Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1903-06-05

JOSEPH BERT SMILEY Is DEAD.

'ONe q vSOos hN ss s.E
JOSEPH BERT SMILEY IS DEAD.
Author OF est. Peter at the Gate
Puts End to His Life
With q Bullet.
Joseph Bert Smiley. author Of "St.
Peter at the Gate is dead. He was
found dying in the woods near Ken
Aallville, Ind, with a bullet hole in his
temple
His poem brought him national re-
puts,ion. The poem is as follows:
st. Peter stood guard at the golden gate
With solemn mien and air sedate.
When up to the top Of the golden stair
A man and q women ascending there.
Applied for admission. They came and stood
Before St. Peter. SO great and good.
In hope the City OF Peace to win.
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 stomach was built 50 1t rounded out.
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 she.
I'VE two come hither. beseechinR thee
To let us enter the heavenly land.
And play our harps with the angel band.
OF me. St. Peter. there is no doubt.
Lhere hoeh'hs !loni neis , ~ " pAi nio ouo.
~, " o0ou ,'uI - ,o'''lsI,,. .eo
fAi'A ii oliuo'o '' : g ~ 80 : : - -
I've told the sinners about the day
When they'd repent Of their evil way.
I've told my neighbors-I've told 'em all
Bout Adam and Eve. and the Primal Fall.
I've shown them what they'd have to do #
@os : p's y -. w =.
-, 10 ~ 49, 49,, -. go .,,o,. 49, oo.o.,
-. - -, - I'e - - -
I've talked and talked to EN- loud and long.
For my lungs are good and my voice Is strong.
So. good st. Peter. you'll clearly see
The gate Of heaven Is open for me.
But my old man, regret to say.
Ha snoLes .nd ba swaars and orava fan,ts
he's gnt.
nd aon,t L,ow uho+har ba.,, noss ~ not
.7g
He never would pray with an earnest vim.
Or 90 to revival, or Join In hymn.
50 ! had to leave him in sorrow there
While l. with the chosen. united In prayer.
NJ NJ a'o "na' 'llo pan'rS onanceu " "nou'
Wh,ie l. IN In my purify b' sang 10 tne LORD LORD.
ana II cucumners ;a were a., ne eot
90 : ci'aiice i \ ne n'eri'eu 'lein " hoe
But oh, St. Peter, 1 love him so
To the pleasures Of heaven please let him CO.
I've done enough a saint I've been.
Won't that atone? Can't you let him In?
By my grim gospel know tits so
But isn't there some way you can see
That he may enter who's dear to me?
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q. 49, .,'.,. - ~ .,n, =, : .,,h,o t,,.o,,,
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~ my 'a'. -. -. - -
You ought to stand right BY the opening there
And never sit down in that easy chair.
80 .,1A sss ~ - . ,..,.o
1' 80 .1.na ~ - '''o =
NJ ,4 n. ss
,,,,' Nv ~ ".ue' ".a - -. 'oss
~ 's..Hso - 80 S''''
Well. We must be going our crowns to win.
So open. St. Peter. and we'll pass in.
q. Peter sat quite and stroked his stan.
hut spite OF MS once. ne had 70 lauen.
Ihen said. with merry eleam IN MS eye.
VINO 5 tendlne TINS gaze. you OF < =
ana then ne arose. IN MS statnre tali'
AND pressed button upon the wall
Anu An sala 10 tne imp VINO ansWerea tne Dell:
Escort this female around 10 nell!
The man stood still as piece Of stone
Stood sadly. gloomily. there alone.
A lifelong. settled idea he had
That his wife was good and he was bad.
He thought II the woman went down below
That he would certainly have to go
That If she went to the regions dim
There wasn't the ghost of show for him.
;, ;,
~ .a,,aS .sha.s.'a. 49, 80,
81. Peter. standing on duty there.
that the ton Of his head was bare
He called the gentleman back and said.
how long hast thou been wed?"
Thirty years,' with weary siph)-
And then he thouehtfully added. ..Whyp"
rhen Sac seem,na m adj = different sa thonsht ] m to ] ..Ie
slowly. half to himself. he spake.
.rb,rtv vears Nth that wonon tho.a,
u w. wonder = the man has hasn't ~ cot anv - hair,
tU ,wa. ING. r,nr Il viz w,cIad ; ~ smoka;s not @ .ood |
'"SoAAAAo - W "ASANoA' oAAAS>OS AAoo NOAs 2