The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-05-22

when IN III the top Of the golden stair.
5A mat, ana woman ascending there.
Applied for admission. They came anu
stood,
Before s,t SPe,er, so great and good,
Z III hope thhS city OF Peace 20 WIN
And asked 4 y, Peter TO let them IN m
TIM wornn4f was lank and tail and thin,
with 4 snrfaea, beardet upon her chin,
ms IN a,3sts2 hort and thick and stout,
u ndit NIX lfVHn.ch was built so 1t rounded
ss%s out. IVY
His face wa psasant and az me while.
tIa tvore "A r5y and genial smile,
The Echoirs o. he distance ana echoes
Ana liz ma kept still while the woman
spoke: Il
oh, thou, who ruardest The gate said
we two have come hither oeseecnlng
thee.
TO let Ms enter the heavenly land,
And nlay our iharps With the golden band.
And nlay our iharps with the golden band.
OF inc. st. Peter there can be no doubt.
There's nothins from Heaven bar mo
I'VE boon Il Al MS three times "a week,
And almo ~ s Id rise to speak
I've told the aini%rs ABOUT the DAY,
That they'd reutnt OF their eviI way,
I've told my neighbors: we tod them al,
Bout Adam and Eve and the primal fall.
I've marked their path OF duty clear,
Laid out the plan pf their whole career.
I've talked and talked to TIL m loud and
long.
For my voice is good and NY lungs are
strong
So good st. Peter, you'll cletrly see.
That the gate OF Heaven Is ,pen for me.
But my old man Il 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 iell pass or
| not
He never would pray with an earnest
vim,
OR to 60 to revival or Join aIhymn
| so had to leave him in sor1fw there,
| While !, with the chosen,N united In
He a I ! What il tie pantry ehd teed to at
ford,
While !, In my purity, sang 4 the Lord.
And II cucumbers was all he l)ot,
Its chance that he meritf them or
not.
| But, on, st. Peter. love hin so,
To the pleasures OF Heaven, please let
him go.
I've done enough, saint lvt been.
I Won't that atone2 Can't Jou ct him in7
BY my grim gospel l know It's 80,
! That the unrepentent mus fry below.
But isn't there some way You can see
| That lie may enter who's dear tol me?
| 'TIa n narrow ROSnel which, ! Dray,
But the chosen expect to dnd some way,
CT coaxlng or fooling or Sribing You,
So their relations can AMPLE through.
And say. st. Peter. 1t seems tp me,
That gate isn't kept as It ought 10 be-
You ought to stand by the opennB there,
And never sit down IN that easy chair.
And say, st. Peter. my SIGHT a dimmed.
But don't like the way your wfiskelp
are trimmed.
They're cut too wide an outward toss. \
They'd look better narrow. and cut
straight across,
Well; we must be going our cruwns to
So open the gate and veil pass in
st. Peter sat quiet and stroked bis staff,
But IN spite OF his office. lie had 70 laugh
Then said, with fiery gleam In his eye.'
NV no atenulTS WIS Su'F' Soh W ! 80
Then he arose In his stature tai.
And pressed a. button upon tho NALL.
And said to the timp who answered the
Escort this female around to hell"
The man stood still, like a piece OF stone.
stood sadly gloomily there alone,
A lifelong settled idea he had,
That his wife was GOOD and ne was bad
He thought that II he went down below,
That no would certainly have to go.
That II she vent to the REGIONS dlm.
There wasn'tia ghost OF alEhow FOR him,
SLOWLY ho turned by habit hent,
To follow wherever the woman Went.
st. Peter standing on duty there,
cbsorved that the top Of his head was
He called tt,e gentleman hack and said:
'Frlend, how long hast thou been wed''
Thirty years" With weary sigh,
Then he tholghttully added. 'Why?"
st. Peter sal quiet. With had bent down,
He raised his hand and scratched his
crown.
Then seeming Il different thought to take,
Slowly halfito himself he 5spake:
Thirty years with that woman there,
No wonder hhe man hasn't got any halr.
Swearing Is wicked, smokes not good;
He swore aid he smoked should lhlhk
he would.
Thirty years with that tongue so sharp.
llo. Angel Gabriel, give him harp!
a jeweled harp, with golden strings,
Good Sir, Iass In where The angel slhgs'
Gabriel, gIvs him seat alone,
A cushioned one, up near the throne.
Call up soma angels to play their best,
Let him emily the music and rest
See that nlfinest ambrosla he feeds
He's had about all tho hell he needs!
You know Ia hardly tho thing to DO
To roast him in earth and the future
They gave lin a harp WIN soi"en
4 slItterIns r,be and pair fwinss.
And he said a, he entered the realms OF
Day!
We'll this bets cucumbers, ANYWAY
And so the Scriptures had come 10 pass,