The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1896-04-23
ST. PETER AT THE GATE.
BY JOSEPH BERT SMILEY.

ST. Peter stood guard at the golden gate,
With solemn mein and an air Sedate,
When up to the top of the golden stair
A man and woman ascending there.
Applied for admission. They came and
stood
Before St. Peter, so great and good,
In hopes the City of Peace to VIM
And asked st. Peter to let them in.
The woman was tall. and lank, and thin
With scraggy beardlet upon her chin.
The man was short, and thick and stout
His face was pleasant, and all the while
He wore kindly and genial smile,
The chOirs in the distance the echoes
woke,
And the man kept still while the woman
spoke.
"Oh thou who guardest the gate" said
I'VE two come hither. beseeching thee
To let us enter the heavenly land.
And play our harps with the angel band.
OF me, st. Peter, there is no doubt;
There's nothing from Heaven to bar me
I've been to meetings three times a week,
And almost always I'd rise and speak.
I've told the sinners about the day
When they'd repent of their evil way;
I've told my neighbOr-Ive told 'em all
Bout Adam and Eve, and the Primal
Fall,
I've shown them what they'd have to do
If they'd pass in with the chosen few.
I've 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 is
strong,
10.
The gate OF Heaven is open to Me;
But my old nan, regret to say,
Hasn't walked in exactly the narrow way.
lie smokes and he swearS, and grave faults
he's got.
And don't know whether HE LII pass or
not.
lie never would pray with an earnest vim,
Or 90 to revivalS. or join IN a hvmn,
SO had to leave him in sorrow there
While |, with the chosen united in prayer
lie ate what the pantry CHANGED to afford.
While l, in my purity sang to the Lord,
And if cucumbers were all he got.
It's chance if he merited THEM or no
But Oh, st. Peter, | love him so,
TO the pleasures of Heaven PLEASE let
him gO
I'VE done enough-a saint I'VE been,
Won't THAT atone? Can't you let him in?
by my grim gospel | know It's so.
IN at the unrepentant must fry below,
But ism there SOME way you can see
That he may enter who's so dear to ME-?
It's NARROW gospel by which pray.
But the Chosen expect to find SOME way
OF cOaXing, or fOOling or bri5ing you,
SO that THEIR relation can amble through.
And say. st. Peter. it seems to me
This gate isn't kept as it ought to be
You ought to stand right by the opening
there
And never sit down in that easy chair.
And say, ST. Peter. my sight is dimmed,
But l don't like the way your whiskers are
trim'd.
They're cut too wide, and outward toss.
They'd look better narrow, cut straight
Well. we must be going our crowns to win.
So open. St. Peter, and We'll pass in
st. Peter sat quiet and strOked his staff,
Bat, spite of his Office. he had to laugh.
Then said. with fiery CLEAN in his eye.
who's tending this gateway-yOu or r.
And then he arose in his stature tall,
And pressed button upon the wall,
And said to the imp who answered the bell,
Escort this lady around TO hell
Stood sadly. glOomily, there alone.
A lifelong. settled idea he had
That his wife was good and he was bal
He thought if the woman went down below
Tha he would certainly have to GO
That SHE went to the regions dim
There wasn't a ghost of a show for HIM.
Slowly he turned, by habit bent,
To follow wherever the woman went.
st. Peter. standing Oh duty there,
Observed that the top of his head was bare.
He called the gentleman back, and said.
Friend. how lOEg have you been wed?"
"Thirty years." with a weary Sigh).
And then he thoughtfully added, "Why?"
st. Peter was silent With head bent down,
He raised his hand and scratched his
crown,
Then, seeming different thought to take,
Slowly, half unto himself he spake,
Thirty years with that woman there?'
No wonder the man hasn't any hair!
Swearing is wicked. SmOking'S not good.
He smoked and swore-l should think he
would.
Thirty years with that tongue so sharp?
HO! Angel Gabriel! GIVE HIM HARP!
A jeweled harp with golden string!
Good Sir, pass i'm where the angels sing!
Gabriel, give him a seat Alone
One with cuShiOn-up near the throne!
Call up some angels to play their best.
Let him enjoy the music AND REST
See that on finest AmbrOsia he feeds.
HE'S had about all the hell he needs
1t isn't just hardly the thing to do
10 roast him ON earth and the future too
\ - X
They gave him harp with golden strings.
A glittering robe, with pair Of wings,
And he said as he entered the Realm of
Day,
well. this beats cucumbers, anyway"
And SO the Scriptures have come to pass
1.-The last shall be first and the first shall |
be last |