Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1875-09-25

| Nv Sipf'eo ~ ~
} Townslcy was scared. He had
seen his own soul. 1t was hover.
ing over him like u balloon and
: struggling to free itself from the
body. Was he dead, or dying, or
trembling on the border-land He
did not know. He opened his eyes
again, looking this time from the
souls standpoint. He saw that man
gled, motiOnless body of his wrap,
ped in the wayside dust and he
felt himself the soul suspended in
air, with all that earthly flesh clog
| ging his uprising.
"But which am ~ grOaned
Townsley, cold perspiration break
ing out I'LL over him.
He seemed to comprise two be-
ings, each wrestling for the mastery.
Nhe soul pulled hard for liberty, but
the body's dead weight would grant
it no release. Sounds filled his ears
like rushing waters and his throat
was parched and burning. Towns
ley was never in such fix in his
life. Was this life or was it death {?
The heart of this strong man failed
him.
"UeIpw he cried. "Help!'
But only the perfume of bruised
and dying flowers tloated by, and
above the noise of the waters only
the little, Grieved note Of il singing
bird gave answer.
Trembling, frightened, weak, one
other cry escaped that quivering
mass of flesh which the soul tortur-
ed and pulled and strained unceas-
ingly.
"Jane. Ja-nie!' pleaded Towns.
ley "help me-keep me-stay by
me-Fm going mad-oh jamie !!
But all he saw as his eyes closed
heavily was u white-f faced woman
rubbing sprouts from Il mountain of
potatoes. She sat in IL cold, damp
cellar, with a tallow dip for light.
Her sleeves were rolled above the
elbow but the arm exposed had
long ago lost all beauty OF shape
skin and bone was all it could boast
of now. Hers had been a pretty
face once, he remembered-a sunny,
laughing, rounded face. But it was
old and worn and thin and haggard
now. Tears washed down the cheek
hollows and washed white Streaks
down the muddy potatoes and the
dark stained hands. She did not
cease working an instant save now
and then to pick up and put back
the wed1inw-ling, which kept fall
ing from her wasted finger.
''Little loyal woman down there
ia he dark, God bless you," eXcIaim-
ed voice which penetrated Towns.
ley's soul.
"Janie-help me-save me !" cri-
ed the feeble body, choking with
the dust which filled his throat.
"Seems to me-" said the same
voice, growing harsh and unfeeling,
''you'rc maxim a pretty big fuss for
Il dead man. Cut that mortal coil
and come along with me. l can't
wait here forever, and I've been
hanging round here a blamed long
while for you. A man Of your nerve
an force 0ughtn't to be maxim such
Il row when it comes to bitin' off
his own thread an laying aside his
earthly garments. / tell you you're
a dead man-been dead these two
hours. What yer waitin' for 2"
Townsley turned his eyes in the
direction of the voice, and beheld
the soul Of man. unincumbered
by body, sitting there on the fence
by the roadside. The face of this
individual was not in keeping with
the rough. careless words he had ut
tered. 1t seemed to TOwnsley he
had never beheld cOuntenance SO
full of suffering and woe, so sail, so
sOrrowful, so hopeless. But the re.
marks of this being were offensive
in the extreme and Townsley, ac'
to Difference, resented
them. In his Indignation he forgot
his helpless condition he felt him
self to be the man the early morn
ing has shown uS-the richest farm
er in TuckahOe County. He wOnldTU
take such talk even from soul.
"WhO are you, sir ~ he demand.
ed, in tones of dignified authority.
"WhO am L! Well, l was a man
once, and 1 amt baby now. 1t
you'll examine my burden of sins
here Won will see that | am all that's