21 lines
1.3 KiB
Text
21 lines
1.3 KiB
Text
The Peasant in Heaven
|
|
|
|
Once on a time a poor pious peasant died, and arrived before the gate
|
|
of heaven. At the same time a very rich, rich lord came there who also
|
|
wanted to get into heaven. Then Saint Peter came with the key, and
|
|
opened the door, and let the great man in, but apparently did not see
|
|
the peasant, and shut the door again. And now the peasant outside,
|
|
heard how the great man was received in heaven with all kinds of
|
|
rejoicing, and how they were making music, and singing within. At
|
|
length all became quiet again, and Saint Peter came and opened the gate
|
|
of heaven, and let the peasant in. The peasant, however, expected that
|
|
they would make music and sing when he went in also, but all remained
|
|
quite quiet; he was received with great affection, it is true, and the
|
|
angels came to meet him, but no one sang. Then the peasant asked Saint
|
|
Peter how it was that they did not sing for him as they had done when
|
|
the rich man went in, and said that it seemed to him that there in
|
|
heaven things were done with just as much partiality as on earth. Then
|
|
said Saint Peter, “By no means, thou art just as dear to us as any one
|
|
else, and wilt enjoy every heavenly delight that the rich man enjoys,
|
|
but poor fellows like thee come to heaven every day, but a rich man
|
|
like this does not come more than once in a hundred years!”
|