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breath and words, Mr. Corwin, in the mildest way | I saw poor Jones vanish from before my eyes into
possible, answered thus:
the throng of goats.

"My dear friend, you have done your duty as you see it, and I thank you for your apparent interest in my spiritual welfare, but I can best answer you, in return for your kindness, by relating a dream I had only last night. Do you know Jones?"

"Oh yes, he is one of our deacons, and a very fine man."

"Do you also know Smith ?"

"Yes, indeed; he is another of our first men, and renowned for his piety."

"And Thompson-do you happen to know him ?"

"Certainly, certainly," quoth the parson; "he is one of the pillars of our church."

"Well," proceeded honest Tom, "my dream relates to all of them as well as to myself. In my dream, which is singularly distinct, we all died, and started together on the same road toward the bar of God for our final judgment. As we approached the gate of the Celestial City, we were very much surprised to see that the great tribunal was being held outside the walls. Upon a high and commanding seat we saw the judge, in whom we recognized Father Abraham in judicial robes, his firm-set features and long flowing beard alike proclaiming him to be the true patriarch. Great crowds were all around, and I must acknowledge my knees trembled under me, and there was a sore quaking at my heart as we drew near. A man at

"Smith!' Tremblingly Smith awaited his doom at the patriarch's feet.

"Give me Smith's account. Smith, are you the Smith so conspicuous for piety in the church at L??

"Yes, Sire.'

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'But, on the other hand, I find that you have traded with your fellow-man in a way that is hardly up to the golden-rule standard. It is recorded that you used two measures in your

Boy. "Oh, what a scared cat!"

business, one large, to buy by, and the other small, to sell by. Is that so?'

"Low came the words, 'Yes, Sire!' "I read here, too, that your evil tongue has crept around lies, and hasn't hesitated to bear false witness against your neighbor.' "Lower still: "Yes, Sire.'

"Away with him! wolves in sheep's clothing have no entrance here !

"And then I heard -and it was like the blast of a trumpet to my awed ear-Tom Corwin! Is Tom Corwin here?' and I, shaking in every limb-for I knew I had been nothing to the church -answered, and stag. gered up to hear my doom.

""Tom Corwin,' said

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notorious Tom Corwin of L-?' "Yes, Sire,' I answered.

his feet had a well-thumbed ledger on his knee, | the stern voice of Father Abraham, are you the
in which he made search as Father Abraham
called out, one by one, the names of that count-
less throng. Soon I heard the name of Jones
called, and Jones left my side to attend the sum-

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"Have you spent any thing for the belfry?' "No, Sire.'

"Have you waited upon the service of the church every Sabbath?'

"No, Sire.'

"These things I find charged against you, Sir; but, on the other side, are you the man who signed a note for your friend to shield him, and then suffered such loss that you beggared your. self?'

"Yes, Sire, but it was a long time ago.' "Are you the man who dares to give rents to the poor when they can not meet the demands?' "I am afraid so, Sire.'

"Are you the man who keeps the ninth commandment, and lets your neighbor rest in peace? Sheriff, bring me the keys! Tom Corwin, enter the Golden Gate!"

And "Tom," the incorrigible, smilingly bowed the parson out.

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