The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-07-03
Body and Soul.

1uC CualuUGl Wdo Odl hCuCuJ euO cuuV-
ters were closed. All "the pride, pomp
and circumstance, which attend any i'm
portant episode in rich mans life, or
gild the story of a rich mans death, was
there, and on luxurious bed was ex-
tended the emaciated body of dying
millionaire, and fierce was the struggle
between that pampered body and soul
painting to escape from its sin-polluted
cage. The trembling lips poured forth
wild prayers, and hesought the soul to
stay yet a little longer; there was so
much to do-so much more to undo.
The church had been cloak, an ample
cover here, but had fallen off at the portal
of the dread hereafter. Religion had
been only pretense, the solemn "amen!"
the clasped hsnds-the deep groans
during revivals we're the tricks of an
actor, but the hypocrite of a 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 low distinct voice, asked stern and
startling questions: "Didst thou not in
early manhood turn coldly from the good
old father who had reared thee, and repay
the care and aiection of a tender mother
with heartless neglect and unkindness ?
Honor 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
fair young girl, in humble station, and
write thy name on its unspotted page in
words that no time, no change, no cir.
cumstance ever did efface. and when thy
fickle fancy wandered off, aow thou didst
coldly see her droop, and die of what men
called consumption? Thou shalt do no
murder, saith the Book" "And another,
young, ignorant and child of poverty,
but strong in her purity, whom thou
didst follow with thy SLY unmeaning gal
lantry till the world looked coldly on her,
and on thine own villaincus lip rested a
sneer that devils loved, and will reward ?
And remember how thou didst perjure
the Soul that woDld now forsake thee,
when the good name of this pure maiden
thou didst shrug, insinuate, and even lie
to blacken? Thou shalt not 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 hus-
band, because she had no paper to show
against thee2 Didst thou not see her
stitch, stitch, stitch, till the color left her
cheek, and the light faded from her eye9
and when in the depth of her misery, she
c:aved of thee triAing loan, didst thou
not bid her go auork9' when her weak
ness rendered her as unit to do so, as thy
own bloated corpulelcy rendered thee.
Thou shalt not steal, saith the Book"
"Hast thou not seen the orphan suffer?
Hast thou not 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 9TH
ers as thou wouldst they should do unto
thee, saith the Book"
"Didst thou ever enter a 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 multi
tude of sins, saith the Book"
"And thy wife who weeps, thoug h the
blight of her existence is passing away,
what reward hast thou given her long
years of devotion? What but daily dis.
appointments..d .dispelled illusions. faded
cheek, tear-dimmed eye, and premature
age?"
There came no answer.
Conscience questioned 10 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 impatient Soul winged its flight
Where?-Mrs. NJ. ". Stratton, in the
XorkviNe Enquirer.