Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1884-06-26
Mistellaueuns &eading,
Written for the YorkvilIe Enquirer.
BODY AND SOUL.
BY MRS. NJ. w. sTRATTON.


The chamber was darkened, the shutters
were closed. All "the pride, pomp and cir
cumstance," which attend any important
episode in rich mans life, or gild the story
of rich mans death, was there, and on a
luxurious bed was extended the emaciated
body of dying millionaire, and fierce was
the struggle between that pampered body
and soul painting to escape from it's sim
polluted cage. The trembling lips poured
forth wild prayers, and besought the soul to
stay yet little longer there was so much
to do-so much more to undo. The church
had been cloak, an ample cover here, but
hereafter. Religion had been only a pre-
tense, the solemn "amen !'-the clasped
hands-the deep groans during revivals were
the tricks of an actor, but the hypocrite Of
life time was now on the border of that
higher world where no pretense could avail,
and the failing body writhed in coWardly
anguish.
The Soul bade Conscience answer the wild
appeal. Conscience stood forth, and in a
low, distinct voice, asked stern and start
ling questions: "Didst thou not in early
manhood turn coldly from the good old
father who had reared thee, and repay the
care and affection of a tender mother with
heartless neglect and unkindness? Hon
or thy father and thy mother, saith the
Book" ..
A cry of anguish answered.
"Dost thou remember, long years ago,
how thou didst creep into the heart of a fair
young girl, in humble station, and write
thy name on its unspotted page in words
that no time, no change, no circumstance
ever did efface, and when thy tickle fancy
wandered off, how thou didst coldly see her
droop, and die of what men called con-
SUMPTION? Thou shalt do no murder,
saith the Book" "And another, young, ig-
norant and child Of poverty, but strong in
her purity, whom thou didst follow with
thy SLY unmI1eaninng gallantry til the world
looked coldly on her, and on thine own vii
lainous lip rested sneer that devils loved,
and will reward? And remember how thou
didst perjure the Soul that would now for
sake thee, when the good name Of this pure
maiden thou didst shrug, insinuate, and
even lie to blacken? Thou shalt not lie,
saith the Book"
"Dost thou remember the widow whom
thou didst wrong by keeping from her the
money thou didst justly owe her husband,
because she had no paper to show against
thee? Didst thou not see her stitch, stitch,
stitch, till the color left her cheek, and the
light faded from her eye? and when in the
depth of her misery, she craved Of thee a
trifling loan, didst thou not bid her go
aUork p when her weakness rendered her as
unfit to do so, as thy own bloated corpulen-
cy rendered thee. Thou shalt not steal,
saith the Book"
"Hast thou not seen the orphan suffer
Hast thou not often kept the Workingman
out of his Well-earned wages, through some
petty spite, or culpable carelessness, till
nearly frantic with want he was willing to
sacrifice half to get the rest to buy bread
for his family, while thou vast pampered
with dainties? Do unto others as thou
wouldst they should do unto thee, saith the
Book"
"Didst thou ever enter poor mans home,
when he lay as thou dost now, and minister
to his comfort? And thou who didst never
fail to swell the procession who followed the
rich man to his grave, didst thou ever so
honor the poor and friendless ? Charity
covereth up multitude of sins, saith the
Book"
"And thy wife who Weeps, though the
blight of her existence is passing away,
what reward hast thou given her long years
of devotion? What but daily disappoint-
ments- s-dispelled illusions "a faded cheek, a
tear-dimmed eye, and premature age"'
There came no answer.
Conscience questioned no more, for the
Body ceased its impotent struggles-the
white lips writhed in vain effort to cry
once more for mercy, the eyes with one last
look of horror. closed forever, and the i'm
patient Soul winged it's flight-Where?
COLUMBIA June 1884