The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-11-27
and the road was in very bad condi-

Hold hold You will excuse me: but
I can't write that. That affects citi-
zen, and the law positively forbids my
writing anything that affects any citizen.
Very well, then, write: The weather
was very cold, and fearing that my spir.
it might be frozen into my body, and
that should be without assistance, /,
as is my habit when in danger, left my
body
Good heavensv cried Sevastianovitsch
raising his hands in holy horror.
BE calm. What else could I have
dons? And then, what did was nc
crime
Very true. Well, what further?'
4 slipped out of my body, after hav-
ing bundled it up as we'll as could in
the wagon. I placed it so that it could
not fall over, binding it fast by the
hands with strap. Then 1 hastened to
the next post-station, hoping that my
horse, urged forward by the cold and
hunger, would follow on behind
Il must tell you that you were very
imprudent.'
AT the station sat down behind the
stove and warmed my frozen spirit.
waited an hour, when, according to my
calculation, the horse should have ar
rived; then l went out into the court
yard and waited another hour, two hours,
the whole night, but neither horse nor
body made its appearance. At break OF
day hastened back where 1 had left
them, but neither was to be found. Ny
poor body, in jolting over the impracti-
cable road, doubtless fell out. AS for
the horse and wagon, heaven only knows
what became of them. For three weeks
1 looked for all three in vain. Finally
learned that the authorities of Kejensk
had in their possession strange body,
which was probably mine. l therefore
herewith entreat the said authorities to
deliver up the said body to me, its right
full owper. I further beg the authorities
to first lay the body in cold water, in or
der that it may thaw out; and, if the said
body has received any injuries, either by
falling out the wagon or by freezing, they
will employ surgeon for them at my
expense. To all this, as the law requires,
| hereunto set my hand and seal.
We'll, we'll come and sign now
Sign? That is easier said than done
I have not my hands with me; they are
with my body. Sign the document your
self, and add, For want of his own
hands,
No, no, pordon me; that will never
do replied Sevastianovisch. You ask
too much The law forbids our taking
petitions that are not drawn up in regu-
lar form. must conform to regulations
l can't sign for you unless 1 state that
you cannot read or write
Well, just as you will-signP
And Sevastionovitsch wrote: AS the
petitioner can neither read nor write, ]
sign for him. etc.
Il thank you sincerely, Ivan Sevasti.
anovitsch. Now, don't loae any time, in
arranging the matter. All, you can form
no idea what misfortune it is to lose
ones body. 1 must go now and make
my wife a hasty visit. Spare no pains, ]
beg. You Will not find me ungrateful
Hold! hold! Mr.. Deadmanp cried
Sevastionovitsch; you have made a
blunder in this petition. How could
you tie yourself fast by the hands? Thai
1 can't understand
But no one answered. A dead silence
within and without the house, disturbed
only by the whistling and moaning Of
the winter wind. Sevastianovitsch read
the petition once more, and then fell into
a meditation, that soon ended by his fall
ing fast asleep.
When he awoke in the morning light
already began to shine through the cracks
in the shutters into the room. He cas-
sullen glance at the empty bottle be-
foae him, and, in his ill-humor, forgot
the strange adventure of the previous
evening. Without looking at his papers
he laid them together and fastened to
the chateau in search of something thai
would brighten his drowsy spirits. The
coroner was already astir, and waiting
for him; and, while he sat over hi'
morning appetizer, the coroner, looked
through his papers. When he came tc
the petition of the stranger the coroner
cried out:
What nonsense is this? You mus
have drunk deep before you went t.
sleep last night. Look here, Osepo
vitsch, said he to the surgeon, see here
what humorous petition Sevastiano
vitsch has drawn up
Hereupon he read the strange petition
TO the great amusement of himself ano
the surgeon.
We'll, gentlemen, said the coroner
we will proceed to the examination o
the body of this loqnacious spirit, and
if we meet with no remonstrance at thu
first incision, we will bury it without de
lay
The words of the coroner reminded
Sevastianovitsch of the past nights ad
venture, and although it seemed to hin
marvellously strange, the promised fft,
rubles prompted him to entreat the cor
oner and the surgeon not to open tn
body, as by so doing they would injur
it to such an extent as to render it use
less. He insisted, also, that the petition
should be entered in the protocol, an,
that the matter should take the usua
course. The answer he received to thi
request can be easily imagined. Th
body was opened and examined, and, a
no signs of a violent death were founC
it was buried.
, The story of the spiritual reclamatio
became known,Iand everybody wanted
see the petition. 1t was copied End Gil
culated, and every one commented on
in his own way. People who believe
the transmigration of souls came to hol
rible conclusions.
With regard to the end of this strane
incident accounts do not agree. In
neighboring village they say that IL