The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1903-07-10

Hand in Hand to the Portals OF the
City Of Peace, and the Weieoms
Accorded Them.
Joseph Bert Smiley. author OF st
Peter at the Gate" Is dead de was
found dying in the woods near Ken
6allviIle. Ind, with a bullet hole in his
temple.
His poem brought him a national
reputation II is gwen below:
St Peter stood guard at the golden gate
With solemn mien and air seoate-
When Up 70 the top OF the golden star
A man and a woman. ascending there.
APPLIED for admission They came ano
stood
In hope the City OF Peace 10 win.
And asked s.. Peter 20 let them In
The woman was tan and lank and thin.
With q scraggy beardlet upon ner c1l.Il-
The man was short snd thick and stout
bis stomach was built 50 4 rounoeo 2g 4---
his face was pleasant. and all the while
He wore a kindly and genial smile
The choirs In the distance the ecnoes
And The man kept sim while the woman
spoke
oh. thou who guardest the gate" said
I'VE come hither. beseeching thee
To let enter the heavenly land
And play our harpS with the angel osalo-
OF me. St Peter there Is no doubt
There's nothing from heaven 70 oar ne
I've been 20 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 neiEhbors-IVe told EN- al
Bout Adam and Eve. and the Primal
I've shown them what they'd have TO 90
II 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 EN- loud and
For ny lungs are good and my voice is
So. good St Peter. you'll clearly see
The gate Of heaven is open for me,
But my old man. 1 regret 10 say,
Hasn't walked in exactly the narrow
He smokes and he swears. and grave
And I don't know whether he'll pass or
not
He never would pray with an earnest
or go To- revival or Join in a hymn
So had 20 leave him IN sorrow there
While I. with the chosen. united in
he ate what the pantry CHANGED to az
While /. in my purity. sang 10 the Lord
And IL cacumbers were an he Eot
Its chance II he merited them OF not
But Oh. St Peter. I love him 50
To the pleasures OF heaven please let
I've done enough saint I've been
Won't that arone2 Can't you let him in
BY my grim gospel ! know us 80
That The unrepentaDt must fry below.
But isn't there some way you can see
That ne may enter who's dear 10 meg
It's a narrow gospel which pray.
But the chosen expect 10 find some wax
So that their relation can anble through
And say. St Peter. Il seems 10 me
That gate isn't kept as u ought 10 be
You ought 10 stand right by The opening
And never sit down in that easy chair
And say. St Peter. my sight is dfmmed.
But don't Ike the way your whiskers
They're cut too wide. and outward toss
They'd look better narrow. cut straight
Well We must be going our crowns to
So open. st Peter. and vel pass in
St. Peter SAT- quiet and stroked his STAFF
But spite OF his Office. he mad 10 laugh
Then said win a merry CLEAN N ms eye
And then he arose. I'm his stature tan,
And pressed a button upon me Wal
And said 10 the imp who answered the
Escort this female around to helm
The man stood stin as a piece OF stone.
stood sadly E-g9Ili-z- lhere alone,
That his wire was good and he was bad
he Thought II the woman went down be-
That he would certainly have TO 60
That ~ she went 90 the regions dim
There wasn't the ghost OF show FOX
him
slowly he turned by habit bent
To follow wherever the woman went.
St Peter. standing on duty there
Observed that the TOP OF his head was
He oaIied the gentleman hack and said.
Friend. how long hast thou been wed p
dirty ysarS WITH pa; (, wes93ry siE5l.
St Peter was silent With head bent
He raised his hand and scratched his
crown
Then. seeming a different thought 20 take.
Slowly. half 20 himself. he spake-
Thirty years with that woman there7
No wonder the man hasn't got any hair1
Swearing IS wicked Smokes not GOOD
He smoked and swOre-I should think he
Thirty wears with that tongue 50 sha-nr
no. Angel GABRIEL GIVE HIM a HARP
A JeWeled harp with a golden string,
Good sir. pass in where the angels sing1
Gabriel. give him a seat alone
one with the cushion-up near the throneg
Gail uD some angels 90 play their best,
Let him enjoy the music and rest
See that on finest anbr0sia he feeds.
He's had about all the hell he needs,
u isn't just hardly the thing 70 do
To roast him on earth and the future
too"
They gave him harp with golden
A glitteriRg robe and pair OF wings.
And he said as he entered the Realms OF
iWeH this beats cucumbers. anyway
And so the Scriptures had come to Pass
The last shall be FIRST and the first shan
be last"
C-tt.s 49,