Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1903-01-31
SIMON aRUB's DREAM.

The text this: "Inasmuch asye
Have done O these have done 1t to me-"
Soon Simon slept for twas sultry weather,
And the dream and the sermon went on togetner
He dreamed that he died and stood at the gate
Of the outer door where the angels wait
For those who hear the glad "Well done
And the rems of the Holy One.
While Simon waited and wondered If he
Had forgotten the password or lost the key,
A voice above him said loud and clear.
DO you know you must bring your witnesses here
"Of witnesses there many" said he
my brethren and neighbors will all speak lot me-
But the brethren and neighbors came not near
And heard only whinny, familiar ana Clear;
And old Grayfoct the horse stood just at his right
While around the other side just coming in sight,
Was crowd of dumb creatures so fororn and 30 poor
That the angel wept az he opened the door.
Then Simon grew pale and trembled with fear,
Said, 20 why of the brethren here:
Pray wait, pray wait, they'll surely come"
Twas Grayfoot that spoke then, and Simon was oumo'
ION wntery nights I've stood in my stall
When the cold winds blew threw the cracks in the wall
Till every joint and sinew and bone
Seemed frozen and dead as the coolest stone
1--WE shivered the dreary time away
With only wisps of the poorest hay;
Then put work with shout and blow,
So hungry and faint could scarcely 60"
Then old Brndle came, and with soft brown eyes
Fixed on her master in sad surprise,
Told pitiful tale of starvation and cold,
And how he had sold her food for gold.
The poor sheep told their story, too,
Of bitter wrongs their whole life through
Turned in cold and stormy weather
To starve and freeze and cry together.
They lowy cries. they turned prayer,
And floating upward had rested there,
Close by the of Him who says
~ will hear the cries of my poor always"
The old house dog though treated i'll,
Came ard fawned on his I'll still,
Because the love these dumb things know
Is more than human, faith more true.
Then conscience woke, like torpid thing,
That is brought to life by the sun in spring,
And dashed and stunp m Ike poisoned thongs
As memory brought him his train of wrongs,
Forgetting nothing of word or deed,
OF cruel blows or selfish greed
His cruelty treated friends that were dumb,
Would they follow him through the ages come:
Must he them forever gaunt, hungry and cold:
For Time and eternity never grow old"
How oft in dumb pleading they d asked a caress
From his hands that had them All yes
He remembered it all. and il stung him to know
That the love they had craved had been with blow.
o could he live life was past,
And leave out his SINS to stand here a last
With soul that was white for happier fate:
Was it conscience that whispered TOO late too ate!
He'd cruelty passed life's narrowing track,
Till remorse claimed it's own-for that back;
And sins scarce remembered remembered too late
Grew black as he them from heavens barred gate
Twas n hat he strove to speak to say
Those old words Forgive, pray;"
Sins last sad cry; he silent there;
He was dumb, with such woefu need of prayer.
Then voices seemed floating every breeze;
aye did il to these; we did it to these"
Go hence, be Homeless go starve and freeze
Eye did it to these, We did it to these"
"And when you faint and weary with
You will still hear the shout you will still feel blow
While voice from which you shall never be free
Will whisper beside you 'Ye did it me-"
But bark! What melody over him rolls?
Do the angels sing requiems lost souls?
His last hope had fled. In agony
He awoke-to find himself in his pew
What his dumb friends thought none ever knew
When food plenty and blows few
But the teacher who follows 9 ever il seems
Gives his strongest lesson sometimes in dreams.
Remember, dear friends that the lips that dumb
May be those that will speak our time shall come
To stand at the entrance and watch and wait
For the angel to open close the gate
American Humane Education Society.