The Osceola times., 1885-04-11

Yes, the most of them believe in a
hell, though not so strongly, fancy, as
they did before education became so
general"
Not so much as they did," he as
sented. "Many of them do not now
believe that hell is necessary to saliva
ton, but there must be a difference In
the treatment Of good and bad souls.
Suppose man who never harmed any
one should kill himself? Do you think
his soul would find restp
That is question upon which /
would not like TO express an opinion. :"
1T Is a question though" he con-
tinued, (which concerns me very much.
My suffering daily increases. but don't
see that l am approaching the grave
with that degree of acceleration which
promises an early relief from pain. |
have often thought that in my case a
man would be justiiiablc in taking his
own life. 1t looks to me as though
am relentlessly tortured"
hardly knew what reply to make.
for | felt that the old man had cause to
complain, but after few moments of
reflection l said:
wait. No matter how much you
may be racked by pain, wait You
surely can not live much longer"
A light of encouragement shone in
his eyes as he said
"Ah, those are pleasant words"
After this | fancied he was not so
restless. He continued to take medi-
cine, to allay pain rather than to pro.
long life, he said. He wrote several
strangely readable art cles for the Cat
Fish. don't know that. with all nv
experience in handling manuscripts. /
have ever seen handwriting so peculiar
as his. A number of our citizens who
saw it remarked its dissimilarity to anv
chirography they had ever beheld, and
among them the old man was known as
the curious scribe.
One evening, as / was about to leave
the Office, he followed me to the door.
''Mr. Buck, said he, II think now that
my time is short"
He looked as though he wanted to
smile, but that his poor old lips had lost
the movement necessary to the reflec-
ton of so pleasing an expression.
"Why do you think SO, Mr. With
ers?"
81 dreamed last night that | was
dead. ] thought that | lay down in
quiet rest, like tired man who goes TO
bed"
81 don't think that you should sleep
here alone"
"Yes, he replied. 1.-The presence of
any one would disturb my meditat.ons.
| have an impression that will die sud-
denly. An attendant would do no
good, and would rob the first few hours
of my long-coveted sleep of that deep
solitude which | desire shall surround
me"
As ! was walking down the road to-
ward the house where boarded on long
time and short rations, / met Squire
Duval.
"Well, Buck when had stopped
and shaken hands with him, how is
the curious scribe getting along?"
almost cheerful in the thought that
he is soon to leave us" Ireplied.
"Strange old man, mighty queer. but
l don't think that his m nd's altogether
out o whack Him an me agrees put
ty well here o late, fur I've mighty
nigh made a spiritualist outen him.
luther day when he 'peercd to be so
dead sot on suicide. said to him. says
/: 'Withers, don't do it. II you do
your grade will be low. Live on, even
if you do suffer, an your grade will be
high
The next morning as was going to
the office ! overlook the Squire near
the place where had met him the day
before. 'B leve II go with you. said
he, IAN have few moments chat with
the old feller."
There was no lock on the office door,
and lifting the latch we entered. Great
God. The old mans body lay on the
floor. His head, with the face turned
toward us, lay on the imposing stone
A bloody--an awful sccnel On the
stone, near the head, lay sheet of pa
per covered with the old mans peculiar
writing. Almost breathlcssly, ! read
these words:
"You will be surprised TO find my head up
here and my body on the floor. You do not
see how II is possible for man to cut of his
head and place II where he chooses ana then
throw his body on the floor II Is singular,
but you see for yourself How would you go
about such performance? Ten to one you
would fail"