The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1897-10-12
THE OLD MIN PISSED.

(RepubHshed By Request.)
ST. Peter stood at the 60, zen gate
Vim a solemn Inien and 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 win.
And asked St. Peter 10 let them in.
The woman was tall and lank and thin
With "a scraggy beardlet upon her chin;
The man was short. and thick and stout
His stomach was built so il rounded out;
His face was pleasant, and all the while
He wore gentle aud kindly smile:
The choir IN the distance the echoes woke
and the man kept still while the woman spoke.
oh. thou who guardest the gate" said she,
We two come hither beseeching thee
To let Us enter the heavenly land
And play our harps with the angel band.
OF me-. II. Peter. there is 10 doubt;
There's nothing from Heaven to bar me ont,
I've been TO meeting three times & 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 ueighbOrs-I've told them all
Bout Adam and Eve and the Primal isll;
I've showed them what they'd have TO do
II they'd pass in with the chosen few;
I've marked their path Of duty clear
Laid out the plan OF their whole career.
I've talked and talked to en- loud and long.
So. good st. Peter. you clearly see
The gate OF Heaven is open for me;
But my old man. regret TO say.
Hasn't walked exactly in the narrow way;
He smokes and he swears, and grave faults
he's got;
And Ion't know whether he'll pass or not.
He never would pray with an earnest vim.
Or 20 the revival or Join hymn.
So had to leave him in sorrow there
While I. with the chosen. united in prayer
n q nj a - TfRnFpi
While /. in my purity. sang TO the Lord.
And IL cgcum5ers were all he got
It's chance If he merited them or not.
But oh. St Peter. love him 50;
To the pleasures OF Heaven please let him go.
I've done enough; q saint I've been;
Wont that atone Can't you let HIM in !
By my grim gospel know tits so
That the unrepented must fry below;
But isn't there some way you can see
That he m3y enter, who's dear to ne.
MS a narrow gospel by which pray.
But the chosen expect to tnd some way
OF cOaxing, or fooling. or bribing you
So that their relations can anb!e through.
And say, 1T. Peter. il seems To me.
This gate amt kept as IL ought TO be:
You ought to stand right by that opening there
And never sit down in that easy chair.
And say, ST. Peter. my sight is dimmed.
But don't like the way your whiSkers ar'
trimmed.
They are cut too wide and outward toss;
They'd look better narrow, cut straight across
| Well, We must be going, our crown TO win;
So open, st. Peter, and wen pass in.
St. Peter sat quiet and stroked his stan.
/ But in spite of his ofice he had 70 laugh;
Then said with fiery CLEAN IN his eye,
/ who's tending this gateway. you or I -
\ And then he rose in his stature tall,
And pressed a button upon the wall,
/ And said to the imp tAat answered the bell,
I - aDrff hot lad tn hall
The man stood still as piece OF stone
Stood sadly, gloomily, there alone;
| A lifelong settled idea he had
That his wife was good sud he was bad,
| He thought that il the woman went down beloJ
That he would certainly have to go
/ And II she went TO the regions dim
There wasn't ghost OF chance for him.
Slowly he turned by habit bent,
| To follow wherever the woman went;
/ st. Peter. standing on duty there,
| Observing that the top OF his head was bare,
He called the gentleman and said;
| Friend. how long have you been wed ;"
| Thirty year" with a weary sigh,
And then he thoughtfully added, Why ~
ST. Peter was silent. With his head bent dow
He raised his hat and scratched his crown.
Then seeming different thought TO take,
Slowly aud hall TO himself he spake:
| Thirty years With that woman there
1 No wonder the man hasn't q hair
! swearing is wicked. smoke is not good
he smoked ana Swore-1 should think he would
Thirty years with that tongue so sharp
Ho Angel Gabriel GIVE ME A HARP
A ieweled harp with golden string
! Good sir, pass in where the angels sing
! Gabriel give him a seat alone
One with a cushion up near the throne;
Call up some angels to play their hest;
Let him enjoy the IIusie aud rest
See that ON finest ambroSia he feeds;
He's had about all the hell he needs
( II isn't just hardly the thing to do
10 roast him on earth and the future too"
/ They gave him harp with golden strings.
| A glitering robe and pair Of wings.
And he said, as he entered the Realm OF Day:
/ We'll, this beats cucumoerS anyway :"
And so the Scripture has come 10 pass,
That the last shall be first and the iirst shall b
| last.
The Board of County Com
missioners of Custer county me