Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1901-01-04

BY special request Ne reproduce
the following poem dedicated 10 Nrs.
Lease. Il had quite run in the
papers . while back:

Lease. II had quite run in the
,apers . while back:
81. Peter stood guard At the golden gats
With . solemn mien and IN aar ssdate,
When up to the top Of the golden stair
A man and woman ascending there,
Applied Tor admtMion. They came and stoo1
Before St Peter, % great and good,
In hopes the City of Peace TO win
And asked St Peter to let them In.
The woman was tall, and lank, and thin,
With eorsggy beardlet upon her chin,
The man was short, and thick. and stout,
His stomach was built 20 IL rounded ont,
Hts face was pleasant. and all the whila
He wore genial and kindly smile,
The choirs In the distance the echoes woke.
And the man kept stifi while the woman upoke.
30 thou Who guardest the eate.n said she,
I'VE tvopme hither. beseeching thee
To let Us dzter the heavenly land,
And play our harps with the angel band,
OF me, st. Peter. there is NO doubt,
There's nothing in heaven to bar me out,
I've been to meeting three times . week,
Ard almost always I'd rise and speak.
GIVE told the sinners about the day
When they'd repent of their evil way,
I've told my neighborp-rve told 'em al,
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,
Pve marked their path of duty clear
Laid out their plan for their whole career,
"I've talked and talked to 'em loud and long,
Foi my lungs are good and my voice IL strong;
30 good st. Peter you'll clearly zee
The gate of heaven is open to me,
But my old man, regret to say.
Hasn't walked In exactly the narrow way:
He smokes and he swears, and grave faults he's
got.
And don't know whether he'll pan or not.
HE never would pray with earnest vim
Or 60 to revival or join in q hymn,
So had to leave him in sorrow there,
While 1, with the chosen, united in prayer.
He ate what the pantry chanced to afford,
While 1, in my purity, sang 20 the Lord;
And II cucumbers were all he get
It's a chance if he merited them or not.
"But oh, St. Peter. 1 love him 90!
To the pleasures of heaven please let him 20.
I've done enough saint I've been,
Won't that atonef Can you let him inf
By my grim gospel know too tbs 20
That the unrepentant must tarry below,
But isn't there some way you can see
That he may enter who's dear to met
"It's q narrow gospel by which pray
But the chosen expect to find some way
OF coaxins. or fpoling. or bribing you
So that their relations can smhle through,
And say. St Peter, 1t seems to me
This gate isn't kept as IL ought to be.
You ought TO stand by that opening there
And never sit down In the easy chair.
"And say, st. Peter,sny sight is dimmsd,
But don't like the way your whiskers are
trimmed;
They're cut too wide and outward toss;
They III look better narrow, cut straight across,
Well, We must be going crowns to win,
So open. st. Peter. an we'll pas. inI"
St. Peter sat quiet and stroked his staH
But. spite of hts office. he had 70 laugh.
Then said, with fiery CLEAN in his eye,
"Who's tending the gateway-you or II"
And then he arose In his stature tall
And said to the imp who answered the bell,
"Escort that lady around to helII.'
The man stood still As piece of stone
Stood sadly, gloomily there alone,
A lifelong settled idea he had
That his vile was good and he wa bad.
He thought If the woman went down
Below, that he would certainly have to go
That IL she went to the region dina
There wasn't the ghost of a show for him.
Slowly he turned by habit bent
L To follow wherever the woma1 went
St. Peter. standing on duty there.
Observed that the top Of his head was bare
He called the gentleman back and said.
Friend, how long have youbeen wed?"
Thirty year." with 4 weary sigh,
Aud then he thoughtfuiIy added -.why7"
st. Peter was silent. With head bent down
He raised his hand and scratched his crown,
Then. seeming different thought to take.
Slowly, half TO himself, he spake.
Thirty years with that woman therc?'
No wonder the man hast any hair.
Swearing is wicket Smokes not good.
He smoked and swore-I should think he would
''Thirty years With that tongue so,sharpg
Hol Angel Gabriel, Give him a harpl
jeweIed harp with golden string.
Pass him in where the angels sing.
Gabriel, give him a seat alone
One With q cushion-up near the throne,
Call mp some angets to plsy.their best,
Let him enjoy the music and rest.
'See that on finest Ambrozil hs feeds.
He's had about all the hell he needs,
It isn't just hardly the thing to do
To roast him on earth aud the fasnrs tor"
: They gave him a harp with g. ,IIen strings.
. A giitte,ing robe and pair of wings,
And he ssid rs he entere the Realm of Day,
"Well. this beats eucumbers anywa %
And 90 the scriptures had ,me 70 paR.
8 ''The last shall be 6rst and TIE irst shsil
last"
A The cottOnwoods have been q
: down, in the CENTRAL school ground
4 to give room for more subetzntt