University of Virginia Library


243

ACCEPTED

Charles Shortridge once to Saint Peter came.
“Down!” cried the saint with his face aflame;
“'Tis written that every hardy liar
Shall dwell forever and ever in fire!”
“That's what I said the night that I died,”
The sinner, turning away, replied.
“What! you said that?” cried the saint—“what! what!
You said 'twas so writ? Then, faith, 'tis not!
I'm a devil at quoting, but, faith, I begin
To fail in my memory. Pray walk in.”