“‘“Who were your friends?”
“‘The new-comer thought a minute, and mentioned the names of some people who had been long dead. “They know the truth about me,” he said.
“‘“Ah, but the truth changes, and they haven’t seen you in many years,” said St. Peter.
“‘“But I have not changed,” said the man. “I am just as when they saw me.”
“‘“Then you are a fool or the chief of sinners,” said St. Peter. “Behold a man 182 as changeless as the flint-stone, who has made no friends in over forty years! That is all I need to know about you. Take either gate you please.”
“‘“One leads to Heaven––doesn’t it?” said the new-comer, in great alarm.
“‘“Yes, but you wouldn’t recognize the place. There isn’t a soul in paradise that cares which way you go––not a soul in all its multitude that will be glad to see you. They have better company. Stranger! go which way you please, Heaven will be as uncomfortable as hell.”
“Deacon Joe gave me close attention, and I saw that my sword had nicked him a little. Anything that affected his hope of Paradise was sure to engage his thought. He shook his head, and said that he didn’t believe it. But he couldn’t fool me. I knew that the seed of change had struck into him.
“I gave him another thrust. ‘Deacon, you knew Harry Delance when he was a 183 fool. But the truth about him has changed. He is now a hard-working, level-headed young fellow, and you ought to be his friend.’
“‘Wal, I like the way he cuffed them fellers over at Trent,’ said the Deacon. ‘He pounded ’em noble––that’s sartin. Mebbe if he licks a few more men I’ll begin to like him.’