether he belonged TO the church or not
Then down TO the river q Quaker strayed,
His dress of sober hue was made
My coat and hat must be all of gray,
cannot go any other way"
Then he buttoned his coat straight up to his
chin.
And steadily solemuly wadcd in;
And his broad brimmed hat he pulled down
tight
Over his forehead, so cold and white;
Bat strong wind carried away his hat,
And moment he solemnIy gazed at thai;
And then, us he looked on the further shore
His coat slipped oil and was seen no more.
As he entered Heaven his suit of gray
Went quietly sailing away. away,
Aud none of the angels questioned him,
About the width of his beavers brm.'
Next came DR.. Watts with bundle Of psalms,
Tied nicely up in his aged arms
And hymns as many-a very wise thing
That people in Heaven all round might sing.
Eut thought that he heard an anxious sigh
As he saw that the river ran broad and high,
And looked rather surprised as one By one
The psalms aud hymns in the waves went
down.
And after him with his NJ S. S
Came Wesley, the pattern Of goiiness.
But he said, Dear me what shili do,
The water has soaked them through and
through
And there on the river far and wide
Away they went down the swollen tide,
And the saint, astonished passed through
alone
Without his manuscripts up to the throne.
Then gravely walking two saints, by name,
Down to the stream together game,
But as they stopped st the rivcr's brink
I saw one saint from the other sh ink.
"Sprinklcd or plung ID? may l ask you
friend,
How you attained to lies great cnd
Perhaps with few drops on your brow,
5ut have been dipped us you'll see me now.
Aud really think it will hardly do,
As I'm Gloss communion to cross with you,
You're bound know to the realms of bliss,
But you mus, go that way. and Eli go this. y
Then straightway plunging with all bis
might,
Away to the lef;-his friend to ri ,ht-
Apart they went from this world OF sin,
But at last together taey entered i'll.
Aud now, when the river vas rolling on,
A Presbyterian Church went down.
Of women there seemed an iLnumerablc
throng,
But the men l could count as they passed
along.
And concerning the road they could never
agree,
The old or the new way, which it could be,
Nor ever moment paused to think
That both would lead to the rivers brink.
And sounds OF murmuring long and loud
Came ever up from the movi ny crowd.
You're in the old way IN In the new,
| That is the false and this IS the true"
but the brethren only seemed TO speak,
! Modest the sisters walk ed and meek.
Aud if ever one of them CHANGED to say
What troubles she had met with On the way
How she longed to pass TO the other side,
Nor feared to go through the swelling tide,
A voice arose from the brethren then,
"Let no one speak but the holy men,"
For have ye not heard the words Of Paul,
"Uh lot the women keep silence all ~
I watched thom long in my curious dream,
Till they stood bs the borders of the stream =
Theu Just as thought the two ways met,
But ali the brethren were talking yet,
And would talk on till the heaving tide
Carried them over sids By side
Side by side, for the way was ore
The tolsome journey of life was DONE
And all who in Christ the Saviour died
Came out alike on the other SIDE.
No farms, nor crosses, nor books had they,
No gowns of silk, nor suits of gray,
No creeds to guide them, nor NJ. 5. S
For all had put on Chriss's righteousness.
Mrs. Emily Thorne, who resides al
Toledo, Washington, says she has new
| er been able to procure any medicine