TALKS TO LITTLE FOLKS.
By Eev. William Birch, D.D. THE GATE AJAR. When in Italy, I heard a touching legend about the Heaven-life of a child named Maggio> the Italian word for our English May. When she passed through the pearly gate into the golden city of our Heavenly Father where Jesus is King, the" angel on guard closed the gate and not only locked it, but placed a golden bar across to make it doubly sure. May begged the angel to set the gate ajar, but he refused until gentle Mary, the mother of Jesus, bade him .do so,. If the gate were opened just a little,"the^ v; bhild ; thought the brightness of Heaven might shine through to let her mother see she was happy; and, perhaps, when she played her harp, her mother might recognise the sweet May she so much loved and for whom she mourned. I have translated this beautiful story into English for your sakes, little ones. '.Twas the whisper'd news in heaven, How the little angel May, Near the pearly gate of glory. Sat in shadow every day'. • Though the angel-sisters beokon'd, Wishing her their joy to share, That she at the entrance tarried, As if duty called her there. How she pleaded with the angel Of the gate and golden bar, " Saored Warden, let me beg you ; Set the pearly gate ajar. ■ , Mother weeps in lonely sorrow—For she cannot see me here; Oh, I want my harp's sweet music To reach down to mother's ear [; •'«>.; But the gate Ib shut between us ; Hidden from her tearful eyes Is the joy that is my portion In this blessed Paradise. : Turn the key and let the glory Glimmer through the gate afarv"" *■" '**■'; But the angel said, " I dare not Set the pearly gate ajar." . Then the ever blessed Mary, At the bidding of her Son, Rose and whisper'd to the Warden," - - " Let the dear child's will be done!" So the key unlocked the portal, Lifted was the golden bar, Aud the child with her own finger Set the pearly gate ajar. . Then she played her joyous music, While her face shone as a star, And the mother saw her darling Through the pearly gate ajar. '
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New Zealand Mail, Issue 1200, 1 March 1895, Page 29
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370TALKS TO LITTLE FOLKS. New Zealand Mail, Issue 1200, 1 March 1895, Page 29
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